Page 20 of Shifting Sands
“Erin. And I don’t know, Brandee; he looks like a bad decision to me,” she says as she throws back the shot.
“And why’s that?” I ask, keeping my eyes on his.
“For one thing, his name is Brew, and he works behind a bar. Suspect for sure. He’s too good-looking. Plus, he serves hot women drinks every night. Which means he’s probably got a bedpost full of notches. Odds are, at least a few of them were crazy,” she says, looking over her shoulder. “I bet there’s one in here right now, wanting to scratch your eyes out for just talkingto him.” She turns back and narrows her eyes at him. “All red flags.”
I laugh. “Aren’t you the one who told me to find the sexiest man in the club and take him home tonight, no questions asked?”
He quirks an eyebrow at her.
“Oh, right. I did. Sorry. I turned into Maxi there for a minute,” she cries as she slaps the bar. “Carry on.”
She winks at him and then sashays back to Jena.
“So, no questions asked, huh?”
I slide my glass to him. “Maybe a couple. Can I get another martini? And a ride home?”
Brew
Ileave her seated and walk over to Leonard, who is cleaning up a spill at the other end of the bar. We’ve been talking—and flirting—for the past couple of hours. Falling into an easy rhythm—me pouring drinks, her sipping slowly, both of us weaving in and out of conversation while I waited on other customers. To be honest, she’s been a distraction all night. The moment she walked in, she caught my attention. She and her friends were huddled at the entrance, discussing something as if they were calling the next play.
She’s sexy, but not in an over-the-top way, like most of the women here tonight. It’s more subtle and natural. From the way her jeans accentuate her perfect figure to her long, thick hair and blue eyes, framed by dark lashes, she’s had me mesmerized. I watched as she turned down the advances of every man who approached her, even elbowing one guy in the ribs who got a little too handsy when she agreed to dance with him.
I wasn’t sure if her invitation for a ride home was serious, but when she let out a yawn and asked what time I finished work, I figured it must be.
“Hey, boss man. How are you holding up?” Leonard asks as I step next to him.
I glance back at the gorgeous brunette and smile. “Pretty well, I’d say.”
He stands up and looks at me. “That good, huh?”
I clasp his shoulder. “Listen, is there any way you could handle closing tonight?” I ask. “I’ll stay and help clean up behind the bar, but can you handle the rest?”
He nods. “Sure. Nothing I haven’t done before,” he replies.
“I know, but we were really busy tonight, and I’m sure you’re probably tired. I don’t want to put too much on you.”
He waves me off. “We have lots of busy nights. Besides, Sunday is going to be the worst. It’s Cody’s last night, and it’ll take forever to get the ladies out of here,” he says. He tips his chin toward the end of the bar, where Brandee is still sipping a martini. “So, you go enjoy tonight.”
The band shuts down at midnight, and Brandee’s friend and a blonde join her as the crowd starts to thin out.
Cody approaches and takes the empty seat next to George, who is still nursing a pint. “Hey, Brew. Can the guys and I grab a round of beers to take back to the trailer?” he asks.
I pop the top off an ice-cold Stella and hand it to him. “I already had Leonard load a cooler for you guys; it’s in the break room. Want me to have Calvin make you and the guys some sliders before the kitchen closes?”
He takes a long swig of beer. “Thanks. That’d be great. I know they’ll appreciate it. I’ll have Lyle get it after they finish with the fans.”
I glance over at the dance floor, where the rest of the band members are squatting at the edge of the stage, engaging with a group of girls, taking selfies with their phones.
“Why aren’t you over there, being adored? Aren’t you the star of the show?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I’m too tired to deal with groupies tonight. I just want to eat, shower, and hit the sack. Speaking of which, I’m gonna head out now so I can claim the bathroom before anyone else does.”
He grabs his beer and walks back to the stage to get his guitar and to give Lyle a heads-up before disappearing out the back, where their trailer is set up. I go to the window and call out the to-go order to Calvin.
Then I yell, “Last call,” to the bar and start the cleanup while Leonard finishes the last few orders of the night.
I’m restocking the cocktail garnishments when I hear someone clear their throat. I look up to see Brandee’s two friends standing in front of me.
