Page 4 of Taming Waves

Brew shakes his head. “Who has the time to date? I’m either at the track, on a jet, or in a hotel room, trying to catch a few winks. I came here to rest for a couple of days, and things imploded at Whiskey Joe’s, so I worked till the wee hours of the morning.”

“I thought the goal of running your own company was to be able to work less,” I say.

“Companies. And I have no clue what gave you that idea. As the boss, you have to work twice as hard as everyone else, which leaves you little personal time. No woman would put up with the sliver of attention I’d have to give her.”

Anson throws his hand out and gestures to the house and private beach. “Oh, I don’t know. I think you just might be able to find one willing to put up with quite a bit.”

Sebastian and I murmur our agreement.

“I’m not interested in being anyone’s sugar daddy,” Brew says, and we all laugh.

“What happened at the bar?” I ask.

“One of our bartenders left for college, and another quit without notice before we could hire a replacement. I found out Audrey’s been working fourteen-hour shifts five days a weekplus Monday mornings since the beginning of the month and trying to handle her other tasks and schedule interviews. I pitched in behind the bar last night so she could get some rest. I have no idea how the woman has been handling it alone. It was a Wednesday and not even the busy season, and the place was packed all night.”

“She’s a hell of a bartender—that’s for sure,” Anson says.

“She is. But I don’t want her to burn out on me. I need her. I have good people running the operation, and ninety percent of the time, all I have to do is check in occasionally. So, I want to get this resolved for her quickly.”

“Have you had any luck looking for replacements?” Seb asks.

“There have been a couple of promising applicants. I interviewed one this afternoon who had the right personality but no experience. She’d have to be trained in mixology and handling a busy bar.”

“That sucks, man,” Seb says.

“It does, especially for Audrey. I wish I had more time to help, but I leave on Thursday and won’t be back in town for a few weeks. I’m going to talk to some of the restaurant owners in town tomorrow morning and see if they have anyone with bartending experience they can spare for a couple of months since it’s the off-season. I just need someone long enough to help Audrey until we get a few people hired and trained.”

“I can do it,” I say before I can think better of it.

Brew’s eyes cut to me. “You?”

I shrug. “Yeah, me. I spent several summers in California behind the bar on your grandfather’s yacht, serving drinks to him and his pals and business associates. As you said, the season is over, so there won’t be as many charters to juggle.” I look at Sebastian. “I mean, if it’s okay with you and Sebby.”

“Should be fine,” he says. “Plus, Lennon is home now, so I can always make his ass jump in if needed.”

Lennon is Sebastian’s older brother. He spent the last decade in the Navy but transferred to the Coast Guard in Oak Island at the end of last year. He and Amiya live on the island’s west end, across from his best friend, Wade Lusk.

Anson slaps me on the back. “He does make a mean cocktail,” he adds.

Brew considers me for a second. “That’d help me out, man. If you’re serious.”

“I can start tomorrow.”

“Great. I’ll get a temporary employment contract drawn up in the morning. Can you do sixty days? That should give us time to get a couple of people hired and trained.”

“Sure. Longer if you need me. We won’t be back to our full schedule until spring.”

“Great. Ninety then. That’ll take the pressure off and give me until mid-December to find the right people.”

He reaches his hand over, and we shake on it. Then, he lets out a relieved breath as the chef calls that dinner is ready.

We stand, and he clasps my shoulder as we approach the dining table.

“I appreciate this, man. I can’t wait to tell Audrey.”

Audrey

Ifeel like a new woman as I walk from my car to the front of Whiskey Joe’s on Wednesday morning. It’s amazing what a day off and a good night’s sleep can do.

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