Mended(5)

We make it to work on time and the day passes quickly.

“You two look great!” Zack shouts, slapping his hands together. Jake and I are practicing our bar flare, and find we make a pretty good team. “Oh, Jake, your father called again.” As Jake's face goes white, Zack quickly adds, “I told him you don’t work here anymore.”

“Okay,” is all Jake says in reply. So, Jake has a story too.

The phone buzzes in my pocket, but I don’t take time to look at it because I have a whole snowboard team taking up a table near the window. I grab the iPad and hurry over for the order. Thankfully, they all want the same thing, six pitchers of Bud Light. Once they are looked after, I head back to the counter where Don from last night is downing a scotch, neat.

Jake gives me an annoyed expression and hands me the guy’s receipt. “The creep wants you. He was pissed I made his first drink, because apparently you can fuck up pouring scotch into a glass…jackass.”

I roll my eyes, agreeing, but it’s all part of the business.

“Don,” I say with zero emotion, “would you like another?”

He licks his lips as he stares at my breasts. “Yes, I sure would.” He holds out his glass, and when I reach for it, he runs his free hand up my arm. “Such a pretty woman.”

Stepping away and getting a new glass from the bar, I turn my back while I pour. A strange feeling prickles up my spine. I look around, then freeze as I see Cole standing by the door watching. He's in a dark dress shirt and pants, his suit jacket hanging off his arm. Slowly approaching the bar top, he leans on the counter. All the while his eyes burn through me.

“You gonna drink that, or am I?” Don’s arrogant voice breaks through the pull Cole has on me. I sit his drink in front of him and reach out to the bar top for support.

Cole pulls at his tie, undoing it, and tosses it on the counter near my hand. I resist the urge to hold it up to my nose and draw in his intoxicating scent. Instead I just pour him a brandy from the top shelf and sit it in front of him as I slowly raise my eyes to meet his stare.

“Thank you.” He nods and takes a long sip from the glass.

I muster up all my strength and try to act like his presence isn’t affecting my body. “Were you away?” I pick up the rag and dry a non-existent spill.

“I just came back from Washington,” he sighs, rubbing his head.

“Have you been home yet?” The words fall from my mouth.

“No, I haven’t been home yet.” His eyes met mine, holding me captive, his mouth wet from the brandy.

“You just needed a drink?”

He shakes his head. “Old habits die hard.” His eyes drop to my lips, and everything in my body begs me to lean forward. My tongue darts out as my lips scream for moisture. If we were alone right now, I know I’d give in.

“Sweetie, could I order some food?” Don asks, obviously irritated he’s not getting any attention. I close my eyes and try to snap out of this bubble. I turn to find Don waving a menu at me. “I’ll take a medium rare steak, with fries and a side of slaw.”

“Anything else?”

He reaches in his back pocket, pulls out something, and leans forward, tucking his hotel room key in my cleavage. I toss it on the counter as I turn away, only to hear him chuckle. “You’ll give in to me soon, sweetheart.”

The mirror in front of me catches Cole’s murderous expression, but he stays in his chair.

Throughout the evening, Cole never leaves his stool, barely speaking to me, just observing. Don is extra flirty, which is extremely annoying. Jake is busy but asks if I want Zack to escort Don out. I say no because he’s already dropped at least two hundred in the last two nights. I can handle myself.

“Thirty minutes,” Jake calls out to me, which means bed in sixty-five. “Are you going to get any sleep tonight?”

“What?” I spin around on my heel.

“Come on, Savi, sleeping on your couch and your eyes puffy from crying. Don’t lie to me, girl, I know lack of sleep when I see it.” I sneak a glance at Cole, who is, of course, still watching and listening to us.

“Logan,” a voice calls out, and Keith takes a seat next to Cole.

Jake catches my eye, looks with one eyebrow raised at Cole, points a finger at him, then slowly moves it to me. “Ohhh, seriously?” I pull on his arm to get him to stop, pleading with him to shut up. He grins in a boyish way and gives me a slow wink. “I’ll go punch out for us.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, trying to tone down the blush I know must be there. I turn to wipe down the bar and see Zack approaching us, smiling at the guys as he gets closer.