Still The One (The Heartbreak Brothers 2)

“Yep. The best cocktails ever.” Chrissie smiled at him.

Nate shook his head and wandered to the bar, leaning slightly to the left. Tanner stood and glanced at their group. “I think I’ll go help him. I don’t like his chances of carrying the drinks back without spilling them.”

Chrissie put her hand on Tanner’s forearm. “That’s a great idea,” she said warmly.

Gently, he pulled his arm away and walked over to where Nate was leaning on the bar, lifting one finger up as he tried to remember the order.

“Two pornstar martinis, one white wine and a Coke zero,” Tanner said to Sam, biting down a smile as the grizzled barman rolled his eyes. “And four more beers, please.”

Sam had put one of Gray’s albums on, the low beats echoing out of the speakers fixed to the wall. Tanner tapped his fingers on the sticky bar, smiling as he remembered singing this song with his brother when they’d tried to beat Becca and Maddie at Karaoke.

For some reason the girls won. Becca still hadn’t let him forget it.

“I want another drink.”

Tanner looked to his left to see where the slurred words were coming from. A woman was half-sitting on a barstool, her long hair spilling out of the clip she’d fixed it in, obscuring her face. Her top was low, enough for her cleavage to be on clear display for everybody to see. Tanner pulled his eyes away.

“Nothing more for you,” Sam said, pouring vodka into a stainless steel cocktail shaker, followed by champagne. “You’ve had enough.”

“Just one more.” Hal

f her body was on the counter. If she wasn’t so drunk, Tanner suspected she’d be climbing over the bar to help herself. “Come on, Sam. Just one more.”

He recognized that voice. Tanner tilted his head to the side, stealing another glance. Despite the curtain of bleached hair, he knew who it was. Kimberly. Van’s mom. He took a deep breath and turned toward her. “You okay?” he asked.

“Who’s asking?” She tucked the curtain of hair over her shoulder and turned to look at him.

“I’m a friend of Van’s.” He didn’t want to tell her his name. He was her landlord, after all, even if she didn’t know it. This had the potential to get messy as hell.

Kim slid off the stool and tried to steady herself on the counter. Next to him, Tanner could feel the warmth of Nate’s scrutiny. “Hello, friend of Van’s,” Kim said, her lips curling into a smile. “I don’t suppose you want to buy me a drink?”

“No, I don’t.” Tanner folded his arms across his chest. “You should probably go home.”

“Ha!” She tipped her head back, but lost her footing, tottering on her high heels. Tanner reached forward to grab her arm, steadying her.

She snapped her head around. “Don’t touch me if you’re not buying me a drink.”

“Sam’s stopped serving you.”

She licked her lips, then lifted her head to stare at him. “Do I know you?”

“I’m a friend of Van’s,” he said again.

Her brows knitted together. “Van. Perfect Van. Don’t tell her I’m here, she’ll go crazy.” Her words were all slurred together. He had to lean his head in to hear her properly. “Oh, you’re pretty,” Kim said, reaching up to trace his lips with her finger. He could smell cigarette smoke on them.

“I really think you should go home,” he told her softly. “I’ll walk you back.”

She laughed, a glass-like tinkle that cut right through him. “No sex unless you buy me a drink.” She attempted to smile. “I’m a lady.”

Tanner tried not to shudder.

“Is everything okay?” Chrissie asked, walking to the bar to join them. Her eyes widened when she realized who Tanner was talking to. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, looking Kim up and down. “Is she drunk?” she asked Tanner.

“Chrissie Fairfax. Johnny’s favorite little girl.” Kim lurched forward, only stopping herself from falling by putting her hands firmly on Tanner’s chest. He gripped her forearms, looking around for somewhere he could set her. Christ, she was drunk.

If Van could see her now, she’d be mortified. He needed to get Kim home before she embarrassed herself – and her daughters – any more.

Chrissie glanced at Tanner, her eyebrows lifting. “Should we call the police?”