“That’s my girl! Drink up. I may make an alcoholic out of you yet. Two days in a row,” Duely said, walking over to place the wine in my outstretched hand. I wish I could enjoy this wine instead of needing to chug it down. Greta had left instructions with Jacque that the wine cellar and bar were to be cleared out. She said to send it home with responsible employees. Jacque had sent ten bottles of more expensive red wine with Heath, and he’d given me a box of white wines and the only bottle of Titos they had left in the bar. There would be no savoring the rich liquid. Duely was just a drinker. He wouldn’t savor it the way it should be either. Hopefully for Greta’s sake, someone enjoyed it properly.

Heath took the other glass and thanked him. Without waiting on him or anyone else to take a drink, I took one long gulp. It was delicious but I didn’t care about that right now. I just needed to relax. The ball of tension building in me was very close to exploding.

“Damn, girl, enjoy it. Don’t chug it,” Duely said, giving me a look that said we’d chat later. He knew my expressions too well. I had to cover up this sudden stress over Heath before Margo walked in and asked me what was wrong. Duely rarely savored wine. He didn’t care that I was drinking it fast.

“It’s been a day,” I told him sourly. He needed to let this go.

He didn’t look convinced. “I’m almost done. Y’all ready to eat or do you want to try the appetizers Margo made? I watched her do it, so they’re edible. Some crusty bread shit she put a lot of cheese and mushrooms on.”

Margo walked in carrying a plate and flashed us all a bright smile. Her cheeks were flushed, and I knew it had nothing to do with the wine. Duely had been up to something in there. I shot him a quick warning glare. He needed to keep his hands off my friends. All of them. I loved him, but he was too sexually promiscuous. He knew my rule.

“I made crostinis, and you forgot to mention the bacon. I added bacon to them. They’re delicious. I swear. Mom makes these and I used her recipe,” Margo explained as she held out the plate of appetizers with pride in her expression.

“If it’s mom’s recipe she’s right, they’re killer,” Heath said. “But Margo can’t cook for shit so I’ll be the one to test it first.”