Wherever the Dandelion Falls Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the music and drunken laugher.
    I opened the door just enough to say, "We're closed," and was pleasantly surprised to see the girl with long black hair from earlier that night.
    "I'm so sorry," the girl said. "I just came to see if my friend left her purse here."
    I opened the door wide enough for the girl to enter before locking it again behind her, trying not to get too flustered that I was alone with such a beautiful girl.
    She gave me an apologetic grimace. "I'm sorry. It'll just be tricky for Claire to stumble home tomorrow without her keys or wallet."
    "Of course," I said. "What does it look like?"
    "It's green with a black leather strap."
    I walked behind the bar to the area we usually kept lost and found items in. Seeing the purse the girl had described, I placed it on the counter.
    "This it?"
    She gave me a grateful, relieved smile. "Looks like it."
    I gave her a polite smile as I reached for the broom. "Glad you found it."
    Faye checked the contents of the purse and then pulled out her phone, checking it as she leaned forward onto the damp bar. She made no motion to leave. Instead she watched as I made a few strokes on the floor with the broom before saying, "I'm Faye, by the way."
    I looked up. "Riley.”
    "Pleasure to meet you," Faye said. "Do you have to close up alone?"
    "Not usually, but Dave had a hot date so I let him cut out early."
    Faye nodded and still made no motion to leave, leaning over the bar to watch me. When I looked up with a curious smile, she looked embarrassed. I figured she must have a reason for stalling.
    "Having fun babysitting your drunk friends?" I asked.
    Faye rolled her eyes. "Claire found the karaoke bar around the corner and I'm too sober to sit through that shit."
    I gave her a sympathetic chuckle. "Don't tell my boss, but you're welcome to hang out here for a minute while I close up. I know better than anyone how annoying drunk people can be."
    "She's not horrible all the time. But..." Faye lowered her voice. "A few of us have bets on how long this one's going to last."
    I smirked. "What's wrong with the guy?"
    Faye tilted her head, trying to figure out exactly what she didn't like about her friend's fiancé. "I don't trust guys who are that muscly, you know? Usually they're hiding something."
    I giggled."You mean like most of our customers here?"
    Faye rolled her eyes and nodded.
    "Some people are into that."
    "If he feels the need to compensate for something by overdeveloping his chest, I guess no one can stop him. If only I could stop him from marrying Claire," she grumbled.
    I stopped sweeping and studied her. She seemed oddly protective of her friend. "Do you have a thing for her?" I asked, daring to test the waters of her sexuality.
    Faye looked offended. "Ew, no," she hissed. "She's not my type."
    The quiet bar was tense for a moment and I wished that she would tell me what her type was and if I had imagined her sweeping glance earlier. Was I her type?
    Faye's phone buzzed. "Sweet," she said, looking down at it. "They took a cab back to the hotel when they couldn't find me, so I'm off duty. And thank god ."
    "Congrats," I smiled. "Can I offer you a drink?"
    I knew I wasn't supposed to, but Dave was gone and my boss wouldn't know.
    Faye brightened. "Got any scotch?"
    "Coming right up."
    I pulled out a clean glass, wiped it down, and turned to the shelf behind me. "This didn't happen, by the way.” I looked over my shoulder and winked at Faye.
    "What didn't happen?" Faye said with a coy smile.
    "I was wondering the same thing," I volleyed back.
    "I can't even remember where I am."
    I stopped, eyes going wide in mock alarm. "It's not absinthe , Faye."
    Faye laughed as she leaned over the bar. "Are you having one too?"
    I realized that it didn't make sense for me to offer Faye a drink if I wasn't partaking myself. I pulled out a second glass and poured us each a generous drink.
    I looked up mid-pour and it dawned on me that Faye was flirting with me. My stomach flipped in