The Inheritance (Contemporary Reverse Harem 1)

Shit. I hated it when this happened.

Win had known I’d like her. That’s why he’d dragged me there. Just like he’d dragged me to meet Esme, whom we’d both fallen hard for.

“Garnet, great to meet you,” I said in my best I am suave voice.

She turned bright pink, which really made my dick twitch, and let her hand linger in mine for a moment

. I glanced at Win, who wore one of his biggest “happy smirks.”

Win and I both pulled our stools to the side so we could squeeze another between us. She planted her pretty little ass on it.

“Tom?” she said, waving toward the bartender. “Can I have a Stella?” she asked.

“So, a Stella girl, huh?” I asked her.

She took a sip of her beer. “Yeah. Love Stella.” She looked at the two of us.

“So, how long you guys been friends? How do you know each other?”

“We went to elementary school together,” Win answered, nodding. Those were not happy days for either of us, but I liked to think that was all behind us now.

“It has been a long time that I’ve known this jerk,” I added, holding up my beer to him. “Cheers, buddy.”

Garnet joined us. Clicking bottles all around. “To new friends,” Win said.

Her face lit up with a huge—and may I say gorgeous—crooked smile.

“You two have known each other since you were kids? I have that with my friend Matty. It’s really something to have known someone for so long.”

“So Brose, what restaurant are you working in?” she asked.

“North by Northwest. Also known to regulars as NbN,” I said.

“Get out! I’ve never been there but have heard it’s all the rage right now. That’s so cool.”

“Maybe you can come in some time. I’m the sous chef there. We have a slamming menu. You’d probably like it.”

Win piped up. “Brose’s real dream is to have his own restaurant some day. Just wait ‘til you try his cooking.”

She looked between the two of use. Could she already know what we were thinking?

“What are we waiting for? We should go right now.” She threw her head back for another one of her beautiful laughs.

“Why not?” I asked.

“I was just kidding. For one, I am supposed to be working in,” she looked at her watch, “four minutes. But let’s do it another time. And you guys are welcome to hang out. Hell, if you’re nice to me, I may even give you a free beer or two.”

I looked at Win, and we laughed. Did this woman know us, or what?

Garnet hustled over behind the bar and got to work, serving the customers who were just arriving, and greeting them like long-lost friends.

“So,” Win said to me.

“So, yourself,” I said back.

“You enjoying your fancy beer?” he asked, his head tilting toward my Sierra.

“Yup. You enjoying your shitty beer?”