“I knew I should’ve taken the night off,” I said to my friend Emma as we dried wine glasses behind the bar. “I should’ve worn my other shoes. What do you think?”
When Emma didn’t answer, I elbowed her in the ribs.
“Ow! What did you do that for?”
“I’m talking to you and you’re not even listening.” I grumbled.
“What did you say? I’m busy eying the guy over there in the blue plaid shirt. Man, I’d like to tangle my fingers in his hair. I’d even put my feet up around my ears for him!”
“You’re disgusting. You know that right?” She laughed.
“Sounds like, to me, you need a good ole pussy pounding to lighten you up. When was the last time you had sex?” When I didn’t answer, her mouth dropped open. “You have got to be kidding me. Say it isn’t so. It’s been a whole year? Jeff was the last man you slept with. We need to do something about this. You need a man!” she announced.
Colton, the bar owner, chose that moment to walk from the stock room with a couple cases of beer. Colton was part owner in the bar and my boss. He was drop dead delicious with his dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes, high cheek bones and enough scruff on his chin to make me want to touch it.
“Who needs a man?” he asked, with his back to us, placing beer into the large glass fridge behind the bar.
“You’re a man,” Emma said as mischief danced in her eyes.
Colton turned around and grinned at us.
“Last time I checked.” He smirked. “I haven’t had any complaints,” he bragged.
I shot Emma a glare, which only egged her on. She had stepped behind Colton and had her tongue in her cheek to make it look as if she were giving a blow job. I felt my face go up in flames.
“Are you okay?” Colton asked.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” I said, a little breathless.
“Your face is red, and your neck has these big red splotches on it. Do you have blood pressure problems?”
“No! That’s something old people have,” I murmured. “I have ex-friend problems.” I huffed and walked away to check that all the tables had enough condiments and to get away from that four-alarm-disaster.
I heard him laugh as I walked away.
“I was just trying to help,” Emma said as she placed a new saltshaker on the table.
“I don’t need your help. When I’m ready, it will happen. I don’t want to make the same mistake again. Jeff started out as a one-night-stand and look where that got me.”
“No one said you have to marry the guy.” She huffed and stomped off.
When I turned around, Colton’s brown eyes were staring back at me. I swear I caught him checking me out. No. I shook my head. I must’ve imagined it.
I walked around behind the bar with my empty tray just as Miranda, the new girl, walked from the back. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair and big green eyes that zeroed in on Colton, and she made a bee line for him before I could give him my drink order. The shirt she was wearing was borderline obscene. It was a low, black, V-neck, and it was obvious she wasn’t wearing a bra. It wasn’t even within our dress code.
“Lacie, would you be a dear and take table ten’s order?”
I looked over my shoulder and rolled my eyes.
“That’s your table, Miranda.” I wiped down my empty tray and placed it in the stack along with the others.
“Oh, I know, but I need to speak to Colton about tomorrow night.” Her voice was so sickly sweet I think I got a cavity.
“I have a drink order to deliver.”
My order printed off on the printer next to Colton.
“You’re an old pro. I’m sure you can handle it.” She arched a perfect brow and smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
