“Damn, man. What’s with the scowl on your face? Is that why this place is so empty?” Cooper had on a shit-eating grin as he entered Lake Ridge from the back door.
“Ha, very funny,” I deadpanned, but the corner of my lip twitched upward. “How many times are you going to keep making that joke?” We didn’t open for another couple hours, and Cooper damn well knew that.
His grin stayed firmly in place as he approached the bar, leaning his forearms against the counter with his signature messy, dark-blond hair falling into light eyes full of amusement—at my expense. “Haven’t decided yet, but it got that scowl off your face, didn’t it?”
I grunted in response, continuing to stack the rack of dry beer glasses before we opened.
As much shit as we gave each other, I always knew Cooper had my back. There weren’t many people who always put others first, but Cooper did. We’d known each other since we were kids, and he’d been with me through everything. It was exactly why, even though he wasn’t a brother by blood, I considered him family. I’d do anything for him. No questions about it.
It also wasn’t uncommon for him to be at the bar, whether it was to hang out or to help. He loved this place as much as I did.
Lake Ridge had been in my family for years. My dad, who grew up in town, started it in his early twenties, wanting to leave his mark on Golden Falls. He’d purchased an industrial building and renovated it. Once he was ready to build his staff, one of the first people he’d hired happened to be his future wife—my mom.
My dad always planned to sell Lake Ridge once he was done with it, not wanting to put pressure on me or my sisters to stay and take over. But I couldn’t let him do that. I loved Golden Falls and never saw myself leaving—I also wanted to put my own mark on this town. Lake Ridge was a town staple, and I couldn’timagine Golden Falls without it. I had so many memories here, and I knew others did, too.
So, a few years ago, I bought the bar from my dad. I wanted to keep the simple feel I loved while also offering a fun, unique atmosphere for people who wanted to grab drinks, dance, sit outside, or all of the above.
Since taking over Lake Ridge, I’d done a handful of renovations with the help of Coop and my dad, including a custom-built wooden bar. I added a blue neonLake Ridgesign over the door. There were pool tables, dart boards, and a dance floor.
The exposed-brick walls were decorated with photos from my favorite spots in Golden Falls, as well as pictures of my parents when they were running the place and newspaper clippings of when Lake Ridge opened.
I also added to the outdoor space. Now, when the garage doors opened, it transitioned seamlessly into an outdoor patio with bistro lights and yard games. Earlier this year, I added fire pits and outdoor tables, knowing they’d be a hit.
Between the revamped set up, expanding our beer and liquor selection, and testing out a small food menu, word about the bar traveled quickly. Lake Ridge landed on a few of those “must visit” lists for people traveling to Golden Falls and the surrounding towns. It was another draw to an already popular town.
It was my third summer running Lake Ridge, and I was proud of the work we’d done. I wanted to continue to grow the bar, turning it into a destination both day and night. There was a real momentum heading into this summer, and I wanted to take advantage of every second of it.
“You apologized to your new neighbor yet?” Cooper asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. He raised his brows as he pulled out one of the bar stools and sat.
I held back a groan. No, I hadn’t. My first mistake had been walking over when her car pulled in. My second mistake had been telling Cooper what happened. He rightfully gave me shit about it.
“Haven’t seen her around since then.” It wasn’t a lie. I really hadn’t, but I also made no effort to stop by the cabin.
I’d been an asshole to my new,temporaryneighbor, and I knew it. I was caught off guard, because I had no fucking clue someone was moving in there for the summer. The memories flooded my mind. Emotions I’d avoided tried to rise to the surface.
Nope. Not doing that.
I wanted nothing to do with that cabin or with Juliette Campbell, no matter how beautiful or intriguing she was. I’d spent enough summers in Golden Falls to spot a tourist from the city. She drove her goddamn Audi up and down the road at least three times before finding the cabin, and her bright-pink suitcase nearly blinded me.
She most definitely ordered DoorDash the other night, too.
Juliette would spend her summer here and then leave. Just like they always did.
“Hmm,” Cooper hummed, eyeing me skeptically. “Well, maybe I’ll stop by at some point and apologize for you. Be the one to give her a warm Golden Falls welcome.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t say anything. I normally entertained Cooper’s various remarks, but suddenly my patience was thin.
“What?” he asked innocently, raising his hands. “I want to make sure she’s all settled in and give her a tour around town. Maybe show her some of the hiking trails around here. Who’s better equipped than me?”
Cooper was a park ranger and helped manage Wisconsin’s state parks that surrounded Golden Falls and the neighboringtowns. He was also the town golden boy and the one women flocked to. He typically went for the tourists and kept it at a handful of dates before moving on.
“Fine by me. I don’t care,” I muttered.
“Wasn’t asking for your permission, but thanks.” That classic grin of his came back into play. “Everybody’s talking about her.”
“About the new girl?” Louise, one of the Lake Ridge bartenders, piped up as she walked past us and started to set up her station with various drink garnishes. Louise was in her fifties and had lived in Golden Falls for nearly her whole life. “Heard she’s real nice and friendly. She was out walking around downtown with Lily yesterday.”
“Are you talking about Juliette?” Ruby, one of my other employees, bounced up from the host stand to join in on the conversation. Ruby was a seasonal employee and worked summers and winters when she returned to Golden Falls from college. “She was my favorite onParadise Loveand now”—Ruby looked around before leaning in and whispering—“she’s in our town.” She let out a happy squeal. “We have a celebrity in Golden Falls!”
