Page 37 of Fate's Unseen Shadow

“I almost went there to look for a job when you asked for my driver’s license.” She paused with her fork partway to her mouth. “You’re looking at me oddly.”

Damon shook his head. “I’m glad that didn’t happen.” Walker’s biggest sell was sexy bartenders who enjoyed going that extra mile for their customers. Ella might claim she wasn’t ignorant, but the fact she’d willingly go into that establishment looking for a job proved that she wasn’t aware of everything that could happen.

“He’s always on the lookout for fresh blood to bartend. I think Lacy would skin him alive if he even tried to suggest she came to work for him again. He asked once. Got too close. Chris kicked him out. He came back another night to talk to Lacy again. This time, Chris stopped him at the door. We haven’t seen him in about five months—since the last time we hired someone. He successfully took our last bartender with the promise of a lot of money.”

“Are you worried he will lure me away from Cager?”

“No. You already told me I don’t have any competition.” It was a joke to her, but in reality, he didn’t trust his reaction if Walker tried.

Her laugh was immediate. “You’re right.”

“But since you’re new to Cager, he might make an appearance.”

“I’ll be aware of it. Plus I have Lacy. She told me we’re going to be best friends.” She pushed her rice around on the plate. “Best friends with an accused murderer.”

“I don’t think Lacy would care, but let’s not start the slumber parties off with that topic. Play spin the bottle like normal people.”

She snorted, covering her mouth since she’d taken a bite of her dinner. “Oh no.”

“What?”

“Please tell me you’re not one of those guys who fantasize about the slumber parties where the two best friends are in their bras and panties having pillow fights.”

He stood, picking up his empty dish. “Nope. Only one of you was in my fantasy wearing that, and it wasn’t Lacy.”

She coughed and reached for her soda to take a sip.

“Come on. We need to get going.” Before his mouth and imagination ran away with him, and he forgot his place in her life.

12

“All I’m saying is that if I had your figure, I’d rock this leather skirt I just bought. Please, let me bring it for tomorrow night.” Lacy looked over her shoulder at Damon and the guys. “I promise it’ll get you the type of attention you want.”

Ella bent her head farther over the drink she mixed. “I never said anything about wanting attention.”

“You didn’t have to. Every thirty seconds, your eyes track over there. I’m assuming you’re interested in Damon.” Lacy held up her hand. “And don’t say you’re not interested. You are. It’s okay to admit it to me. I won’t tell anyone. Not even Chris.”

She bit her lip and studied the glass in her hand.

“There’s another guy, isn’t there?” Lacy slipped herself between Ella and the bar. “You have got to tell me. You seem too sweet to juggle two men, but hey?—”

“No.” Ella shook her head. “Nothing like that. There was another guy, but that’s over. I don’t have much experience outside of that one relationship with, uh, flirting. I don’t know how to get a guy, is what I’m saying. I’ve tried to flirt withDamon, and he gives me this look like I think he’s interested and then backs off.

“So, he’s hot and cold?”

“No. More like he gets warm and then tepid. He’ll say little things and then change the subject. He’s done so much for me. I’d hate to risk it and force myself on him because I misread his signals.” She looked Lacy up and down. “I’m not like you. I don’t feel sexy and badass. I never owned a shirt that showed my stomach before this job. Even the idea that someone like Damon would consider me for something other than doing his taxes is ludicrous.”

Lacy laughed until she snorted. She reached for a customer’s empty glass. “Listen, you need to be you, okay? That’s what makes you sexy. You’re hot, smart, and adorably sweet. I’d have already hit on you if I wasn’t with Chris. My advice is to own it, Ella. Own what you feel and who you are. Not everyone will be into you. It would be a miserable existence if that were the case. But I bet the man sitting in that booth over there that hasn’t stopped staring at you for the past two days likes exactly what you have to offer.

“And,” she added in a whisper, “I bet if you made your intentions loud and clear, there’s no way he’d refuse.”

“I’ve tried to make them clear.”

“Then maybe you need to hit him upside the head with them.”

She crossed her arms. “So what do I do? Walk up to him and kiss him?”

Lacy wrinkled her nose. “No, that’s no fun. There’s a reason it’s called catching a man. It’s like fishing. You have to tempt them.”

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