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When she slid onto the stool, a friendly voice said, “You’re new here”
Peyton glanced up, finding a sli a black T-shirt that read whiskey blues across her chest The bright pink lipstick she woreblue eyes pop
“Yup, I’ her hand “I bought the store next door”
“Did you?” The woman returned the handshake “Well, that makes us friends already, then”
Peyton laughed “And here I was thinkingto be hard” She placed her hands back onto her purse “I’m Peyton”
“Kinsley,” the wolass “Lucky for you, I own this place, which hbors” She gestured at the glass “Chocolate martinis sound okay?”
“Sounds divine,” Peyton said, herShe definitely wanted a fish sandwich, but a little liquid love first didn’t hurt Besides, she hoped the drink would help dissolve the lu her life and leaving her family behind But she couldn’t have stayed in Seattle another day Seattle belonged to her and Adaone He wasn’t co back
Kinsley finished pouring two glasses, then held hers up “To new friendships and new beginnings”
Peyton lifted her glass “Cheers to that!”
Before long, one glass turned into two glasses, and Peyton’s belly felt warotten She spoke of Seattle, leaving out all the personal parts, keeping those secrets locked up tight And Kinsley shared life in Stoney Creek, the fun places to go, the sights to see
“I make a damn fine martini,” Kinsley said,
licking the chocolate flakes off her upper lip She placed her elass behind the bar “Give me a couple minutes, then we’ll Uber it to this new house of yours on the lake and grab sootta see this place It sounds a”
Sure, Kinsley was a stranger, but so about her laidback way put Peyton at ease “Deal” Peyton took another sip of her drink, watching Kinsley leave the bar andhappier than she’d felt in an entire year
So her shiver She turned as Mr Crooked Smile sat on the stool next to her He was tall—around six foot two, pure muscle, an all-around fine speciray in the low lighting held hers, and his five-o’clock shadow brought her attention to his totally kissable lips He wore a navy-blue T-shirt that stretched across his chest, showcasing hard biceps, and jeans that hugged his thick thighs
“Hi” He grinned, voice as smooth as melted chocolate And she really liked chocolate A lot