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“Sure thing,” she said, shelving wine bottles.
“Wait—you two know each other? You had lunch together?” Everly thrust her lip out in an exaggerated pout.
“Yes,” I said at the same time Macy said ‘no.’ She poured Everly a fresh glass of wine, avoiding my gaze.
“I was working, Ev, at the diner. Don’t get it twisted.” Macy tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and I caught the slightest whiff of citrus from her shampoo.
“Oh, right. The turkey is great there.” Everly nodded, took a sip of wine.
“Can I get you something to drink, Liam?” Macy finally looked at me, tipping her chin in my direction and waiting for a response.
“Sure. I’ll take whatever seasonal beer you have on tap.”
“Coming right up.” She grabbed a fresh glass, pulling the beer from the tap and I couldn’t bring myself to look away. Macy had a magnetic pull on me; I’d never felt like this before.
“So, Liam from California, how long are you staying?” Everly asked, batting her long lashes at me, drawing my attention back to her.
I shrugged. “Tough to say. Depends on how long my family needs me.”
“For what?” Everly asked. This woman was not letting up. I had no idea how I was going to get out of this conversation.
“My uncle had a heart attack. I’m here helping out with the store until they can figure out a long-term solution.”
“Wait—your uncle. Pops? You’re a McCauliffe?” She narrowed her eyes at me, tilting her head first to the right, then to the left. “I see the resemblance now. That’s awful nice of you to drop your tech duties and come all the way out here to help.”
“Well, they’ve done a lot for me. Least I could do.”
“Aww, such a nice guy.” Her hand flitted to my arm, rubbing it lightly, sending a hot wave of panic racing through me.
“Everly!” A group of ladies circled around us, chattering and giggling loudly.
“C’mon, Ev, let’s play darts. Some of the guys from the fire station are here,” a blonde said, snagging Everly’s elbow and pulling her up from her seat. She protested, but not very hard, shooting me and Macy a wave as she followed her friends to the back of the bar.
“Sorry about that. My sister’s real chatty,” Macy said, swiping at a water ring left behind by the wineglass.
“Wait—she’s your sister?” I asked.
Macy nodded. “Yep.”
“Wow.”
“I know, we look nothing alike. And yes, she’s a lot younger than me.”
“I wasn’t comparing.”
“Liar. Everyone does. It’s okay, I’m used to it.” She shrugged, her lips pursed in resignation. She looked so damn sad, I wanted to jump over the bar, wrap her in my arms, and carry her right out of the Rowdy.
“For what it’s worth, you’re more my type,” I said, locking eyes with her.
A soft blush colored her cheeks and she smiled, but broke our gaze, clearing the empty glasses next to me instead.
“So you’re into the older, more mature woman then,” she said in a wry tone.
“C’mon, you can’t be that old. Your sister looks like she’s barely out of college.”
Macy threw her head back, laughing, and I noticed the long, smooth lines of her neck. I very much wanted to press my lips there, feel her skin, taste her.
“She’s twenty-eight, actually, and an elementary school teacher, if you can believe it.”
