Blair was waiting for her. The play area didn’t open until evening, but the bar side was open for lunch. Fortunately, business was slow at that time of day. Flora would be bussing tables, sweeping the floor, and wiping down the bar, and she’d get a percentage of tips. Blair gave her a week’s pay in advance, telling her that Finn had insisted.
“Have you heard anything from Krystle?” she asked Blair.
“Nah, but when she’s travelling she doesn’t check in,” Blair said. “If I see her or hear from her, I’ll let her know that you’re looking. You could ask Jose, too. He’s got kind of a thing with her.” And she headed back behind the bar.
Flora took her tray of cleaning supplies and started wiping down tables. She’d try to get a break in a few hours so she could go to a grocery store and buy Starweed for Madison, she decided.
She tried not to worry about Krystle travelling around this dangerous area, since nobody else seemed to be worried. She hadn’t seen her cousin in six years, but even back then, Krystle had been a tough-talking, foul-mouthed juvenile delinquent who was more than capable of holding her own.
As Flora sprayed down a tabletop, a slender female lion shifter strolled up to her, her stride stiff and angry. Jennifer. The waitress who’d loudly asked if she and Finn were going to do a scene together.
Jennifer stood there for a minute with her hands on her hips, just staring at Flora and not saying anything.
Finally, Flora cleared her throat. “Excuse me, can I help you?”
“So,” Jennifer said, with a sharp bite to her voice. “The other day you said you weren’t with Finn. Looks like you lied.”
“I didn’t lie,” Flora said, offended. “Things changed. It’s complicated.” Very complicated. She’d lain there in bed all night alternately wondering why Finn didn’t want to sleep with her and reminding herself that it wasn’t even a real relationship. Finn had literally only claimed her to keep her from being kidnapped.
“Did you two know each other before Finn came to the Badlands?” Jennifer asked, standing there with her arms folded. “Because if not, that’s a pretty fast courtship.”
“And?”
“Just looking out for a friend. Finn is a great guy. I don’t want to see him get hurt.” Jennifer’s mouth curled in an ugly smile and she stepped in front of Flora, blocking her path. “If anyone hurt Finn, I’d have to hurt that person.” She held up her hand and extended all her claws. “Fatally. It would probably be safer for you to walk away now while you still can. Not like you fit in here anyway.”
Flora was starting to get sick of Jennifer’s attitude.
“So now you’re Finn’s babysitter?” Flora said. She felt her lynx growing angry and restless. Fur rippled on the backs of her hands. “He strikes me as the kind of guy who can look out for himself.”
Jennifer sucked in a sharp, angry breath, but before she could say anything, Blair walked over. She was a tall, muscular woman with shiny brown hair pulled back into a bun. Finn had told Flora that she was ex-military, like him.
“What’s going on here?” Blair asked.
“I want to pick up some extra hours.” Jennifer took a step forward, forcing Flora to take a step back. She stumbled against a table, which made Jennifer’s lips curl in that ugly smile again.
“Then go clean the play area,” Blair said coldly.
“No, I’m going to wipe up right here,” Jennifer said, snatching the cleaning rag out of Flora’s hand.
Blair’s fangs descended, and she spoke with a hint of growl rumbling in her throat. “You can go get your own cloth and clean where I tell you, or you can find another job. And don’t ever talk to me like that again.”
“Finn won’t let you fire me!” Jennifer’s eyes glittered with angry tears.
“Finn’s not the owner. And he wouldn’t tolerate you treating any of the managers with disrespect.” Blair stared straight at Jennifer, who, being less dominant, dropped her gaze and muttered, “Fine.” Then, as she walked off, Flora heard Jennifer mutter “bitch” under her breath.
“You’re suspended for the day!” Blair yelled after her.
Jennifer stomped out the front door without looking back, and let the door slam shut.
What was the deal with Finn and Jennifer? Flora wondered. Bitter ex? Why hadn’t Finn said anything about her?
Blair had already headed back to the bar, so Flora shrugged and resumed cleaning.
Finn stopped by mid-afternoon, and took Flora to a small restaurant called the Blue Monkey. It was a couple of blocks from the Lion’s Den, and there were tables set up outdoors.