I’ve worked with the elderly in a couple of different countries, but oddly enough, not here in the US.” Madigan looked up as a tall strawberry-blonde with tortoiseshell glasses and a warm smile approached the table. “Hi, Aunt Ginger.”
“Hi, Mads. I thought I’d see if your friend wanted a drink and if you gals were hungry.” Ginger placed her hand on her jeans-clad hip. Her maroon top revealed small tattoos on her upper arms. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
“This is my friend Chloe Mallery. She’s the director at LOCAL. Chloe, this is my aunt Ginger,” Madigan said. “She and my uncle Conroy own this place.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Chloe said.
“So you’re the infamous Uptown Girl.” Amusement danced in Ginger’s eyes, and she said, “I wondered when I might finally meet you.”
“Uptown Girl?” Chloe had no idea what she was talking about.
Ginger touched Chloe’s shoulder and said, “Oh, honey, it’s meant as a compliment. But I just got myself in trouble and let the cat out of the bag, didn’t I?” She winced and looked at Madigan.
Madigan’s eyes widened. “Hey, don’t look at me. I’m as confused as Chloe is.”
“Okay, here’s the deal.” Ginger’s face turned serious. “My nephew Maverick—Justin—has had one heck of a crush on you for a very long time, and his brothers and cousins tease him about you being out of his league. You know how guys joke around.”
Chloe had been so swept up in her conversation with Madigan, she hadn’t even realized her nervousness had dissipated until now, as her nerves prickled to life and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “It sounds like they think I’m too stuck-up for him.”
“What? No. No way,” Madigan exclaimed.
Ginger shook her head. “No, honey. I assure you, stuck-up has never been mentioned. Sexy, beautiful, smart, yes, but never stuck-up. The guys think you’re hot stuff.”
“How come I’ve never heard anyone call her that?” Madigan asked.
“Because I’m the bartender and I hear everything.” Ginger touched Madigan’s shoulder as she’d touched Chloe’s and said, “And you’re the baby sister who the men in our family would like to think knows nothing about the scandalous ways of men and women.”
Madigan rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Well, it’s no wonder Justin is into you, Chloe. You’re gorgeous. Most of the guys in here were checking you out the second you walked in.”
“They were not,” Chloe said, looking around quickly, although she was too sidetracked thinking about Justin’s brothers and cousins calling her Uptown Girl to think about anything else. She’d never felt out of Justin’s league. They just had different lifestyles.
“They were checking you out, sugar,” Ginger said. “And that’s a good thing. Pretty young women like you two deserve to be checked out.” She pointed across the room to a handsome man with longish silver hair and a bright white smile talking with a group of people and said, “Now, if someone like that guy checks you out, then you’d better watch yourself. He’s a real flirt.”
“That silver fox over there? Really? I guess if you’re that good-looking, it kind of comes with the territory,” Chloe said.
Madigan burst into hysterics. “That’s my uncle Conroy! He never flirts with anyone but Aunt Ginger.”
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry for calling your husband a silver fox!” Chloe covered her face.
Ginger laughed and said, “Don’t be. Everyone checks him out, as well they should. That man is quite a looker, and he’s all mine. We tease a lot around here, but it’s all in good fun. You should come by more often. And for what it’s worth, my sons and my nephews have their heads stuck in their spokes, because Maverick is one of the finest and most honorable young men I know. Now, what can I get you to drink?”
“After hearing what they call me, a bottle of tequila might be nice,” Chloe teased.
“I hear ya on that,” Ginger said as her husband headed their way. “Are you driving tonight?”
“Yes, but I was kidding about the tequila. Just an iced tea would be great, thank you,” Chloe said as Conroy Wicked stepped beside Madigan’s chair and dropped a kiss on her head. He was even more handsome up close, with deep dimples and blue eyes as bright as his smile.
“How’re my girls?” Conroy asked.
“Hi, Uncle Con,” Madigan said warmly. “This is my friend Chloe. She thinks you’re hot.”
“Mads!” Chloe chided her, causing them to laugh. “I don’t think that! I mean, you’re a handsome man, but…” She was so screwed, and Conroy