Page 74 of Taming Waves

“Does that mean you aren’t coming?” Jake asks me.

“Nope. Poker night is just for the boys,” Parker answers for me.

“Too bad,” Jake says. “I guess that means you’ll just have to go out with me before Brew and I leave for Vegas.”

Before I can answer, the door opens, and Van waltzes in, followed by a guy I don’t recognize. They say hello, and Van introduces the stranger. His name is Benjamin, but he goes by Ben, and he’s the one interviewing for one of the bartending positions.

“Let me sit down with them first, and then you and I can have our meeting,” Brew tells me. He then turns to Parker and says, “If you don’t have anywhere to be, why don’t you stay and have lunch with me and Jake?”

“Okay,” Parker agrees.

Brew and Van excuse themselves, leading Ben to Brew’s office.

Heather turns to me, and her eyes widen.

“I hope they hire him,” she says as she places her purse behind the bar and grabs a towel.

“You’ve known him all of five minutes,” I say.

“So? I can just tell he’d fit right in.”

“You know I’m not a fan of my bartenders and waitstaff fraternizing,” I remind her.

“Who said anything about ‘fraternizing’?” she says, bringing her fingers up to do air quotes on the last word. “He’s hot. Hot bartenders mean bigger tips. Isn’t that right, handsome?” She winks at Parker, and he grins.

It’s true; tips have gone up about fifteen percent in the last few weeks, and the only thing that can account for the increase is his presence. Not that I’d have pointed that out to him.

“Come on. Your sexy ass can help me get tables ready before you cut out,” she says, grabbing the front of Parker’s T-shirt and leading him toward the tables in front of the dance floor.

Once they’re out of earshot, Jake looks at me. “Now, about that date. Are you free tomorrow night?”

“I’ll be closing the rest of the week,” I tell him.

He frowns. “Well, that’s no fun.”

“Tell me about it. Hopefully, that interview goes well. I could use a vacation,” I say.

“You know you’re always welcome in Santa Monica. It sure was fun the last time you visited.” He waggles his eyebrows at me.

“It was,” I agree. I’d never been to the West Coast before, and I took two weeks last summer to explore Southern California. “You were an excellent host and tour guide,” I add.

He gives me a knowing grin.

“All right, I’ll take that,” he says. “And don’t worry. I have a sneaking suspicion your work schedule is going to get a lot better soon.”

“Really? Why’s that?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Just a hunch.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Jake, don’t be coy. Tell me what you know.”

He lifts his hands. “I’m not saying another word unless you agree to breakfast at least. You can grill me for information over pancakes.”

“Resorting to blackmail, Mr. Mason? That’s so unbecoming,” I tease.

He leans in. “If it works,” he murmurs.

“Fine. Breakfast tomorrow.” I give in.

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