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)
“And we get to see if there’s more than a physical attraction, too?” Amber teased. She liked that the hubbub of the bar created a private space for them to talk without others listening.
“Oh, there’s that, definitely. But we don’t need an introduction. Let's see if I remember everything. Your favorite color is green. You hate the nickname Sparky. You’d rather be Amberella, or Ella for short. You love peanuts in the shell and hate cashews. You always wanted to play football instead of being a cheerleader, and you consider your biggest flaw to be your size-nine feet.”
Amber looked at him in shock. “You remember all that about me?”
“I do. I’d have to disagree with you about your feet. You’re killing me in those shoes.”
Amber followed his glance over her crossed thighs and down her snug jeans to the high-heeled shoes she’d bought just for the reunion. No nurse would ever wear those regularly. She extended one shoe out to consider the heel.
“They’re killers,” she agreed playfully. “I’ll take them off as soon as possible.”
“What can I get you?” Rio asked.
“How about a strawberry daiquiri with some rum this time?”
“I don’t want you to have an excuse for anything you choose to do,” Rio stated firmly.
“I’m a big girl, Rio. I’m not going to do anything I don’t want to do,” she assured him.
She thought about that brave statement as he crafted a drink with a splash of alcohol and set it in front of her. Gathering her courage, she decided not to waste any time and asked, “Rio, what do you want from me?”
“Everything. The last time I saw you wasn’t the right time. You needed to spread your wings and I needed to wait until you were ready for all that I would demand.”
“Demand?” she echoed, leaning closer.
“Rio, I need three IPAs, a scotch on the rocks, and four strawberry daiquiris," one of the waitresses called from the service bar. “Have the reunion ladies worn out the blender yet?”
“Not yet. On it, Jeri,” Rio called back as he moved smoothly to create the drinks.
Seeing Amber chuckle, the server summed her up as one of the celebrants. “Sorry.”
“No problem. I’m Amber Murphy. I understand bar trends,” Amber reassured her. She’d sat in this very spot too many times and watched one order blossom into a dozen as people coveted what someone else was drinking.
“Oh. Sorry. I haven’t met you before. I’m Jeri,” the cheerful waitress introduced herself, appearing to realize she was talking to the former owner’s daughter. “I’ve been here a bit over a month. I worked with your dad for three days before Rio took over.”
“Really? Rio’s owned Murphy’s for a month?” Amber mused before seeing the confusion on the server’s face. “Sorry, just thinking aloud. I’m glad to meet you, Jeri.”
That smile froze on Amber’s face as Jeri reached over the bar to grab unnecessary lime wedges for the margaritas as Rio set them on her tray. The motion seemed deliberate, as if to draw Rio’s attention to the low-cut Murphy’s T-shirt Jeri wore.
Amber’s gaze flashed to meet Rio’s as possessive anger flared inside her stomach at the young server’s obvious attempt to flirt. His serious expression calmed her slightly.
“Jeri, Amber is my person.” Rio claimed her easily and established a boundary.
“Oh! Sorry.” Without a second thought, Jeri was off to deliver her drinks.
“You’ll have to trust me,” Rio said in a low voice. “My interests are more focused than a random encounter.”
“I hadn’t ever thought about the temptation here. Maybe I’m just a momentary challenge.”
“Take a second to replay our relationship,” Rio suggested.
“Do we have a relationship?” Amber answered flippantly.
When Rio simply looked at her before busying himself with the next drink order, Amber considered what he’d suggested. She’d known Rio during her tumultuous teen years. He’d always been glad to see and talk with her.
“Why did it take you so long to come back?” she asked.
“You needed time to become your own person. I was too old for you then.”
“You’re still thirteen years older than I am,” she reminded Rio.
“You’re a highly skilled nurse who’s traveled the world now. You know who you are and what you want out of life.”
“I knew what I wanted then, too,” she reminded him.
He nodded, acknowledging her feelings. She liked that he didn’t try to discount those. Rio had always listened to her.
“Perhaps it was me that needed to grow up, Amberella,” he suggested.
The nickname made her smile. He’d always been the only one to call her that. “Are you grown up now?”
“Yes.”
She could question that succinct answer or she could just accept it. Amber considered the time they’d lost after Rio disappeared. Were there any experiences she’d want erased from her life after going to college? Mentally shaking her head, Amber acknowledged there weren’t. She was happy with herself and ready to settle down.