Despite the dizzying exchange, a warm, cozy sensation wrapped itself around Hailey. “I am, in fact, hungry.”
“Well, then you just sit yourselves down and Dewey will give you a taste of the Irish stew special he’s been working on since last night. What y’all want to drink? Bourbon? Tequila? Beer?”
At ten in the morning?“Just water for me,” Hailey demurred. Dixie gawped at her as if she’d grown a second head, so Hailey changed her order. “How about a Diet Coke instead?”
“Want bourbon in that?” When Hailey shook her head, Dixie kept going. “Whiskey? Rum? Vodka?”
Vodka and Diet Coke?“No, plain is fine.”
“You must not be Irish.” Dixie snorted and looked at Charlie. “Guinness, sugar?”
“Yes, gorgeous. I’m not working today.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you driving a nail through your thumb.” She parked a hand on her hip. “That’s one good thing about a storm like the one we just had. Gives folks a chance to take time off. Although it will bring every other misfit to this bar.”
“Yep, not just the regular misfits,” Charlie agreed.
She walked away, and he steered Hailey by the elbow into the main part of the restaurant, choosing a table at the back.
Hailey stifled a chuckle as she shucked her coat and sat. “Has she worked here long?”
“Ever since Noah opened. She mothers Noah worse thanourmother, and I doubt he’ll ever get rid of her. Not that he wants to.”
“So tell me about the Hunnicutt brothers. What’s the birth order?”
“Reece is the oldest, I’m the youngest, and Noah is the middle child … which should explain a lot.”
Hailey cupped her chin in her palm. “How so?”
“Ever heard of middle child syndrome? He’s pretty sure he was the most unloved of the three of us. Not that any of us were unloved.”
“Yeah, somehow ‘unloved’ isn’t the word that comes to mind when I see you three. I thought Doc Embry’s lab tech might jump you.”
“Lauren? She’s the receptionist. And nah, she just likes to flirt. Sometimes I flirt back, but not when the doc’s there.”
Hailey straightened. “Oh. So you and Doc Embry? It seemed like you two were exchanging some secret signals.”
He shook his head. “No, Neve’s my plus-one.”
Hailey’s lips tipped up in amusement. “Meaning?”
“If she needs a date, I’m there. If I need a date … well, you get the idea. We help each other out.”
“You ‘help each other out,’ like in a platonic way?”
“Mmm, depends on your definition of platonic. We have fun together. I don’t see us picking out china patterns together in this lifetime, if that’s where you’re going. Besides, I’m not someone who kisses and tells.” His green-gray eyes twinkled with mischief.
Hailey smirked, idly wondering how many other women were willing to “help him out.” With his charm and looks, the line would probably snake aroundseveralFall River blocks. Hailey had nothing against golden retrievers, but she preferred a less bouncy breed—like Irish wolfhounds or Siberian huskies.
Dixie materialized, slid their drinks on the scarred wooden tabletop, and sashayed away. For a robust woman, she was surprisingly stealthy.
Charlie watched her go. “That woman reminds me of a cat, the way she slips in and out without warning. It explains why she knowseverythingthat goes on in this town.” He clinked Hailey’s glass. “Welcome to Mayberry in the mountains, where everybody knows your name … and your business.”
“Happy to be here.” And, oddly, she meant it. The vibe this Monday was so chill compared to her usual Mondays. “Noah said he worked at a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ bar—not that he owned it or that it was this nice.”
“He’s an under-the-radar dude. Life’s easier if folks think he just works here.”
“Makes sense.” Memories bubbled up. How quickly people’s attitudes toward her had changed when they’d found out she was a professional athlete. Suddenly, they wanted to be her BFF after snubbing her moments before. Yeah, she got it.
