Page 2 of Secret Billionaire

He glared at Faye, waving his hand dismissively. “Yeah yeah, I heard ya.”

She rolled her eyes and pulled a fresh frosty mug from the cooler and filled it from the tap. “Here ya go. Are you ready to cash out now?”

“I’ll wait til I’m done.”

“Suit yourself.”

She glanced over at the table and caught Jesse staring at her. Her cheeks grew warm. He was gorgeous but even more than that, he seemed like a sweetheart. Hopefully, she’d be here when he dropped off those business cards. The guys all reached into their pockets as they divvied up the bar tab. Leaving a pile of cash on the table, they stood up to leave.

Jesse stopped at the bar to say goodbye. “I didn’t catch your name.”

Her pulse raced. “Faye LeBlanc.”

“Nice to meet you Faye.”

“Yeah, you guys were fun. Happy Birthday.”

“Thanks to you it was.” His eye’s lazily ran over her face, briefly settling on her lips, before he turned to follow his friends out the door.

Faye blew out a long breath as she finished wiping down the bar. She turned off the music and the pleasant sounds of the whirling ceiling fans, and the clinking of the pull chain were like a lullaby. The backdrop of water lapping at the deck only added to her sleepiness. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. She’d been up since seven that morning. There hadn’t been that many customers today, but the last three months of renovating a dilapidated building and opening for business were catching up with her.

She couldn’t wait to crawl between her cotton sheets. All she could think about was her soft pillow and cozy bed. The only thing standing between her and sleep was the last holdout, the guy on the bar stool. He was still in no hurry to leave despite the fact that she’d announced last call, turned up the lights and turned off the music. Since he was impervious to her hints, she was going to have to use the direct approach to get him to leave.

Smiling, Faye shrugged apologetically and said, “I’m fixin’ to close. I’m going to have to take your beer if you don’t down it now.”

His bushy salt and pepper eyebrows looked like two fat caterpillars as they drew together in a scowl. “Is that so? I paid for my beer and I ain’t leavin’ til I finish it.”

Her irritation intensified her southern Carolina drawl, “I’m not trying to be rude or anything, but when I announced last call, you had plenty of time to finish a mug of beer.”

He glared at her. “I reckon you think you’re gonna be the one to haul my ass out of here?”

She put her hands on her slim hips and tilted her head, “I reckon so.”

His cheeks, already ruddy, flushed even more. About to argue the point further, he abruptly threw back his head and drained the glass. Banging the mug down onto the bar top, he stood up and sauntered to the front door. As he grabbed the door handle, he snarled, “Oh, I forgot something.” He pulled a few coins out of his pocket and tossed them at Faye. They clattered noisily to the floor at her feet.

“Snake in the grass!” Faye muttered to the empty room as the door slammed shut behind him. Her hands trembled as she locked up. What a jerk! She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She grabbed an ice-cold bottle of Heineken from the cooler and sat on a bar stool, taking a long pull of the full-bodied beer. The combination of icy cold and strong bitter taste of the import hit the spot. As she relaxed the tension faded along with her headache. Stress. As she looked around, she tried to be happy that the interior at least, reflected her artistic flair with jazzy colors, whimsical marine animals and nautical décor. Her pure grit and elbow grease had paid off.

Faye finished her beer and tossed the bottle into the recycle can. She closed out the cash register and finished cleaning the bar glasses. Grabbing her backpack from under the counter, she turned out the lights and locked the door behind her. Her feet ached from standing all day in flip flops, but she only had to walk a couple of blocks to get home.

She stepped out and took a deep breath, the smell of the briny ocean air at once calming and exhilarating. A chill went down her spine when she saw the silhouette of a man leaning against a truck. As her eyes adjusted, she realized it was the same man she’d booted out earlier. She could see the glow of a cigarette as he took one last drag and ground it out under his boot heel. He took several threatening steps toward her and she backed away, hands suddenly clammy with sweat.

Before he reached her, a low sexy voice coming from the direction of the pier said, “Is there a problem Faye?”

Voice quivering, Faye said, “I’m not really sure.”

The man behind the voice stepped out and stood under a light. She was grateful to see that it was Jesse Carlisle. His leisurely approach couldn’t disguise his protective bearing, almost panther-like, as he sized up the threat.

“You got a reason to be hanging around here after hours?”

“Same as you I reckon.”

“No, I don’t reckon. I suggest you get in your truck and head on down the road if you know what’s good for you.”

The man puffed out his chest and sneered, “Why don’t ya mind yer own business pretty boy.”

Faye was relieved that the threatening stranger was no match physically for “pretty boy”, who happened to be built like a quarterback. Jesse had broad shoulders, bulging biceps, thighs that filled out his faded blue jeans to perfection. The other guy, although burly, had a beer belly and sticks for legs. Besides that, he looked like he hadn’t seen the inside of a gym for a decade plus. She’d place her bet on the hottie.

He must have done his own assessment and had come to the same conclusion, because he held up both hands and said, “Hey now, there’s no need for you to get your hackles up, I was just gonna offer this pretty little lady an apology. I think I mighta outworn my welcome earlier.”

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