Page 46 of Tell Me Something True

Crossing his arms, he jerked his chin in the direction of the soda. “Ten dollars.”

“Since when is a pop ten bucks here?” Hayden asked as she joined him.

“Since I enacted a ten-dollar minimum to sit at the bar.”

“Uh huh.” Hayden poured two shots of Jack Daniel’s, then set them on a serving tray. “And when did this stupid rule go into effect?”

“Now.”

Hayden shook her head. “I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice. You’re fired.”

The guy didn’t so much as blink. “You can’t fire me.”

“Seeing as how I’m manager of this fine establishment, it seems I can. I’ve had enough of your grumpy ass scaring off customers and generally ruining everyone’s night.” She waved him away as a young, curvy waitress with chin length, light brown hair, arms and legs covered in tattoos—including a lotus flower on her neck—and a nose ring came behind the bar. “Off you go, now. Shoo.”

“She’s right,” the waitress told him as she rang up a tab. “Your vibe is seriously hostile tonight.”

A muscle in the man’s jaw ticked. “You two can’t handle this crowd alone.”

Hayden and the waitress shared a oh, what a silly, tatted up man he is look. “The shots are for table twelve,” Hayden told the waitress who nodded, gave the man a finger wave goodbye, then picked up the tray and walked away.

Hayden sauntered over to a set of double swinging doors at the far end of the bar. Pushed the right one open. “Reed!”

A moment later, a good-looking kid around nineteen or twenty, his golden hair shaved close on the sides and back, the top long and up in a bun, tattoos on his arms, stepped through the left side. “Yeah?”

“You’re helping me behind the bar. Patton has to go home,” she continued, this time looking at the other man. “To his new wife.”

The kid looked between Hayden and the fuming man as they stared each other down, shrugged, then went to the far end of the bar and took an order.

After a moment, Patton stormed off. Tabitha watched him round the bar and stomp his way through the crowd, but he didn’t leave. He turned down the hallway.

Hayden sighed, her frown turning thoughtful. Then she gave a slight shake of her head and turned to Tabitha with a rueful grin. “Sorry about that.”

“I don’t think he left.”

“Oh, I’m sure he didn’t. He’s probably in the office out back pouting. Or ripping the furniture to shreds with his teeth.”

“Should you call the police? Have him escorted from the premises?”

“Patton won’t hurt anyone. And I can’t, technically, kick him out since he owns this place.”

“You just fired your boss?”

“I fire him at least three times a week. It never seems to stick.” She nodded at an older gentleman holding up his empty bottle of Bud Light and two fingers. “So, what brings you back to our little part of the world? Just passing through again?”

“Actually,” she said as Hayden opened the two bottles of beer, “I’m moving here.”

“Yeah?” She handed the bottles to the man. Took his empty one and the cash he handed her. Grinned and thanked him when he told her to keep the change. “In that case, welcome to Mount Laurel.” She picked up several empty bottles. “Guess you found something you liked during your last visit here.”

If the wink Hayden sent her wasn’t clue enough that she was talking about Miles, the clear innuendo in her tone sure was.

“There are plenty of things I like about Mount Laurel. This bar for one. And I’ll like it even more if the burgers are as good as I’ve heard. Especially since I didn’t get a chance to try one the last time.”

“Well, you were awfully busy,” Hayden said, clearly remembering witnessing Tabitha race out of the bar that night after Miles. “And they’re better than what you’ve heard. Can I get you one?”

“Please. Medium rare with the works. And a side of fries.”

“You got it,” Hayden said before walking away to take another customer’s order.

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