“I’m liking the look, Gage.” Annalise points at me. “Don’t mess up that tie. The silk is imported from Italy.”
Priorities in Annalise’s world don’t mirror my own.
She’s a beauty by most men’s measure. Her brunette hair falls to the middle of her back. Her blue eyes are bold. Her face has landed on more than one fashion magazine.
She’s the dream that Myles needs to settle his past once and for all.
My past just walked out of this showroom in the form of a blonde-haired, hazel-eyed, spitfire of a woman.
“Everyone sit down,” Annalise demands with a sweep of her hand in the air toward a large curved bench. “I’m about to wow you with this gown.”
I had my wow moment.
Katie Wesley is hiding somewhere in this boutique and now that I know she’s here, nothing is going to stop me from righting the wrongs of my past.
***
“Are you running for mayor?” Zeke Morrow gives me the once-over. “If you are, don’t count on my vote.”
“What the fuck?” I toss my hands in the air in mock shock. “If I can’t count on one of my closest friends, who the hell can I count on?”
“There’s a cute brunette at table seven eyeing you up.” He gestures past my shoulder. “I bet you can count on her vote and an invitation to her place.”
I don’t bother stealing a glance at the woman he’s talking about.
Since I bought this bar, there hasn’t been a shortage of women wanting to take me home.
I don’t fuck customers. I leave that to Zeke.
He tends bar, does the books and when the urge strikes him, he’ll spend the night with a woman who wanders into Tin Anchor looking for more than a drink.
“What’s with the suit?” He pushes his eyeglasses up the bridge of his nose. “That’s
expensive, no?”
“Very.” I nod as I finally pocket the tie.
After wedding dress shopping, I was invited to Nova, Annalise’s favorite restaurant.
I tried to bow out with an excuse about needing to relieve Zeke behind the bar, but Myles convinced me to sit through the celebratory champagne toast.
I took off before the appetizer round left the kitchen.
“Myles picked it out,” I go on, tapping my hand on the top of the wooden bar. “It’s what the best man wears in his world.”
Zeke fingers the collar of the jacket. “This is premium. Myles spared no expense for his favorite guy.”
I swat his hand away with a laugh. “Your brother is building his Wall Street wardrobe, right? We’re about the same size. It’s his after the wedding if he wants it.”
“You’re fucking joking.”
“Dead serious,” I shoot back. “Myles knows I’m paying it forward after they tie the knot. If Grady wants it, it’s his.”
“He wants it.” He rakes a hand through his dark hair. “He’ll buy you a bottle of scotch to thank you.”
I point at the array of bottles on one of the shelves behind the bar. “I’ve got the scotch covered. He can let me beat him in pool the next time we play.”
“Deal.” Zeke looks over at a group of guys who just walked in. “I’m back at it. You hanging out here for the night?”