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I hesitate outside the bar. I'm wearing my favourite sparkly top and my most flattering jeans. I feel nervous as hell.

I shift my weight from foot to foot, trying to build up the courage to go inside.

The door bursts open and two middle-aged men step out. They're laughing and pink in the face from the alcohol.

'You going in, love?'

One of them is holding the door for me. I jump forwards and take it from him.

'Thank you.'

Now that the decision has been made for me, I step inside. The chatter and background music hits me first, followed by the slightly stuffy smell of beer, mixed with a tang of fruity cocktails.

As I approach the bar, the smell changes to a redolence of colognes and perfumes. It's more bearable.

I don't lean on the counter; it looks sticky. Instead, I gingerly pick up one of the drinks menus and looks at the cocktails.

When the bartender notices me, he comes over. I look up from the menu and blink in surprise. I was not expecting someone so handsome.

'What can I get you?' He asks with a grin that promises cheekiness and trouble.

I blink once more, for good measure. He's incredibly attractive. His hair is short yet messy, and sandy blonde. His eyes are bright blue and shining.

'A Manhattan, please,' I tell him when I finally find my voice.

'Coming right up, gorgeous.' He winks at me and gets to work.

I stand there, stunned for a moment. I don't know why he's thrown me so much. I just wasn't expecting such an attractive guy in such a small town. Is that bad? Is that really shallow? It's shallow, isn't it? Fuck.

God, I'm a mess.

'Lily!'

I turn at the sound of my name being called. I recognise Christie from the salon. She's wearing a short dress and killer heels that look like they could both break her ankle or stab someone.

'You came,' she says, grinning and approaching me.

'Yeah,' I reply shyly. 'I'm just getting a drink.'

'Great. Come on over when you're done and I'll introduce you.'

She goes back to the corner of the bar, where she and two other girls are sat around a table.

'Here you go. That'll be £7.50, sweetheart.'

I take my purse out of my bag and tap my card against the reader.

'Thank you.'

The bartender winks again. 'Anytime.'

I take a sip of the delicious cocktail. I carry it carefully over to the table, making sure I don't spill it down myself.

'Ladies, this is Lily, the new girl in town,' Christie says when I reach the table.

I take the only free seat and smile nervously. 'Hey.'

'This is Chantal, Gilly and Pippa.'

I smile and study their faces, trying to remember who is who.

Thankfully, the girls are extremely welcoming. I think the alcohol they've obviously already consumed helps, but they're very friendly. They chatter away to me, asking about my life and my plans in the town.

I find out that Pippa works at a café just off the high street. It's owned by her grandmother and is currently looking to hire another staff member. She gives me her number and emails me the job specification.

I make a note to look over it tomorrow. I really need a job. A part-time one waitressing will be ideal.

I have enough money to get by from my inheritance, but if I don't have a job to keep me busy, I'll go crazy. Crazier, rather.

As the night goes on, more and more cocktails are consumed. The girls pick up on my slight crush on the bartender and insist on sending me to collect the rounds with their money.

'There a reason it's always you ordering the drinks?' The bartender asks on the third round. 'You draw the short straw or something?'

My cheeks heat up and I shrug innocently. 'Not sure. Maybe they're hazing the new girl, I don't know.'

He chuckles and gives me a grin that makes my knees weak.

'Ah, so it's an initiation thing? Got it,' he replies easily. 'I'm Caven, by the way.'

'Lily.'

He smirks and leans across the bar, making my heart flutter. The hungry way he is looking at me is making me feel warm in all the right places.

'Can I be so bold as to give you my number, Lily? In case you want someone to give you a tour of the town, point out the best food spots, you know.'

The cheekiness of his grin tells me that his number comes with way more than just tour privileges.

'Sure,' I reply quickly.

It's not been long since my ex and I broke up, but it can't hurt, right?

Besides, he's really cute.

I hand him my phone and Caven inputs his number into a new contact. He hands it back and I smirk at the contact name.

Caven (Hot Bartender from Jack's🔥)

'The ball's in your court, Lils,' he says confidently. 'I'll be waiting to hear from you.'

When I get back to the table, the girls are on me quicker than donuts at a diet meeting. I've barely put their drinks down before they're asking me about Caven. They all saw him give me his number and now, they're all excited for me.

I manage to get them to calm down and we enjoy the rest of our night. I walk home just before midnight, tipsy and feeling much better about moving here.

The girls were great. We've all exchanged numbers and agreed to go out again tomorrow night.

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In the morning, after popping a couple paracetamol and demolishing eggs and bacon for breakfast, I look over the job spec for the café.

Everything looks good to me, so I call up the place. Pippa answers the phone, but hands me over to her grandmother when she realises it's me.

I speak to her grandmother and express my interest in the position. She invites me for an interview in the afternoon. It doesn't take much preparation. I have experience and exemplary record in the workplace.

Provided that we gel well, I'm hoping that I'll get the job.

I change into my interview clothes and apply some light make-up. I follow the directions on my phone to find the café and I'm greeted by Pippa when I go in.

It's a cute building. The counter is large. Half is for serving and the other half is made of glass, displaying a wide variety of cakes and pastries.

There are ten tables in front and another five in the back. Pippa explains that they put another five tables outside when the weather is nice. It's a bit too overcast today.

She gives me a run-through of the different machines and teaches me how to work the till. It's all relatively easy.

I meet with her grandmother, a sweet but spunky woman in her seventies or eighties. She asks me some simple questions but seems satisfied with my appearance. She hires me on the spot. I'm given a black apron and told to come back on Monday at eight.

I walk home with a smile on my face. Pippa texts me when I get through the door.

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Seeing as I'm a little more confident tonight than I was last night, I arrive in a dress. It's one of my favourites; deep red and figure-hugging.

Pippa and I are the first ones to arrive. We take up the table that we were at last night and order our drinks. I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed not to see Caven behind the bar.

'Don't worry,' Pippa says. 'We'll just keep coming back until he's on-shift again.'

Christie and Gilly arrive just as we're finishing our first drink. It's the perfect timing for me to go up and order the next round.

Gilly offers to pay for the round, so I lean against the bar, waiting to be served with her card in my hand.

'Fancy seeing you here.'

Caven's flirty voice sounds from my left, making me jump. I turn to face him with a smile on my face. He looks very handsome. He's wearing a tight-fitted t-shirt and skinny jeans.

'Imagine,' I reply dryly. 'You're on the wrong side of the bar.'

His lips twitch and he gives me a lop-sided smile. 'Well spotted, Lily. It's my night off.'

'Very nice,' I respond and quickly turn to the on-shift bartender.

I order the cocktails for everyone and Caven whacks out his credit card.

'They're on me, Paul,' he tells the bartender.

My eyes widen as he taps his card to the machine.

'Wow, thank you,' I tell him. 'You didn't have to do that.'

He shrugs and smirks at me. 'Maybe now you'll agree to go out with me tomorrow.'

I raise my eyebrows and look him up and down.

'Ask me properly and I will.'

His smirk widens and he leans close to me, close enough that I can smell his strong cologne.

'Will you go out with me tomorrow, sweet Lily?'

I snort unattractively and smile at him. 'A little much with the endearment, but yes, I'll go out with you.'

He grins and pockets his card.

'Perfect. Text me so that I have your number please, and I'll send you all of the details. Have a good night, Lily.'

'You too, Caven.'

I have a date!

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