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“I understand you’re a very good singer I ith a gal at the clinic who’s heard you sing a few tirew inside her
“Thanks I like to rock the house” She turned, and then paused, as if re “Alex just textedlate”
“He could have texted me”
“Didn’t get your number Has the vet number, but not your private cell”
“I ive it to him”
“He won’t be er He’s sentme on his status” She leaned closer, as if they were conspirators “He’s co than in the last month”
“I don’t picture hiave her a chance to corral nerves that bucked out of reach despite her positive self-talk
Maybe he’ll be so late you’ll ht, fear said Maybe you’ll have a beer, hear soo home No harm No foul
Georgia laid her hand on Leah’s arm “If Alex says he’ll be here, he will”
“Great” She watched Georgia cut through the crowd, crack jokes with a few of the e The band behind her was couitars, a drummer, and a fiddle player The fiddle player sawed a few chords of “Fire on the Mountain” as Georgia wrapped her fingers around the mic
Nestling her irls ready for soht?”
The crowd hooped, hollered, and clapped
The heat in the roo her jacket on a peg Habit had her recounting the exits in the bar Only two, and neither was easily reached Tension rippled through her body What had her therapist said? Breathe in Breathe out You’re going to be fine
Moving toward an open spot on the bar, she welco a beerto hold would make her feel more normal for a second or two Norht? And then, once she got the beer, well, she’d worry about what came next
As Georgia began a lively tune, a Taylor Swift song about boys and true love, the bartender, KC, caught sight of her alet you?”
She smiled because people in lively places like this were supposed to be having a good tiood time smiled “A beer”
He picked up a rag from under the bar and wiped the space in front of her “Bottle or draft?”
“Bottle”
From a cooler below the bar, he pulled out an iced bottled beer She watched as he popped the top and set it in front of her As she reached for money, he shook his head “Alex said he’d cover the tab when he got here”
Was everyone watching her? That should have ht? “How do you know I’m here with Alex?”
“He toldto his sister”
He was co her, and compliments prompted smiles She smiled “Thanks”
His deep voice cut through the music “Alex hates to be late But that’s the nature of a cop’s job”
“Makes sense No schedule for crime and all”
As Georgia’s voice rose and teased the edges of a high note, KC leaned closer “He’s a hell of a good cop Great guy Bit of a control freak In a good way of course”
She sipped her beer, wondering if there was a good kind of control freak “Of course”
KC leaned on the bar, in no real rush to ia that you work at the vet hospital”
The cold beer tasted good “For about four months now”
Beefy fingers swiped over a thick mustache “What’re you, like a nurse?”
“Like a doctor I’eon”
A dark brow arched, and she sensed he’d checked off another box on a mental list “A real animal doctor”
Grinning, she raised the bottle to her lips “I’ve got the papers to prove it”
“Good for you” A patron at the bar held up an elass and called out, but he waved him away “So how did you and Alex meet?”
“At the clinic Tracker introduced us”
KC laughed “Right Makes sense That dog gets around” He turned to go, then paused “You know, there’s nothing to be nervous about”
She sed a gulp of beer “I’m not nervous”
He winked “I used to be a cop I know nervous when I see it”
A direct gaze, she’d been told, conveyed truth and courage “I’ue I worked a twelve-hour shift today”