“You’re ruining my night.”

“Maybe your comedians suck. Ever think of that?”

Instead of opening the waist-high door, he swings me up, catching me fireman style under the knees, his cold palm wrapping around my thigh briefly as he lifts me over it and then unceremoniously dumps me back on my feet on the other side.

“My comedians don’t suck! Your scream-o band is the problem.” I keep flailing, which is frustrating because it makes me look like more of a lunatic.

“I need to work.” He turns and starts to walk away.

“I’m not done with you!” I call after him.

He motions to his ear again.

Ugh. I hate him. I flip him the double bird. “How’s that? Can you hear that?” I shout.

He has the audacity to salute me, gives me his back and leans on the bar, turning his head so some scantily dressed college girl can yell her beer order in his ear. He really is a jerk.

By the time I get back to B&B the last comedian has given up on account of the noise and the crowd is starting to clear out. Probably heading next door to enjoy the stupid band. I apologize to Karen, and while she’s understanding I don’t think there’s much of a chance that she’ll come back anytime soon, if ever.

I start to clean up with the help of Daphne, who hasn’t asked what happened yet, likely because I’m so angry it’s a wonder there isn’t steam coming out of my ears. Only a few diehard customers are left in the place and I’m pretty sure the only reason they’re hanging around is the possibility of half-price cupcakes.

I offer them the deal and they polish off what’s left of their martinis, pick a half-dozen each and take off, muttering about stopping at their car before they head over to The Knight Cap to check out the band, leaving my place totally empty. I’d planned to stay open until ten tonight, but it looks like I don’t have to anymore.

I flip the bird at the wall between our two bars as yet another bass-pounding song starts, and then box up the few remaining cupcakes.

Daphne dumps what’s left in the coffee carafe down the drain. “Guess the talk with Ronan didn’t go all that well, huh?”

“He’s a dick.”

“What’d he say?”

“He pretended he couldn’t hear me and then manhandled me.”

She sets the carafe down. “He did what?”

“He was behind the bar, ignoring me, so I went back there to confront him and he picked me up and carried me back out!” My cheeks heat as I recall exactly how forceful he was, and how strong, and also how easy it was for him to carry me. I’m not particularly petite.

Daphne’s eyebrows rise. “Can’t say I’d be all that upset if it was me he was manhandling.”

“He ruined the night!”

“Well, to be fair, he only ruined the last act and I’ll be honest: She was the weakest of the three, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Plus you do usually close at nine, so maybe he didn’t realize you were still open?”

“She was distracted, and do not defend him. It’s thoughtless of him to schedule a live band on the same night as our first event. He couldn’t have not known about it. We had signs and flyers out all week. He should’ve consulted me!”

Daphne crosses her arms. “Because you two are clearly besties.”

“It’s common courtesy!”

“Which would hold some water if you two were actually on some kind of friendly terms, but all you do is push each other’s buttons. I’ll honestly be surprised if you don’t either kill each other or end up boning each other’s brains out.”

I scoff. “Not in a million years.”

Daphne grins. “Want to put some money on that?”

“You know I don’t gamble.”

“Uh huh. However you want to play it, Blaire. But I see the cupcakes you set aside for him every single day, and there’s an awful lot of effort going into something for someone you supposedly hate.”

I glance at the box still sitting on the counter with the cupcakes I decorated and specifically set aside for Ronan. “I do it because it’s satisfying to watch him helplessly devour them.”

“Okay.”

“It’s true.”

“Uh huh.”

I dump the box in the trash to prove my point, but it feels a lot like I’ve proven hers instead.

The next morning, once the brunch rush is over I steel my resolve and head to The Knight Cap to talk to Ronan about last night before he opens. I can see him through the window, leaning on the bar, wearing one of his plaid shirts, thick forearms exposed.

I bet it’s purposeful so he can show off his tattoos. I take a deep breath, determined to keep my cool and try to open the door, but it’s still locked. I knock on the window and he glances my way, pushing his black-rimmed glasses up his nose.

Stupid sexy hipster glasses.

I rattle the doorknob to demonstrate that I can’t get in.

He lifts his left arm and taps his watch. It’s very old school, something I would like to not find endearing and generally don’t, especially since he doesn’t make a move to come out from behind the bar and let me in.

So I keep knocking. And knocking. And knocking some more. In fact I start knocking out the rhythm of a song. He shakes his head, tosses his pen down on the bar top, and shambles slowly to the end of the bar. He stops three times on the way to the door to adjust stools and once more to fix a picture that’s hanging askew on the wall. His back is to me, and he strokes his chin, tipping his head to the right before he readjusts the picture in the opposite direction. I take the opportunity to stare at his butt, which I would like to smack and also kick with my pointy heel. I’m not sure what would be more satisfying, although I do know what would be most embarrassing. For me.

He finally saunters over to the door and taps the sign with the opening times posted on it. “We don’t open for another fifteen minutes.”

I bite back a bitchy retort because as he’s pointed out before, you don’t attract flies with vinegar. “Can we please talk?”

He jams a thumb in his pocket and rolls back on his heels. “You seemed to communicate just fine with hand signals last night.”

I clasp my hands behind my back and fire the middle finger at him from there, while I plaster a smile on my face. Immature? Yes. Does it make me feel better? Marginally. “You manhandled me.”