Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“You look gorgeous in everything,” Harper assured her as Amber rustled through the trunk.
Silence stretched between them as Amber spiffed up her outfit with the killer stilettos until Harper blurted, “There’s something you should know before you go inside. Want to call your folks and tell them you’re here?”
“You tell me,” Amber ordered in her stern—don’t mess with me—nurse voice.
“Well… Let’s go inside and get that daiquiri first.”
“What in the world’s going on? Are you okay?” When Harper nodded her head, Amber checked, “Is everyone else okay?”
“Everyone is great. In fine form,” Harper rushed to assure her as she guided Amber into the bar.
“Wow! I hope everyone has a nametag. I don’t recognize anyone. They all got old,” Amber whispered to Harper as she looked around.
Checking for her dad at the crowded bar, Amber froze and clenched Harper’s fingers as her eyes locked on a handsome figure behind the bar.
“I think I’m hallucinating.”
As Harper leaned in to whisper something in her ear, the bartender looked up. Rio. It was him. His hair was silvery black under the bar lighting.
“Rio?” she whispered to no one in particular.
She recognized her name on his lips in response as he spotted her. In a familiar surge of muscles and pure masculine power, Rio braced his hands on top of the bar and vaulted over it in a display of strength and grace that drew everyone’s attention. As he stalked forward, their gazes locked together.
“Amber,” Rio exclaimed, running his hands down her arms as if he needed to touch her to reassure himself she was real.
He studied her face before glancing at her bare left hand. “I am so glad to see you.”
“What are you doing here, Rio? Are you back working behind the bar?” she questioned.
Rio laughed and nodded ruefully. “I enjoy working behind that bar. It feels good—familiar. And you’re here.”
“I just accepted a job at the hospital,” Amber blurted, then looked around for Harper. She hadn’t told anyone yet. Amber had saved the news for a surprise.
“Congratulations.” He studied her face before adding, “Your folks didn’t tell you, did they?”
“What? Are they okay? Is that why you’re here?”
“I think they’re probably better than we are. Your dad told me they were going on a ten-day cruise through the Mediterranean Sea.”
“They never leave the bar for the weekend,” Amber said in shock.
“Now they can. Go talk to your friends. Then, come see me,” Rio directed with a steely tone in his voice.
“You won’t disappear?” she challenged.
“I won’t.”
Amber paused to watch him walk away. Could he have gotten hotter? When her friend cleared her throat, Amber shook off the fog surrounding her.
“What is going on?” Amber asked Harper.
“You’ve missed a few things. Come on. You can protect me as we pick up our nametags from Miranda. She can’t resist pointing out how wonderful her life is compared to mine,” Harper sighed as she guided Amber forward to the woman behind the desk, who watched them closely.
“Hi, Miranda. I hope Cinderella is feeling better,” Harper commented.
“She gets so many germs at daycare. Can’t you clean more to kill all the stuff the kids pass around?” Miranda complained.
“There are not enough disinfectant wipes in the world to combat the number of germs one toddler can discover,” Harper joked.
“You really should take this more seriously. The city could send in inspectors,” Miranda said with one arched eyebrow.
“They visit regularly. Perhaps you would prefer another daycare option. I'll miss Cinderella but completely understand.” Harper stood her ground.
“If you weren’t the cheapest place in town, I’d move her,” Miranda snapped.
“Wow,” Amber interjected, staring the unpleasant woman down. She didn’t want to make a scene, but she wouldn’t allow Miranda to treat Harper like this.
"It’s okay, Amber. Let’s just get our nametags,” Harper urged, and ran a finger over the display to find hers.
Amber leaned forward to pick hers and whispered to Miranda as she pointed to two places on her hairline, “Your facelift tape is coming undone here and here.”
“Well, I never,” Miranda sputtered as she raised her hands to run her fingers over the spots Amber had indicated.
Amber just smiled and pulled the back off her sticker. “Just trying to help,” she told the unpleasant woman as she walked away without looking back.
Instantly, the cheerleaders swarmed Amber to give her hugs and get caught up. Amber was pleased to see them include Harper in their conversation. Thank goodness some people grow up!
“We love the changes Rio has made to the bar. He’s keeping the traditional feel but updating it,” Suzanne commented.
“It is lovely,” Amber started before processing Suzanne’s words. Was he the new manager?
“Someone asked him at the bar if he’d change the name now that your parents retired and sold the business,” another classmate shared.
“And what did he say?” Amber asked, turning around to search for Rio behind the bar. He’d deliberately let her think he was just working behind the bar.