Page 27 of I Should Hate You-but I Don't

"Stop." Lori walked her back to the counter, pushed her onto the stool, and pointed. "You're here to eat and listen to me complain. I'll survive. I've run this place since Zane and Kingsley's daddy built the bar. I can handle a little extra work as long as they know I'm not going to do it forever."

She considered how to help Lori while she ate. It wouldn't hurt her to work on the three days she had off from the campground. As much as she disliked kitchen work, she was grateful for the last three years of having a job and earning money to save toward finding her sister.

While she couldn't fix Lori's problem, she could talk to the person who could get her more kitchen help.

She finished half her meal and dumped the rest in the garbage before Lori could lecture her. Then, she added the dishes in the bin to the dishwasher and set them to wash.

Lori blew her a kiss. She waved and hefted her bag over her shoulder as she left through the back door.

Instead of heading to the house, she walked up the hill. The men causing all the chaos earlier were gone. Only a dozen motorcycles remained outside the clubhouse.

She spotted Zane's Harley. He always parked closest to the door.

Pushing the heavy door open, she stepped inside and blinked to adjust her vision. No matter the time of day, the interior was always dim unless you entered the office.

Snake sat on the back of the couch, watching a baseball game on the television on the wall. She approached him and waited until he noticed her standing there.

When the game cut to a commercial, he turned to her. "What's up?"

"I'm looking for Zane. Do you know where he is?"

"Office."

"Can I go back there?" she asked.

"Go ahead." His attention went back to the television as the announcer started talking.

"Thanks." She walked to the back of the room and down a short hallway.

On the right, there was a closed door. She knocked.

"Doors open," yelled Zane.

She turned the handle and stepped inside. Smoke tickled her nose. Zane was kicked back in the chair, his boots planted on the corner of the desk, and a cigar hung from his fingers.

At seeing her, he frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Can't it wait?"

"No." She stepped forward until the desk was between them. "It's about Lori."

"What about her?" He puffed on the cigar.

Smoke rings slipped out of his mouth, floated into the air between them, and dispersed when she blinked. She tilted her head in anticipation of the next time he exhaled. It was the sexiest thing she'd seen.

"River?"

She jolted. "Um, Lori's all by herself in the kitchen, and that's a three-person job. She needs help. I'm willing to work at the bar on my three days off—"

"No."

"But, Zane, she's tired, and it's too much work for her." She stepped closer. "I'd also love to make the extra money."

"Tomorrow morning, she'll have two women willing to do kitchen work. She'll have help," he said.

"So, you've hired them already?" She exhaled softly. "You should tell Lori."

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