Through the crowd, Charlie’s gaze meets mine.
I avoid him and stand next to Hailey as I attempt to remember how to form words with my mouth.
Charlie sidles up to the island to stand across from me.
Since I’m suddenly tongue-tied, I ignore him to address the bartender from the other night. “Hey, Sam.”
“How’s Revival treating you so far?” He blinks at me like an innocent lamb, as if he’s trying to convince me his angelic appearance isn’t a façade.
“I haven’t experienced much of it, but so far, so good,” I say.
Gracie sidles up next to me. “I see you met my baby brother.”
“Your brother?” I assess them. Same blond hair, same clear blue eyes and good genes, but where he’s tall and lean, she’s all sinful curves. “I see the resemblance.”
Sam cocks a smile. “She’s the dramatic one.”
“Guilty.” Gracie flashes a sly grin at Charlie. “Speaking of which, I heard you made quite an impression.”
Charlie sighs but remains silent.
“I have no idea what you mean.” I do what any good lawyer would and turn my attention to information-gathering. “So, how does everyone here know one another?”
From the other end of the island, Maddie clears her throat. “Since it’s my house, I’ll do the honors.”
Charlie’s gaze meets mine.
Lots of men have lusted after me, treating me as a prize to be won, to be conquered. They concoct a fantasy about who they think I am and then try to mold me into it.
But that’s not how Charlie looks at me.
When he looks, he’s looking at me. My skin flushes hot.
Wait… Do I like him?
No, that can’t be.
It’s the orgasms. That’s all.
I jerk my attention away from him to focus on the introductions I’m supposed to be listening to.
Maddie points to James and Gracie. “James is my brother and, as you heard, a professor, and Gracie owns a bakery in Chicago and has just opened a storefront in town. They split time between Chicago and Revival, but James is on sabbatical while the kinks are worked out of the new operation, so you’ll see them a lot.”
Maddie gestures to a small, dark-haired woman who looks like a tiny fairy princess. “This is Harmony Jones. She’s Gracie’s manager at the bakery but mainly works here in Revival.”
The woman nods and smiles, but Maddie moves on before she speaks, turning to a tall, extremely good-looking guy with light golden-brown hair and matching eyes. “This is our fire chief, Cole Montgomery. He’s new in town too.”
“Pleasure.” The man in question nods at Hailey, then says to me in a deep baritone that should narrate audiobooks, “You’ve got great timing. I’m revamping the entire department from the ground up.”
I give him my most playful, teasing smile. “Oh, fun. I do love a project, but before you get too excited about my arrival, I’d suggest you reserve judgment until after our first meeting.”
“A warning, huh?” His warm brown eyes flash with appreciation.
I shrug one bare shoulder. “At my old job, they used to call me The Crusher behind my back.”
My brother speaks up. “She’s trying to scare you.”
I grin. “I’m, like, way intimidating.”