It’s going to be badass.

When we say goodbye to the realtor and return to the bar, I turn and give Adam a wide smile. “I loved it.”

“It’s going to be a ton of work,” he says, returning my grin. “And I agree, it would be awesome. Can we afford it?”

“Here’s the thing.” We sit at one of the tables. “I don’t think I can afford it alone. I can probably get a loan, using the bar as collateral, but I’d rather not have to do that.”

“Callie, I have plenty of money,” Adam says. “I’m happy to loan it to you.”

“I don’t want a loan, Adam, I want a partner.”

He sits back and narrows his eyes. “A partner.”

“Absolutely. You’re just as invested in this place as I am. Probably more, actually.” I lick my lips and tuck my hair behind my ear. “I can’t run this place without you, and we already bounce ideas off of each other like partners. Let’s just make it official. I told you from the beginning, my dad should have left it to you.”

“Are you sure this is what you want? Absolutely positive?”

“I’m sure.” I nod and smile at my friend. “So, are you in?”

“I’m in.” We shake hands and then laugh, excited all over again. “Call the realtor chick and tell her she has a sale.”

I make the call, and she assures me that she’ll get the paperwork started right away. Just as I hang up with her, a text comes in from Declan.

I won’t be able to make it to dinner tonight. I’ll see you later.

And just like that, my bubble is burst. I sigh in disappointment, but before I can think on it too hard, my phone rings with a number from Denver.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Cal,” Keith says, making me raise a brow. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

“Okay,” I reply, not sure what else to say. “What’s up?”

“Well, I’d like to see you,” he says, and I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at it.

“Wait, you called Callie Mills. You know that, right?”

“You’re exactly who I meant to call, Callie,” he says, a smile in his voice. “I know it’s been a few months.”

“It’s been eight months,” I reply. “And I don’t have time for this.”

“I’ll come to you,” he says. “I know you’re busy with the business. I don’t expect you to clear your schedule for a trip.”

“How kind of you,” I reply and roll my eyes. “But the answer is still no, Keith.”

“Callie—”

But before he can say anything else, I hang up.

“He has nerve,” I say as I join Adam behind the bar. “I don’t care enough about Keith to give him even five minutes of my time.”

“Good girl,” Adam says with a smile. “Where are you and Declan going for dinner tonight?”

“We aren’t.” I sigh. “He just cancelled.”

He cocks a brow. “How do you feel about that?”

“You know, I’m just getting impatient. I wish he’d just talk to me so I can tell him to get a grip and if he can’t handle me, he doesn’t deserve me.”

“I like it when you’re badass,” Adam says with a grin. “It’s hot.”

“Damn right it is,” I reply and wink, just as Kate O’Shaughnessy walks through the door. “Hi, Kate.”

“Hi! I know the signs says you’re not open yet, but the door was open.”

“No worries. What’s up?”

“Well, Eli’s out of town tonight for business, and we live just a few blocks over. I was thinking I could take you out for dinner tonight? We haven’t had a chance to really talk.”

“Actually, dinner just opened up for me tonight,” I reply with a nod. “I’d like that.”

“Great, I’ll come get you at about six. I have to get back to the office. Have a great day!”

She rushes out and I turn back to Adam. “Maybe out of all of this, I’ll have made some of those girl friends you’ve been wishing for,” I say to him.

“As long as some of them are hot and single, I’m good with that.”

“God, you’re disgusting.”

***

“So,” Kate says with a smile after the cute waiter at Café Amelie takes our drink orders and walks away. “What are your intentions with Declan?”

I choke on the water I just sipped, and when I can finally breathe again, I laugh. “Just gonna get right to it, are you?”

“Why not?” Kate says with a nod. “I like you, and Declan is one of my very best friends, so I want to know the scoop.”

“Well.” I sit back and look at Kate and decide what do I have to lose? Maybe she’ll have some new insight. “Things were going great. Declan is attentive, encouraging, sexy, fun… all the things I could ask for in someone.”

“He is all of those things,” Kate agrees. “But?”

“But.” I take a deep breath. “A few nights ago, we were making love, and I blurted out that I love him. He didn’t say it back. Since then, he’s been blowing me off. He’s distant and distracted, and I’m honestly just embarrassed. I think I screwed up.”

“You didn’t screw up by loving him,” Kate says, then smiles at the waiter as he sets our drinks down. “Thanks, Joe. We’re talking for now, but will you put in an order of the Brussels sprouts for us?”