Page 28 of Challenged by the Single Dad

“I know. I just … I want to make a good impression. I really want this job. And Dom doesn’t seem to like me.”

“Dom’s got a lot of shit that he needs to work though. You are not his intended target, even if you’re the one that’s getting hit. His brothers won’t let him fire you if you’re a good fit for the bar. Trust me.” He jerked his chin. “Bottom’s up.”

She stared down into the green-ish yellow liquid, took a deep breath, then tossed it back, making a face after she swallowed it from just how sour it was. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. Go drink some water.”

“I will.” She headed back to the front of house where Renée was busy ringing up some customers since Penny, Quinton, and Jillian were busy.

“Drink that,” Renée said, pointing to a big beer mug of ice water with lemon wedges floating in it.

Chloe smiled at the young, thoughtful woman. “Thank you.”

Renée shot her a wink, then went back to flirting with the customers.

As Renée predicted, the pub cleared out pretty quickly. By a quarter to eleven, the place was empty, besides the three women in the corner booth.

Even the Sewing Circle made their departure by ten o’clock, taking with them their patches for the quilt they were making for Ellie’s baby. Sunflower Patrick made a point of stopping by to compliment Chloe’s old-fashioneds again, while Jolene Dandy asked Chloe if she was interested in being set up with anybody and what her ideal type of man was.

“Let the woman just get settled before you start trying to marry her off,” Renée said, shaking her head at Jolene. “She’s only been on the island a couple of days.”

“There are an uncanny amount of eligible bachelors on the island though,” Jolene argued. “I mean, for a long time, five of them lived right here. Now there are only two. But the men who own the distillery are all single as well. Not to mention that handsome Italian man who saved Dock at the Fun Fair in June. I believe he is single. And very wealthy. Officer Jacobs is single. I simply want to know what Chloe’s type is, so I don’t waste my time.”

“How about you let Chloe come to you with her type when she’s ready?” Renée said.

Jolene focused her attention on Chloe. “You will come to me, right?”

“Absolutely.” Chloe nodded. “I’m just not ready yet.”

That seemed to satisfy Jolene for now, but even Chloe knew it wouldn’t tide her over forever. She mouthed a “thank you” to Renée who gave her a wink back.

Besides the women in the corner booth, the last two to stagger out were the beer pitcher boys. And they were absolutely smashed.

“You need me to call you a cab?” Renée asked them as she slid their bill across the bar to them. “I can’t let you drive home.”

“You could drive us home,” said the clean-shaven guy.

“Nope,” Renée said. “Do you need me to call you a ride?”

Backward hat guy nodded and closed his eyes. “Yeah … please.”

Renée grabbed the landline phone and punched in a number off the wall. “Yeah, Ronnie, can you come pick up two guys named—”

“I’m Colin and this is …” started clean-shaven guy

“No,I’mColin,” said his friend.

The first guy snickered. “Oh, right. I’m Colin and this is Murray.”

“Can you come pick up Colin and Murray? Yeah. At Sound Bites. Thanks, Ronnie.” Renée hung up. “He’ll be here in ten minutes. But you guys need to pay and then go wait outside.” Although her tone was friendly, it was also no-nonsense, and these two drunkards knew not to mess with her.

The clean-shaven guy, named Murray, paid, then they got up from their barstools and zigzagged their way to the door.

Colin turned around. “Last chance to come home with me, Renée. I’d rock your world, girl.”

“I know you would, but I have to get home to my three kids, Colin. Unless you want to come home with me and be their new daddy?”

Colin’s eyes went wide with terror.

---