Chapter Six
By the time they left for the bar a couple of hours later, both of them felt like they'd already done a full day's work. They'd focused their initial attentions on the downstairs, as this would be their shared space and, in theory, where they'd spend most of their waking hours together. They left one of the family photos up on the wall, but took down the other paintings and pictures that Grayson had hung up. Together they moved the furniture around until they had it in such a way that they both agreed on. After that they overhauled the kitchen lay out, as some things were being kept where it made no sense to them whatsoever.
Once at the bar, they went through what was currently in place, trying to figure out where they could make quick and easy changes to improve business. They agreed they didn't want to change too much too soon, so as not to scare away the clientele they did have. But the place did need a bit of a face lift.
Aaron Miller seemed to have listened to his brother and didn't come around to see them again, but they were both sure he'd be back soon enough.
They did have another visit from Austin, the youngest Sheriff in Little Grove's history, just to check in on them. Sue had had the afternoon off at this point, and she was gutted to hear she'd missed his visit when she came in later that night. Tatum was determined to foster a good working relationship with him though, as it could never hurt to have the Sheriff on your side. Isabella tried not to linger on her old feelings for the man that she'd known as simple Austin Walker all those years ago. As her half-sister went over regulations and advice with him, she struggled to decide on how to act around him. She had a hard time not looking at him, and nearly had a heart attack when their eyes locked and he winked at her. He got up from the table he was sat at with Tatum and walked over to the bar where her sister was getting things ready for opening, forgetting the redhead was halfway through a sentence.
"Mind if I help myself?" he asked, giving her a crooked smile, deciding in that moment he was just going to pretend their entire history hadn't happened. Maybe a clean slate was exactly what they needed. He'd already pretended he didn't know her, so there was no going back. He reached over the bar for a glass but stopped when Isabella grabbed it before he could.
"Sorry Sheriff, only staff allowed behind the bar," she told him, rolling her eyes when he smiled at her mischievously. She had no idea what was going on in his head, but it felt like he was flirting with her.
"I ain't talkin' about the drinks," he said, confirming her suspicion and smiling when Tatum laughed behind him. The redhead's eyes were wide with curiosity as she watched the handsome man take in her sister. She half expected Isabella to blush, but the brunette only narrowed her eyes at him.
"You're gonna have to work harder for that," she surprised the other two with her response, giving him the confident smile that had taken his breath away from the first time he saw her.
"That a challenge?" he grinned, resting his elbows on the bar as he watched her wipe the counter clean.
"Take it whichever way you want," she answered. "Water?" she added, remembering he wanted a drink and he never used to drink soda. She wasn't giving him any alcohol while he was still on the clock.
"If that's all you're offerin'," he shrugged, grinning when she smiled as she poured him his drink.
"At least for now she is," Tatum reminded him that they hadn't finished their conversation. She gave her half-sister an encouraging smile and wink before Austin turned back her way, which Isabella pointedly ignored.
Austin left around the time the first customers arrived, giving the girls a smile that made even Tatum feel giddy. The redhead moved behind the bar, smiling at her sister knowingly, but Isabella was busy serving old Murphy and Billy as they sat down at their spot on the far corner of the bar.
"Austin's hot, huh?" she asked when the brunette was done and there was nowhere to escape to. It wasn't like Tatum was focussed on finding a guy, but it seemed obvious the blue-eyed man was interested in her sister and for some reason Isabella wasn't responding the way she'd expected. As far as she remembered, he was exactly the type of guy her brown-eyed sister used to fall for.
"I hadn't noticed," she got as an answer. Isabella rolled her eyes when her sister scoffed.
"You have to be blind not to notice that," the redhead said, chuckling when old Murphy and Billy both hummed and nodded in agreement.
"That Austin's a good kid," the older man said before he took a swig of his beer, though he was not entirely sure why he was convincing the girl behind the bar when she clearly didn't want to be convinced. It wasn't like Austin needed any help with the ladies.
"I thought he was datin' that Miller girl," Billy said, making both of Grayson's daughters look at him, one intrigued, the other shrugging as she acted like she didn't care.
"Makes sense," Isabella mumbled, walking to the back when her sister looked at her questioningly. Tatum didn't follow, though she really wanted to, because a group of new customers just walked in. She decided to forget about the strange way her sister seemed to act around men and focussed on her job. Isabella didn't wait long to join her sister when she heard the bar slowly fill.