Page 53 of Wrecked

He raises his brows in surprise.

“For the next forty years at least. That’s assuming, I retire in my sixties.”

He lets out a breath. “The bar.” With a low laugh, he smiles, almost to himself, and then furrows his brow. “When did you decide you wanted to be a bar owner?”

“Senior year of high school. I started working at The Bucking Bronco, and I fell in love with it. I know what you’re thinking. Of course an eighteen-year-old would love working at a bar, but it was more than that. It’s a place where people come to have a good time. What other job allows you to dance and talk with people and get paid for doing it? Don’t get me wrong; it’s hard work. There’s inventory, accounting, security, insurance, liability, constantly finding new ways to reinvent yourself, like with a new drink menu or new food item. Are the employees stealing? Are underage kids getting in? How do we keep up with the competition down the road? I mean, I lose sleep from thinking about it, and it’s not even my bar yet. But all jobs are hard, right? But are they all as rewarding? Wait, that came off wrong. You’re a cop—”

“I know what you mean. You’re supposed to do what you love.”

“Do you love what you do? Even when you’re dealing with scum like Nico Martinez?”

“Yes,” he says without missing a beat. “Tell me more.”

I puff my cheeks out and let out a long breath. “By the time I was supposed to send in my college tuition for the first semester, I told my parents I didn’t need the degree for what I wanted to do. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on school, I wanted to put that money away and save for my own business. I honestly didn’t think it would happen as soon as it did, but when Paulie said he was selling The Bucking Bronco, I jumped on it. And in two months, he’ll fly off to Florida, and I will be the proud owner of McConaughey’s.”

His face is a mix of surprise and intrigue. “Why are you changing the name?”

“A few reasons. The Bucking Bronco does great, but there are new bars opening on every corner. The place hasn’t been updated in thirty-five years. I think a fresh look will bring in more people. I’ll still keep the essence of the bar, just with a new twist. Upgrade the technology, revamp the back room to create more of a lounge feel, and freshen up the bar area. Plus, it’ll be mine. I don’t want to just buy someone else’s success. I want to turn it into my own.”

“People will be impressed with your success, which brings me to my next question. Why didn’t you want Rory to know you are buying the bar?” he says. Then, he adds, “Your brother’s a terrible actor by the way.”

I snort, and it’s really unattractive.

I’m too busy being embarrassed when Adam asks, “Leah, does anyone know you’re buying the bar?”

“No,” I say quickly. I’m so used to only my family and Suzanne knowing about my plans. “No one’s allowed to know the bar will be mine.”

He blinks back in confusion. “Why?”

I bite my lip and think of the best words to explain it. “You’d be amazed at how much people tell bartenders. I need them to keep telling me what’s happening in town. It’s how I stay ahead of the crowd. How I control what’s happening inside the bar.”

“Bullshit,” he declares.

I blanch. “Excuse me?”

“That is total bullshit.”

I open my mouth in surprise and then turn my head in the other direction. He puts his hand on my chin and pulls me back toward him.

“Leah,” he says, his voice serious, his eyes burning with earnest, “why don’t you want anyone to know you’ll own the bar?”

I start to say something but realize it’s no use, so I answer honestly, “Because no one will ever take me seriously.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The same reason you don’t. Party-girl Leah owns a bar? People think I’m this flighty bar chick who likes to get down and have fun, no matter what. If they know I run the bar, they’ll trash the place and stop paying tabs.”

“I’d never let that happen.”

“Great. People love going to a place crawling with cops.”

I try to move away, but he opens his hand on my chin and snakes it up the side, bringing me back toward him and making me answer.

“Adam, I know my strengths, but more importantly, I know my weaknesses. Trust me when I tell you, the only way I will be a success is if no one knows the bar is mine.”

“That doesn’t sound like the girl I knew. My Leah breaks balls and tells it like it is. If someone were to stiff you on a tab, you’d get up on that bar and publicly shame them. If they trashed your place, you’d take a Louisville to their car.”

“I can’t have an ego anymore. My parents mortgaged their house, and my grandmother sold her bonds. I handed over every penny I had, and I have a colossal-sized loan to pay off. That’s why, at least for now, I want things to be this way.”