sunlight high on the buildings

"She let herself out through a heavy door onto the pavement in shadow. Late afternoon sunlight high on the buildings. White cladding. Clean glass. Bright sky above. She walked to the corner of the block and turned into a bar. Three men sat at a table by the door playing cards, little piles of coins in front of them, next to beers and small glasses of spirit. Old workers, long since unemployed. One of them looked up at her then looked back at his cards. Muttered something she didn’t fully hear. The barman nodded to her, asked if she wanted her usual wine. She said no, I want the expensive one, and sat on a stool. The barman swore but fetched a bottle from along the shelf behind him and uncorked it. He took a glass from under the counter, poured the wine and placed the glass in front of her. Then he placed the bottle on the bar and said her business better be going well."

My eBook available here

Interview on Publisher's site here