I put my hands in my front pockets and stare back at him. For the longest time, I didn't think I deserved anything. I was raised by shitty parents, and I turned to the Army when I was 18. I truly believe if I hadn't have done that, I would probably be dead right now under a bridge somewhere. The Army taught me a lot about being a man. And I can’t believe that Emery fell in love with me. I did everything wrong, and she probably hates me now, but I can't give up.
I need to right all of my wrongs, and I need to win her back. It almost seems impossible going by the way she never wants to talk to me when I go and see her. I shake my head and try to get the thoughts out of my head. I can't start thinking negatively. That's not going to help at all. I clear my throat and look at Walker. "I'm thinking that we should promote Colt. I think he can handle it."
Walker nods his head. "I agree. I was sort of thinking the same thing. Why don't we get a meeting together sometime later today and go over the changes that are going to be taking place?"
I nod at him. "That sounds like a good idea."
I turn on my heel to walk out, but Walker stops me before I get through the door. "Hey man, are you okay with all of this?"
I sort of wince as I look back at him. Walker knows me better than most. He knows me as an adrenaline junkie, and there’s no doubt he’s wondering if I’m going to be able to do this or not. Can I really step away? But I don’t know how to explain it except be honest with him. "I'm going to miss the missions, but there's no way it can compare to how much I miss her. I have to get her back, Walker."
He looks at me worriedly. "I got your back, man. Anything you need." I nod and go out the door with my head down as I walk toward my office. I think that taking a backseat role with the Ghost Team is going to be the easy part. Winning back Emery is a completely different story.
Chapter 2
Emery
“So have you always lived in Whiskey Run?”
I’m doing my best to appear interested, but not too interested in the man sitting across from me at The Whiskey Whistler. Ray has been coming into the bakery for the last month, asking me to go out with him, and finally I agreed. I sort of had to. No matter how hard I’ve tried, I can’t forget my ex-husband, Nash. Everything I do brings up a memory of us together, and it’s driving me crazy. I wanted this divorce. I’m the one that asked for it, and I know I need to move on. “No, actually I’ve only been here a few years.”
He looks at me, waiting for me to continue, but I don’t say anything. I moved to Whiskey Run when Walker and Nash relocated the Ghost Team here, but I don’t want to get into all that with Ray.
He shrugs his shoulders. “Uhhhh, okay. They’re busy in here tonight. I’m going to go up to the bar and get our drinks. What can I get you?”
I take a deep breath and wish that I could just walk out of here and go home, but I can’t. I would like to have a shot–or two–of Blaze Whiskey, which our town is known for, but I don’t want to lose my senses. “I’ll take a mojito, please.”
He smiles and smacks the table in front of us. “Be right back. Save my seat.”
I barely refrain from rolling my eyes. I watch him walk away and then around the bar. Since I own the bakery right down the street, I have at one time or another seen or met almost everyone in Whiskey Run. And even though I’ve only been here a few years, they all treat me as a local, one of them. When I first got to Whiskey Run and Nash was traveling across the world for his job, I was bored. I needed something to do, and since I had worked in my family’s bakery since I was little, I opened the Sugar Glaze Bakery. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve done. It’s definitely saved me from going stir crazy. I could only take so much sitting at home, waiting for Nash, before I knew I had to do something.
Ray comes back with a tray and sets two drinks in front of me and then a mug of draft beer in front of him. “Here you go... I grabbed you two.”
I look at the green fruity-looking drinks in front of me and then up at him. He must have high hopes for how this night is going to play out, but there’s no way I’m ready for that. “Thank you, but one’s my limit.”