Page 17 of The Red-Hot Stakes

He ended the call, handing me the phone. “I guess you’d better show me the ropes.”

Who does he think he is? “Don’t you think you should talk to Mr. Weston first?”

With an annoyed grunt, he pulled out his own phone then shot off a short text. “There. I told Weston. Happy?”

As in, ordered? Wow, arrogant, brash Liam, for sure.

His expression softened. “At least let me wash dishes.”

I bit my lip, because he had me there. No way was I sticking my arm in a plastic bag every time I wanted to clean a glass. “Fine.”

The new ramp was just the right angle, but I refused to think about it as I stalked to the sink. I showed him exactly how to wash, rinse and dry each glass, as well as where each type went. He insisted on carrying the crates for me, so I could finish stocking. It was nearly time to open when Burt and Wyatt sauntered in, both doing double takes at Liam behind the bar so I succinctly explained.

“Sarah’s sitter canceled. Liam offered to help, and Weston approved.”

Wyatt just grunted before disappearing into the kitchen.

Burt remained unfazed as well. “Whatever you say, G. Ready to unlock?”

I nodded. A few of our regulars trickled in, but it was a fairly quiet night which gave me and Liam plenty of down time to talk.

“So what are you going to school for?” He wiped down the bar as I leaned against it, idly snapping my cinnamon gum.

“Business management, same as Avery. I want to own a place like this someday.” I mentally cringed. I hadn’t meant to tell him my dream, didn’t need to give him fodder to pick on me.

To my surprise, he leaned forward, the very definition of interested. “Yeah? What would you do differently?”

I sized him up, wondering if he really wanted to know. When he nodded encouragingly, I decided to go for it. “For starters, I’d get rid of the bland chili and have a nightly special. Something themed, like taco Tuesday. I know it’s overdone, but it sells. Make it a standard, and you’ll get regulars.”

I snapped my gum again, my litany of ideas dancing through my mind and out of my mouth. “Keep karaoke, but also have line dancing or trivia or a ladies’ night where girls don’t have a cover charge. Get some live music, make a dance floor. We’ve got the location, we’ve got the clientele, but we’re floundering.”

His eyebrows pulled together, an adorable crease forming between them that I wanted to smooth away with my thumb. Wait, what? I jerked myself back to reality. This is Liam, remember?

“Those are really good ideas.” He sounded surprised. “Have you told Weston?”

I nodded, grateful for the distraction from my disconcerting thoughts. “But we keep having chili and karaoke. There’s only so many times I can listen to I Will Survive before I start hoping I actually won’t.”

He laughed, all deep and rumbly, making my stomach feel like I’d just done a cartwheel. What’s up with me tonight? As silence stretched between us, I wondered if I should voice one of my questions. “Why won’t you let Avery hear you sing?”

His face fell, and his body tensed. “Piper was the singer in our group. I’m not any good.”

I bristled at the mention of the country music star who grew up with them, the one who’d almost come between Avery and Derek. “That’s not true, and you know it, or else you wouldn’t go up there. You wouldn’t use your voice to get women week after week.”

His jaw worked back and forth. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

“Oh really? Mr. ‘Gina, please help me pick a song so I can get this girl’s number’.” I snorted.

Liam stared for a long beat, then shook his head. “Table five needs you.”

Chapter Five

The next day, Sarah showed up, and I was grateful. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle the Thursday karaoke crowd without her. She jumped right into interrogating me.

“How did working with Mr. Green Eyes go?”

I shook my head. “He has a name.”

“Yeah, so?” She waved me off, then leaned closer. “Were you glad I called in?”

---