Her eyes go wide, and her lips form an O. “Did you slug him one?”

“No, I was quite calm. I left.”

“Keegan’s never liked being told what to do.”

“I didn’t tell him! I suggested that he buy less orange juice.”

“So, you did fight over OJ.”

I sigh. “I guess.”

Maggie giggles.

“It isn’t funny.”

She giggles again, and I can’t help but smile with her. “Okay, it’s a little funny.”

“Your first fight was over a breakfast drink. I think that’s damn funny. Also, Keegan should be shot for telling you to stay in your lane.”

“Yeah, that wasn’t cool. But I was probably a little aggressive with my delivery, too. Maybe I should have said, ‘I have a suggestion,’ before I criticized his vodka and OJ orders.”

“So, are you going back over there to talk it out?”

I blow out a breath and flop onto the couch. “You know what? I don’t think so. I’ll go back when it’s time for my shift.”

“Good, we can ride together. Let’s do a deep-cleansing face mask and pedicures.”

“That’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time.”

A few hours later, at the start of my shift, I walk into the pub with freshly painted toes—albeit hidden in my sneakers—and a clean face. Keegan’s behind the bar, stacking glasses. His head comes up and he looks right at me, his green eyes intense, and if I’m not mistaken, filled with regret.

Before either of us can say a word, Maggie approaches the bar with a grin. “Hey, Keegan, can I please have a glass of orange juice?”

I snort, unable to stop myself. Keegan’s lips twitch.

“There’s plenty back here, Mary Margaret, get it yourself. Izzy, I’d like to see you.”

I follow him into the storeroom where this whole mess began, and he closes the door behind us.

“I owe you an apology,” he begins. “I get defensive when it comes to my pub.”

“Learned that the hard way,” I mutter but smile up at him. “I should have been softer in my delivery. I wasn’t trying to insult you or even tell you how to do your job.”

“You were trying to help,” he finishes for me and steps closer, dragging his hands up my arms and then frames my face. “And I was a jerk.”

“Maybe we both had some jerk tendencies in that moment. But I don’t think you’re a jerk all the time.”

His lips turn up in a smile before descending on mine. The kiss is possessive, sweet, and full of apology.

And when he pulls back, my knees are weak, and what I have on my mind is not going to work.

“We have to get back out there,” I whisper.

“I know. Stay with me tonight.”

“I planned on it.”