Turning to see who the drinks were for, he watched her hand them all to Mia, who already had four empty glasses in front of her. When had she had time to finish them all? He had been watching her. His last count had been two empty, two full.
Her back stiff, he watched her pick up one of the glasses and drink it almost to the end. After setting it down, she put her hands in the air in surrender and started to laugh. The bar was now too full and too loud for him to hear the laugh, but he knew what it sounded like. It was a laugh he was always able to pick up in a crowd. No matter the size.
To his shock, the banker took all four glasses of alcohol and drank them one after another. Even the last bit that Mia hadn’t finished. When she added the glasses to Mia’s stack, he figured out how Mia had drunk so many so fast. Apparently, the banker lady could hold her liquor and everyone else’s.
Soon after her impressive shot line, Tess stood up and said goodbye to the girls and walked out of the bar. Rafferty watched her to see if she was too drunk to make it to her apartment, but she was walking straighter than he could right now.
The two remaining women talked for a long time, and both looked to be having fun. Their earlier animosity was completely gone today. A few of Mia’s friends came in, but Mia just waved at them, continuing to talk to Angel. Soon Heather started to hang on to Anderson—she had been trying to get him since word got out about his break-up. He had shown no interest, but she still tried.
With his view blocked, he almost missed one of Mia’s friends go to the table and talk to Mia. But since he couldn’t see Mia, he watched Angel glance from Mia to her friend to the bar and then back. The dejected expression on her face made him stand up. To do what? Defend his sister? Against what?
He watched her quickly stand up and then stop dead. Rushing to her, he grabbed her around the waist, making her sit back in the booth. She was wasted. “Are you okay, Angel? You know you can’t drink like that.”
“I’m fine. Get away from me, Rafferty,” she told him through gritted teeth. Pushing him away, she got up and he watched her walk out the door. To his surprise, Anderson ran out the door after her. Maybe it wasn’t that big of a surprise since he had done the same thing earlier today. Rafferty knew Ruth was in good hands.
Eyes still on the door, he slid into the booth across from Mia. It took her a moment to realize it was him. Her friend had gone back to her friends, and Mia was alone.
“Are you as drunk as Angel is?” Rafferty knew she was more than buzzed now.
“Nope, I’m good,” she stated without a snide comment, most definitely drunk.
“Your friend can handle her liquor.” Rafferty slid farther into the booth since she wasn’t fighting him.
“Angel? No, she can’t.” Mia looked behind her at the door.
“The other one, Tess.” He laughed at her expression.
“You keep away from her. She’s my friend, not yours.” Her words were slurred as she tried to be stern and giggle at the same time. “God, she can put them back. She drank as much as me in one sitting. Maybe more, I lost count.”
“More,” he confirmed, loving her giggles.
“Where is Angel? She was just here.” Mia looked around the room.
“Gone She went home. Anderson made sure she got there.” Rafferty smiled at her expression. Her expressions were very exaggerated when she drank.
“She likes him, but don’t tell anyone,” she whispered loudly. “She’s his secretary.”
“I know. I think he likes her too,” Rafferty whispered back to her.
Her eyes widened, and she put her hand to her mouth in shock. “She’s his secretary,” she said again.
“He’s her boss.” Rafferty went with her on it.
“Do you think they make out in the office?” She giggled.
“No, they are very professional there.”
“Yes, yes profes … professssion … prof … I can’t say that word anymore.”
“It’s a hard one.” He couldn’t believe how her eyes were sparkling with excitement and wonder.
“Do you want to know a secret?” she whispered loudly again as she looked around to see if anyone was around them.
“Yes.” He wanted to know all her secrets.
“I’m moving before the new year. This is my last year in Landstad, North Dakota.” Her eyes darted from side to side as she said it as if someone was listening to her.
With a sinking heart, he asked, “Where are you going?”