Page 6 of Taming Waves

“Why would you hire someone without consulting me first anyway?”

“You asked me to help find staff. This is me helping,” he says.

“Yes, I asked you to help with the interviews because I didn’t have the time to do them, but I expected you to at least introduce me to anyone you were considering and make sure I was on board before you hired them,” I retort.

I start to pace in front of his desk.

“Calm down, Audrey. You know I wouldn’t give a job to someone without your approval first. Parker is just a temporary solution to our present situation. He’s local and dependable, he has bartending experience, and he’s available. He’s also a friend and someone I trust, so I don’t have to wait for a backgroundcheck in order to hand him keys,” he explains. “But if you don’t want him here, I’ll tell him to leave.”

He starts to stand, and I stop my strides. He looks as tired as I feel.

“He has experience?”

“Yeah, he worked on my family’s yacht and bartended corporate events. I called Granddad to ask his thoughts, and he sang his praises. Which means he must be good because Brewster Sr. isn’t easily impressed.”

I release a frustrated breath. “Fine. I’ll make it work. But just until we get replacements hired and trained.”

“Not a minute longer. Scout’s honor,” he assures me.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Were you even a Boy Scout?”

“Yes, ma’am. Eagle Scout. And our word is our bond.”

I laugh under my breath. “Whatever.”

I grab the door handle, but he calls my name before I step into the hallway.

“Audrey?”

I turn back to him.

“Seriously, I don’t know what happened with you two in the past; he’s my friend, but if him being here makes you uncomfortable, I’ll toss his ass out of here and figure something else out.”

I drop the attitude and give him an appreciative smile. “It’s okay. I was just caught off guard. I can handle Parker.”

He nods, and I exit the office and head back to the front of the house.

The question is, can Parker handle me?

Parker

Itake time to familiarize myself with the bar’s setup while Brew and Audrey have their little tête-à-tête. I knew there was a chance she wouldn’t be exactly thrilled to see me this morning. I probably should have given him a heads-up.

The woman is an enigma.

Most of the time, I think my presence doesn’t affect her in the slightest. But there are times, like just a few moments ago, when she walked in the door and her eyes locked with mine, I see it—that flicker of something still alive between us.

My mind drifts back to the conversation I shared with the fellas and Donnie Dale on the drive to Wilmington the night of Sebastian’s bachelor party.

“When you meet the right girl, you don’t do shit to screw it up,” Sebastian said.

I grunted in response, bringing their attention to me.

“Yeah. I met the right girl once, and I did everything to screw it up,” I muttered.

“That’s true. He did,” Anson agreed.

“Who?” Donnie Dale asked.

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