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I let out a slow breath of relief I didn’t realize until no tight I ound, wondering if I’d see Eain Or not even hih to coet you?" The bartender asks, strolling over toa plaid shirt and a laid-back ser, thanks"

"Corabs the liquor bottle fro pour "You just get in to town?"

I pause "How did you tell?" I frown

He gives rin "I know everyone in town"

His eyes flick over ed since breakfast with Daniel this o My preppy silk dress and sandals may be normal for the city, but here in Cedar Cove, the uniforot er," he winks at me, and strolls away

I shift aardly onhow out of place I uys in baseball caps and worknore the, and the alcohol burns in the back of ht, with all these old ghosts dancing around the edge of s, like trying to remember the last time I was in a bar alone, without friends, or Daniel The answer is never Even back in college, I was never really the bar-hopping type Lacey dragged me off to parties, and the pub crawls in the city, but after Eo of it and flirt with the frat boys lining up on a Friday night I didn’t even want the randoot dented by a guy My pain was too deep for that Nothing was ever going to ht Then I wound upsemester of my sopho the class to make up a basic requirement for law school The first feeeks, he just smiled at me Cute brown hair, brown eyes, preppy Oxford shirts and pants There was soenuine in his expression, like he had a joke to share withback Then hein the next seat one day, offering nether, and by the time the end of the semester came, he finally asked me out on a date

A real date It was funny--there I was, surrounded by casual hook-ups and one-night stands, and Daniel took the ti off two AM booty texts fro to know him the old-fashioned way Dinner and athe bookstores and cute boutiques in the arts district So I’d been through, I wasn’t about to just throw ain, risk uy when I knew just how much it could hurt me to love someone the way I’d loved before

Because I couldn’t love another man like that, even if I tried That part of me--the part that loved so recklessly, desperately, it was dead and gone But as the months passed with Daniel, and my fears slowly melted away, I came to realize: maybe love doesn’t have to destroy you Maybe it’s not all unbearable passion, and kisses that entle breeze , and sure, and true

"Tiuys fro over me, too close, so I can smell the faint scent of sweat and beer and tobacco on his breath

I try not to recoil

"No thanks" I answer fir, but with a cocky arrogance about his stare "What’ll it be? You want one of those girly cocktails, or are you up for the hard stuff?"

Kenny leers at h my neckline is sensible--hell, practically demure--I feel nad under his stare, in all the worst ways

My chest tightens I feel sick

"I said, no thanks" Ito keep uy seeet back to your friend"

Kenny’s smile slips "What, you won’t drink with townies?"

"I didn’t say that" I answer quickly I look around, but nobody’s paying us any attention, and the bartender is still out in the back

"Sure, but it’s the truth" Kenny sneers at ood for us, is that it?"

"No" My voice is louder now I catch the eye of an older wolances away

"So have a drink" His eyes narrow ulp I know exactly what kind of loose he wants, and that’s never going to happen

Even though I’, I can’t stay I scramble down fro it on the bar "I have to go," I tell hi two steps towards the door