I glance behind me. “I wasn’t trying to be quiet.”
From behind, he rests his chin on my shoulder. “If I was gone for a month, you’d miss me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Hardly.” I playfully jab my elbow into his chest.
He chokes out a laugh. “Son of a bitch. I need to find some less violent friends.” He rubs at his chest before wrapping an arm around Rylee. “Glad you’re back.”
“Me too.” She smiles up at him. “Now everyone, get back to work.”
“Listen to the boss.” Jake clasps a hand on her shoulder. “Glad to have you back.”
Rylee and Lach are on the ends while I’m in the middle behind the bar. I grab a frosty pint glass from the cooler and hold it under a tap, pulling the lever down. Once it’s full, I pass it to a customer and pour another. A sliver of sunlight shines in as the front door opens and my gaze drifts up.
A tall, rugged man with dark jeans, a fitted white shirt that accentuates his toned arms, with a tattoo peeking out from beneath the sleeve stands just inside the doorway. A baseball cap is perched on his head, the dark hair spilling out from the sides. His scruff covered jawline rivals any stone statue. He turns my way and pulls the aviators off his face. A half smirk tugs at his lips. Time stops. My breathing stops. Noise stops. Everything stops. All the people in Porter’s disappear. Standing before me is a ghost of a man. One I knew years ago and hoped I would never have to see in person again. My eyes roll back, and my entire world goes black.
