Page 22 of Everything I Crave

I shake my head and slam the door to my office. I need to get myself under control before I can go back out to the bar with Bennett. But before I even have the chance, someone is knocking at the door.

I get up, and whip the door open. “What?” I snap, the lingering anger with myself lacing my voice.

“Sorry bossman, but we got a golf group of rowdy dudes. I need some help, when you’re free, uh, I mean, no rush. But… kind of a rush,” Bennett sputters.

“I’m sorry, Bennett. I’ll be right there.” This time I respond a little nicer. He’s just doing his job. And it isn’t his fault I want to bend my newest employee over the bar for real this time.

A group of rowdy guys who spent the day golfing for ‘work’ is a sure fire way to douse that fantasy right now. They’re always assholes to my staff and run us ragged for no reason other than they’re entitled asses who spent all day drinking in a tournament.

“Willow!” I yell from my office.

“What?” She appears in my doorway too fast.

“There’s a group of golfers out there. Help Bennett serve them please, I’m putting Madeline on the patio tonight.” I need to be on damage control and I can’t do it inside and out.

“What? Why?” She pouts.

“Because you fucking need to. Is there a problem with how I run my own damn bar?” I spit back.

“You know, for someone who wasn’t bothered by this morning, you sure are being a jerk to everyone for no reason tonight.” She crosses her arms over her chest and her lips tighten while she stares me down.

Fuck. So we’re doing this here.

“You know if you had minded your own business instead of coming intomybathroom and staring atmenaked…ugh… I’m not upset,” I lie, “It’s not my fault you enjoyed what you saw, but don’t go getting any ideas.” I shrug again like I don’t have the same thoughts of her.

“You’re such an asshole. Why did I agree to live with you?” She storms off before I can answer.

Which is probably good. I don’t have an answer since I wonder on a daily basis why I offered in the first place.

I suck up any feelings I have about that conversation and walk back behind the bar to help Bennett.

It takes awhile for us to get caught up. Once we finish a round of twenty drinks, they’re ordering another. I finally had to tell them that I wasn’t serving another round until they got their food, forcing them to slow down, and place their order with Willow.

I watch closely as she walks around the table taking up most of my bar, taking their orders one at a time. She smiles at the inappropriate jokes they make, and shifts uncomfortably as some of them start to get bold andaccidentallybrush a hand over her ass, or stare too long at her body.

I do not like these guys. They are too bold with my wom- employee. My employee.

“Bossman, you see those douchebags?” Bennett’s jaw is clenched watching Willow.

My face is heated and I know he can see the scowl on my face. “Yea Bennett, I fucking see those guys.” I grit out quietly.

Willow comes back to place their orders with Mack. I stop her on her way back.

“Hey, I’m going to take over the table,” I say, lightly grabbing her upper arm.

“What? Why? I’m handling them just fine,” she rebuts.

“Bennett and I think they’re getting a little too handsy. So it’s best I take over.” I hope that Bennett can’t hear me blaming him.

“No. I’m. Fine.” She grits her teeth and whirls around to leave me, effectively dismissing my order.

Sparring with her unfortunately is just as much of a turn on as watching her walk away.

I yell over to Bennett that I need to do something in the kitchen and he nods back. I walk into the large freezer, taking deep breaths to get myself back under control.

The familiar anger bubbles to the surface. One that contributed to one too many drunken bar fights. I start to take the deep breaths that my therapist taught me for stressful situations.

The door behind me opens and I curse, not ever getting a minute to myself today.

---