Page 175 of Smoke and Glitter

I start toward a problem near the service well before I realize one of my bartenders is already handling it.

"I've got it."

My body has already committed to the turn. "You sure?"

He gives me a look while reaching for a clean glass. "Yes, Sam. I'm sure."

I stand there for another second. Then I leave him to it. The next time I pass Autumn, she's trying not to smile.

"Don't."

Her fingers curl around her glass. "I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking something."

"I was thinking how inspiring it is to watch personal growth happen in real time."

"Drink your cocktail."

Instead, she slides a wrapped half sandwich from beside her laptop. "Eat something." I tell her I ate. She reminds me that was four hours ago. The service well is starting to stack up, but I take a bite before I move. Autumn watches until I swallow, then catches my wrist.

"How are you doing?"

"Working."

Her thumb moves once against the inside of my wrist. "I can see that. How are you doing?"

That makes me look around. The room is full. Drinks are moving. My staff is handling what needs handling, and nobody is waiting for me to rescue anything.

Autumn is still holding my wrist when I look back at her.

"I'm good," I tell her. "Better than good."

Her smile softens. "Good."

I bend over the bar and kiss her.

When I pull away, she keeps hold of me for another second.

"Go run your bar."

So I do. The next couple of hours disappear. I answer questions when somebody actually needs me. I leave the rest alone. Every so often I look toward the far end of the bar.

Autumn is there until she isn't. I find her near the back wall.

She has one hand wrapped around her glass while the other rests against the brass plate mounted beneath one of the old lights.

I stop beside her.

"You found it."

Her fingers trace the edge. "Kind of hard to miss now that you've bolted it to the wall."

"Didn't want anybody walking off with it."

"You think there's a market for stolen custom bar plaques?"

"There is now."