Page 11 of Challenged by the Single Dad

He replied with a stony expression then stomped off through the kitchen.

“Ignore Dom,” came a pretty, female voice. “He’s been in a mood for months. Ever since the server he hired for the summer killed one of our other servers, he hates everybody.”

Chloe gaped at the pretty, young woman with gray eyes and ice-blonde hair. “What happened?”

Whatever she was expecting the woman to say to justify Dom’s behavior, murder was absolutelynoton that list. Did the murder happen here? She glanced down at the fatigue mat beneath her black loafers. Did a server die right where she was standing? A cold, heaviness crawled through her, leaving its footprints through her limbs and settling in her core until it ached.

The pretty server seemed entirely unaware of Chloe’s growing unease and simply shrugged. “Yeah. It was totally messed up. One of our servers, Nadine, got tangled up with some bad people, and Ginny found out. So Nadine killed her for it—at the hostel they were both staying in. Ginny was a server too.” She shook her head. “I really liked both of them. It’s so sad. Like Ginny was the nicest person.” Her bottom lip trembled, and she used long, fake nails to gently swipe a tear from beneath her eye, finally showing some emotion, which settled Chloe a little. Since The server was coming across alarmingly apathetic. “But ever since that, Dom just keeps firing any new bartender they hire. Probably because he finds something he can’t trust about them.” She was busy punching in an order on the POS. “I’m Renée, by the way.”

Chloe was still reeling from the bomb Renée just dropped. “Uh … Chloe. Nice to meet you.” She went about making the vodka soda with lime and put it on the bar. Then it hit her. Renée just said Ginny was murdered at the hostel. “Wait a sec …”

Renée lifted her brows to indicate she was listening.

“I’mstaying at the hostel.”

Renée grimaced. “I mean, it’s not like it was a bloodbath. She put a pillow over her face. And Hawke, who owns the hostel, is so great. His business is suffering since it happened. He’s trying to get away from the stigma of it being a Murder Hostel.”

Didn’t mean Chloe wasn’t going to lock her bedroom door and maybe move her nightstand in front of it when she went to bed tonight.

Another server joined them. “Hey! I’m Penny. Welcome.”

“I just told her about Nadine and Ginny,” Renée said, taking a sip of her water.

Penny’s brown eyes turned sad. “It was absolutely gutting.”

A third, and then a fourth, server joined them.

“This is Jillian and Quinton,” Penny said, referring to the beautiful dark-skinned woman, and the tall, lanky, runway-model-looking man. “Guys, this is Chloe. Hopefully she lasts longer than everyone else.”

They all nodded.

“Hey, Chloe. I’m just about to punch it in, but can I get a margarita not blended, so on the rocks, please?” Quinton said, flashing bright white teeth.

Chloe nodded, still a little rattled after learning she was staying in the Murder Hostel. “For sure.”

Boy, did she feel out of place. All these servers were younger than her. They would fit right in with the crowd at the hostel, but what on earth did she have in common with them?

She went about making the margarita in the shaker just as Dom came thundering back in, a scowl on his face. The staff scattered as if he was a foot and they were all ants about to be squashed.

“Renée,” Dom all but barked.

She skittered over. “Yes?”

“You’re covering the bar Halloween night. So I need you to train under Chloe. She has more experience bartending. So work together. You show her the ropes here, and she’ll teach you how to mix drinks. We’re moving you to her barback tomorrow night from the floor.”

“Where will you be?” Renée asked.

It was like it actually pained him to get the words out. “I’ll be off.”

Renée’s eyes went wide. “Silas is going to love having you home.”

“Wait, isn’t that Friday night?” Chloe asked. “Why are we being thrown to the wolves, or sharks, or whatever on a Friday?”

She could tell Dom had asked the same question. “Because it’s sink or swim,” he finally said.

“And all the guys just live up the hill. Like a five-minute walk,” Renée said with an awkward laugh. “So if we’re in a pinch, we can always call.”

“I’ve been told I’m not allowed to answer my phone,” he said through gritted teeth. “So you better figure it out, you two.”

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