Page 45 of Bought For Us

I nearly choked when I saw how much I was getting paid an hour. Fifty dollars. That's more than some lawyers make. The average for bartending in Detroit is about fifteen. Even the fancy places get maybe twenty-five. But not Zack. And from what Hailey, one of the other bartenders that’s working tonight, said when we had a chance to chat, Zack pays his servers at his restaurant the same thing.

I’m in awe of that man and the pride I feel for him is almost suffocating. He turned into one of the good ones. No, one of the amazing ones.

Trenton grabs some waters from the fridge and brings one over to me. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” He grins and we sit on the couch. “So, Cora, tell me about yourself.”

“Me?” I ask, suddenly feeling nervous. “Ah, well. I was born in Los Angeles. Stayed there until I was fourteen. My dad got married and we moved here to Detroit. Sadly, they got divorced when I was seventeen and we moved to Utah for my dad’s work. And that's where I was until a few weeks ago.” I give him a friendly smile. No way I’m getting into my hot mess of a life with a stranger. A cute, nice stranger at that.

“What brings you back to Detroit.”

Not telling him I came back to sell my body to a room full of rich strangers. “Needed a new start. My father died and I had nothing in Utah.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss.” He gives me a sympathetic look.

I’m not. “Thanks.”

“Well, I’m glad you came back. This place is an amazing place to work, trust me. And, the perks are you get in free when you're not working, and the drinks are free too.”

“Really?” My eyes widen. Not that I care for the free drinks part seeing how I don’t drink much, but that's amazing.

“Yeah, I’m telling you, Zack is an amazing boss. It’s hard to get a job here though. How did you manage to get it?”

That has me laughing. “Nepotism?” I don’t even feel bad about it.

He gives me an amused smile. “Ah, know the boss then.”

“Yup. Old friend. And, well he used to be my step-brother.” So weird to say that seeing how I had a dream last night where I was the middle of a Kimmy and Zack sandwich.

“Well, shit.” he laughs. “Yeah, that would do it. But hey, it got you here and I got to meet you.” He winks. “Look, I know we just met, and please tell me if I’m being too forward, but any chance you want to grab a drink this weekend? A group of us usually come here during the day when it’s pretty dead before we start our shift.”

I chew on my lower lip. He wants to hang out? I’ve never been asked by any of my co-workers to hang out with outside work before.

Part of me wants to say no, but another part of me wants to say fuck it. Life is short and it’s time I start living my life.

“You know what, I’d love that.” I smile. “It’s a date.” My eyes widen and my cheeks flush as he grins. “Shit, sorry, I just meant—”

“I know what you meant,” he chuckles. “And hey, maybe if I can win you over by the end of the night, we could make it into just that.”

My body flushes. “Maybe.” Am I flirting?

What is wrong with me. I’ve been confused about my feelings for Kimmy and Zack. I shouldn’t be entertaining the idea of dating someone right now.

But why not? Zack and Kimmy are married. Why torture yourself pining after something you're never going to have?

BY THE TIME MY SHIFT is over, my feet hurt, I have a bit of a headache and I can’t wait to get back home and crawl into bed. But as I walk through the empty club with Trenton, I’m in a good mood.

“Need a drive home?” Trenton asks.

I’m about to say yes, because even though Zack brought me here tonight, I wasn’t sure if he was picking me up. Not that he would have to, it’s not his job.

“She has one.” Zack’s voice has my head snapping over to find him standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his dress pants. He’s always in a suit. Except when he’s not. Like in the early morning when he comes down to the kitchen in low slung PJ bottoms that have my mind thinking downright naughty things.

“Oh, cool. Hey, boss.” Trenton nods at Zack.

“Trenton.” He nods back.

“See you later, Cora. I'm glad you're working here. See you tomorrow.” He grins, gives me a wink that has me laughing and leaves.

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