Masked Desires Read Online Free PDF Page A

took the opportunity to rectify that.
    ‘So what about you? How long have you owned this place?’
    Eddie folded the paper shut, and set it down on the counter top. ‘A little over four years now. Before that, I was in construction. Did a lot of work around the Village, and a few of the guys used to drink here all the time. It was called the Barrow Tavern in those days, and it was a proper dive. Just real neglected, you know? And it’s in such a prime location, I always thought with just a little investment, it could be a great little neighbourhood bar.’ He broke off as a man walked up to the counter. ‘Hey, Tyler, what can I get you?’
    As the lanky, dark-haired guy Eddie had addressed as Tyler settled himself on a bar stool, I fought to suppress a grin. His black tank top left his arms bare, and the blackwork tattoo on his right arm was instantly familiar to me. The last time I’d seen it had been from my kitchen window as he clung on tight to his blonde lover, fucking her on the fire escape. Now here he was, thumbs pressing rapidly at the keypad of his cell phone while he waited for Eddie to pour his beer.
    ‘You know him?’ I asked, once he’d been served and Eddie turned his attention back to me.
    ‘Oh, I know any number of people to say hi to,’ Eddie replied. ‘But yeah, Tyler’s in here all the time. Though I’m surprised to see him on his own. He usually has some girl or other hanging off his arm. Very popular with the ladies, is Tyler.’
    If what I’d been a witness to the other day was a typical performance, I had a good idea why. ‘So,’ I said, switching back to our original topic of conversation, ‘you were telling me how you came to buy the bar?’
    ‘Oh yeah. Well, it was always a dream of mine to own a bar, but I never saw it happening. I’d managed to put some savings aside, but nothing like as much as I’d need. Then I found out that my old man had put quite a large sum of money in trust for me, and once I turned 30 I could get my hands on it. Talk about fate, but a month after my 30th birthday, the owners put this place up for sale and – well, you can guess the rest.’
    So if his father had put money in trust, did that mean the man was dead, or …? Rudy yelling, ‘Order up!’ from the kitchen put a halt to me asking any more questions, as I went to collect the burger and fries that had been ordered by the man in the booth closest to the door.
    A party of tourists wandered in, commandeering my attention and embarking on a rambling, complicated order of food and drinks. As they were deciding whether they wanted their burgers with blue cheese and mushrooms or bacon and avocado, I looked over toward the bar and caught Eddie’s eye. He winked, the action so unutterably sexy it sent a thrill of excitement skittering through me.
    ‘Oh waitress, could I make that a large glass of white zinfandel?’ the woman who’d been taking longest to make up her mind asked in a slow, southern drawl.
    ‘Sure thing,’ I said, scribbling her request on my pad. ‘I’ll be right back with the drinks.’
    There was so much more I wanted to ask Eddie, but he appeared to be engrossed in conversation with Tyler, pointing to the same story in the Reporter he’d been discussing with me. There’d be time, I told myself, and went to take the food order through to Rudy.
    A couple of nights later, another familiar face crossed the threshold of Eddie’s. Delia had sent a couple of texts promising she’d come down and visit me, but I was still a little surprised to see her walk into the bar one Thursday evening. It was stormy outside, and she paused for a second in the doorway to shake her umbrella free of raindrops. I’d half-expected her to bring some of the girls from the Reporter with her, but she’d come on her own. She found a spare seat at the bar, perching on it daintily as she waited to be served.
    ‘Hey, Summer, how’s it going?’ she asked as I walked past her carrying a tray of beers