Page 22 of XOXO
“Why don’t you shadow me for a few, hon? When you’re comfortable you can take some tables but for now, just stay with me and we’ll work ya up to it. Sound good?”
The bald man behind the bar looked like he could body slam an MMA fighter and had tats the length of both arms. But when he looked up, he gave a warm smile and his eyes lit up. “You the new girl?” His voice was gravelly.
I nodded, trying not to show fear.
“Don’t worry. Rickie will show ya the ropes. And me and Tank over at the door make sure none of these fools get too handsy. You let me know if anyone messes with you.”
“Thanks. I’m Adi.”
The man reached over the counter and delicately took my hand once I stuck it out. “Pipes, love. You just let me know if you need anything.”
I smiled and let out a relieved sigh. So far, everyone was nice.
After helping Rickie with a few tables, she asked if I wanted to grab any of my own. It wasn’t very busy, so she told me to start with just two so I could ease into managing multiples.
There was no hostess in a place like this, so men were scattered around. There were a few women wearing not much more than my work outfit, desperately working for the attention of the men they sat with.
I had never been around bikers, but the books I read with bikers in them often portrayed them as aloof and disrespectful of women so that all made sense to me. But I looked over at the bar and Pipes shot me a toothy smile and tipped his head at me. Okay, so they’re not all bad.
I grabbed my pad and tucked a tray under my arm in case I found glasses or bottles to pick up on the way to the bar.
The group of men at the table in the corner has just settled in. I noticed them as they walked in and had only caught the back of them as they filed past.
Each had a jacket and chaps on but were working their way out of the jackets when I walked over. They all had leather vests on with little patches all over, much like the other men in the bar.
One had his back turned to me, but he was leaning his elbows on the table, so I got a good look at the back. Sons of Steely Ridge.
I’d heard something about them a few years back, but from what I recalled it probably wasn’t a good reason to be in the news. Looking over my shoulder, Pipes waved me on encouragingly and Rickie leaned against the bar grinning.
I cleared my throat, wishing I hadn’t. That surely gave away my nervousness. “Hi, I’m Adi. Can I get you fellas some drinks?”
The man with the pink bandana wrapped around his head put his fingers up. “Four beers, bottle please.”
The man with his back to me turned, his dark eyes raking over me, starting at his line of sight which was my crotch.
But instead of running to get Pipes, I watched as his heated gaze trailed up until it met my eyes. He had a thick beard, and his head was covered with a black bandana. Even through the beard, I saw his jaw ticking.
He was seated but appeared to be fairly broad. Not in a, “I work out ten hours a day and only eat protein,” kind of way. More like a, “I eat tacos and drink beer but can kill you with one hand,” kind of way.
Shit.
Clitterflies.
Chapter 3
Stone
I stared up with my jaw locked so I didn’t look like an idiot with my mouth hanging open.
Her eyes darted away briefly before she looked at me again. “Did you need me to grab something for you?”
I could think of something I’d like her to grab, but I wasn’t familiar with this mysterious beauty and had enough sense to not blurt that out. Before I could form a decent response, a steel-toed boot met my shin under the table.
“Fuck!” I turned to look at Tango who just grinned back, shaking his head. Turning back, I managed a smile. “No, just the beer is good.”
The smell of vanilla tickled my nose as she turned and walked away, her black curls bouncing with each step, along with the cheeks of her ass in those skintight jeans.
“Are you listening?”
