“That’s great, Tam. Thanks for the tip.”

  In truth, she envied Tam. She had only been here a year, and yet she already seemed to have more of a sense of belonging in Fae Crossing than Bloom has established in twenty years.

  She was just about to ask her about her new job working with the witches at their shop, Curiouser and Curiouser, but Tam spoke first.

  “You see any good prospects?” Tam said as she scanned the crowd with a glint in her eye.

  She just leveled her with a look. “No. And even if I did, I certainly wouldn’t entertain the thought of scoping one out in my own bar.”

  God, what was it with tonight? She was pretty sure she had covered about all her sore spots already. Truth was she wasn’t looking to scope out any man anywhere. Men were not her strong suit. She had the bar. That was enough.

  Keep telling yourself that, Bloom.

  But she put on her smile again. “I’m not interested, Tam. I’ve got a good thing going with this business and I’m not looking to screw it up by bringing a man into the picture. Been there, done that. No, thank you.”

  For a moment it seemed that was enough for Tam to get the message. “It’s just that, you’re so pretty, and...”

  Time for the big guns. One strategic death stare was enough. It stopped Tam mid-sentence. “Okay, I get it. Just sayin’,” she said as she turned on her heel. “I’m going to go mingle.”

  “Love ya, Tam,” she said, blowing her a kiss.

  She couldn’t blame Tam, not really, and she hoped the death stare wasn’t too much. Her last shit show attempt at a relationship had pre-dated her friendship with Tam so she couldn’t really understand. And she had no interest in bringing Tam up to speed. No, she’d had enough of men. Didn’t even seem to matter, Fae or shifter. No, thanks.

  Definitely not shifter.

  She literally shook her whole body to clear out all the old garbage that was threatening to surface.

  Deep breath.

  She breathed out.

  Turning the page.

  Her life circumstances struck her as ironic on more than one occasion. Here she was, the proprietor of the town hub, and yet she was probably the loneliest person in the room. At least that’s what she told herself. I guess I have them pretty well fooled, she thought sadly as she surveyed the bar.

  Still, she tried to remember that she had it pretty good. Fae Crossing was a special place. All were welcome there. If they had a tourist bureau, she thought that’s what it would say on the brochures. Fae Crossing, where everyone is welcome.

  It was a nice idea. But the reality was often far from that lofty ideal. She shook her head as Marius sidled up to the bar.

  “The usual, love,” he called.

  Right, one scotch on the rocks.

  “Coming up,” she called as she set to make the drink.

  All were welcome but that didn’t mean they were one big happy family. To say Fae and shifters were a natural fit was more than a stretch. More like oil and water. Facts. As she got a rocks glass down, she refocused. Don’t go down that road, Bloom. It had already been five years, which seemed impossible. But it had been. It still hurt as much today as when it had first happened. Back to the task at hand.

  “Scotch on the rocks.” She poured in a few fingers and pushed it across the bar to him...

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