Page 46 of Challenged by the Single Dad

The pub closed at ten on the weekdays, and the place was basically empty by nine forty-five.

But it wasn’t until the servers went to cash out and the kitchen staff were making their way to the front to collect their after-shift drinks, that she realized she hadn’t had anything to drink all shift.

Dammit. She really needed to figure out a way to remember to drink more water.

Wyatt came out of the kitchen with his jacket on. “Not sticking around for a drink, but I just wanted to say great job tonight, Chloe. You’re a machine.”

She grinned as she sipped water from her paper straw. “Thanks. And thanks for my pesto chicken wrap for dinner. It was amazing.”

“Anytime. You have a great night.”

“You too.”

Then he was gone.

The servers filed out one-by-one and set her tips down on the bar. Then they took their drinks and sat with the kitchen crew. Chloe cranked up the music, choosing some AC/DC, that got everyone’s heads bopping.

By ten fifteen the place had cleared out and she was by herself.

But that just meant she could turn the music up even louder, lock the doors, and rock out while she finished cleaning up. The bar and bottles were in desperate need of dusting. She located the extended feather duster in the cash out room and went to work.

She was singing along to Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” when a figure to the left in her peripheral vision made her nearly jump clear out of her skin.

Dom wandered behind her to the speaker and turned the music down a little. “You’re going to go deaf,” he said.

Her heart still thundered wildly against her ribs. “And you’re going to give a woman a heart attack if you keep sneaking up on her like that.”

He smirked. “I guess that is the second time, huh? Sorry.”

“The music isn’ttooloud. Is it? It’s not keeping the kids awake?”

He frowned and shook his head. “No. It’s fine.”

She swallowed and resumed dusting. “D-did you forget something?”

“Wyatt is sitting at my house. Silas is asleep.”

That didn’t answer her question.

“I, uh … I should probably learn how to make a Caesar, huh? Considering they’ve taken the island by storm?” The way his mouth lifted just on one side was impossibly cute and it was all she could do not to grab him by the man bun and take those lips for herself.

She cleared her throat and stepped to the side to put a bit more space between them. “Sure. I-if you’d like.”

He nodded. “It was too busy earlier. And I did say I should probably try it. See what all the fuss is about.”

“Right. Um … well, Wyatt ordered Clamato juice so we’re not having to use clam juice and tomato juice anymore. It’s in the fridge below.”

Nodding, he crouched down, which of course put his head right at the same level as her butt, and he brought out the Clamato. “Now what?”

“Worcestershire, tabasco, lime juice, celery salt, vodka, horseradish.”

He gave one curt nod and gathered all the ingredients.

Unlike earlier that day where they worked together behind the bar like a team, but on opposite sides of the bar, she was keenly aware of his presence now and just how close he was to her. His heat. His scent. His breath. It encircled her, wrapped around her like a weighted blanket, lulling her into a loopy, lightheaded state.

She swallowed, closed her eyes, and took a few deep breaths.

He was her boss.

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