Page 13 of Boss Daddy

“Now that was a good night.”

Ben leans against the bar and rolls his shoulders, taking a deep breath.

The hum of the club has quieted down, leaving behind an empty space filled with the scent of spilled beer and whiskey with faint traces of perfume. The quiet settles around me like a dead weight.

“Yeah. Damn good night. Great work, Ben.”

He nods, flashing me a smile of gratitude before starting the cleanup.

I’d spent the evening behind the bar, filling drinks and keeping an eye on the crowd, making sure things didn’t spiral out of control. Now, every muscle in my back is a knot, and exhaustion tugs at my edges.

“I’m heading to the office,” I say. “Let me know if anything comes up.”

Ben gives me a two-fingers-to-the-forehead salute. I walk slowly toward my office, rolling my shoulders and cracking my knuckles along the way.

A few moments later, I collapse into my chair. The space is big enough for my desk and two chairs, a small couch, and a bookshelf.

If tonight taught me anything, it’s that the crowds aren’t getting any smaller, which I suppose is a good thing for business.

The door creaks open and in walks James like he owns the place. In a way, he does. He invested in the club right alongside me when I bought it, and his presence is as much a part of the routine as the lights shutting off at the end of the night.

“Another one for the books.” He drops a stack of papers on the desk, a lazy grin on his face. “You look like hell.”

I grunt, reaching for the bottle of whiskey on the shelf behind me. “Feel like it too.” I pour two fingers into two glasses and slide one to him.

He picks it up and clinks it against mine. “To Friday nights and the fools who pay our bills.”

We sip in silence, the burn of the whiskey spreading warmth through my chest. James flips through the numbers with one hand, his eyes scanning each page. “We had three hundred and seventy-six bodies in at the peak. Over five hundred total in and out throughout the night. Not bad.”

I nod, satisfaction settling in my gut. “Good work.”

He grins. “Damn right it is. We keep pulling numbers like this and I’ll be taking a vacation in the Bahamas sooner than planned.”

“Make sure you leave me with a babysitter if you do.”

James chuckles, eyes glinting. “Like you need one.”

I sip my whiskey, the warmth doing little to loosen the tight coil in my chest. My mind keeps drifting back to Erin.The way she looked behind the bar, confident and defiant. The way her eyes held mine, challenging me without saying a word.

“So,” James begins, his eyes narrowing slightly. “About that woman you interviewed today. Erin, right?”

Her name lingers in the air between us. I swirl the whiskey in my glass, staring at the amber liquid. “Yeah. I hired her.”

James’ eyebrows lift. “Starting her on a Saturday? Bold move.”

I shrug. “She can handle it.”

He releases a low whistle. “Hope so. Trial by fire will prove if she’s got what it takes, eh?” He pauses, the playful glint in his eyes fading into something serious. “What happened with Jerry? Why is he banned for the weekend? Heard talk out on the floor tonight.”

“He put his hands on her.”

James’ expression darkens, his easygoing demeanor slipping away. “Shit. You take care of it?”

“Of course. His ass is going to be on a short fucking leash when he returns. Last thing I need is drunk regulars scaring off the women.”

James studies me, his eyes narrowing. “Speaking of Erin… you interested in her?”

The question hangs in the air, my pulse thudding at the mere mention of her name. I take another sip of whiskey, letting the burn distract me.“What the fuck you talking about?”

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