“I don’t have anywhere else to be, so maybe I’ll hang out here, then I can get you your jacket before I leave. Would it be okay if I stayed awhile?”

Dempsey pushes off the bar and looks around, then puffs out his cheeks and blows out a breath.

“I won’t tell you that you can’t sit here,” he relents. “But I’m only serving you soda. And I swear to God, Maddie, if you pull out that sparkly pink flask—”

I hold up both hands in defense. “I came in empty-handed,” I declare. “Besides—where would I store a flask in this outfit?” I cock one eyebrow playfully and do a silent happy dance when his eyes scan up and down my body. I’m wearing a white spaghetti strap crop top and my fitted boyfriend jeans. I came in carrying only a wristlet. I couldn’t stash a flask on me right now if I tried.

“You’re something,” he mutters again.

“So you keep saying… Hey. Would you save a seat for me if I went next door and ordered food? You can say no if you want. I’ll just DoorDash my order like last time. I’m sure Jake loves paying those extra fees,” I snicker.

“I’ll save your seat. But you have to do something for me.”

“What’s that?”

“Order me extra tots, please.”

Can do, Dempsey Haas.

12. Dempsey

Chapter 12

Dempsey

Every fiber of my being is screaming at me that this is a terrible idea. But I’ve already let things get this far. And I have no idea how to reel it in now.

Maddie Wheeler hung out at the bar all night, and I didn’t hate it.

She’s fun to be around now that I set some boundaries and we’re not dancing around an attraction I refuse to pursue. She’s also more extroverted than even my brother, which is saying something. She’s quick. She’s hilarious. And she has this way of convincing anyone to do what she says, which would be scary if I didn’t see right through her sweet-as-sugar pout.

I spent the night mixing drinks, keeping an eye on her, and laughing as she made Cole and Tristan compete to see who could catch the most tots in their mouth. She even fashioned a drink napkin crown for the winner, Cole.

Now it’s the end of the night—way past last call—and everyone has vacated the premises, including the rest of my staff.

I don’t know what possessed me to insist they head home. I hadn’t meant to be alone with her at the end of the night like this.

Yet here we fucking are.

“Ready?” I ask cautiously, watching as she lifts her lithe body off the stool and walks the length of the bar.

“Ready when you are,” she declares as she stops near one end.