Page 101 of Hot Shot

My aching head lifts from the inventory sheets I’m peering at with bleary eyes, unable to stop myself from hoping it’s Carrie.

This woman’s hair is as long as Carrie’s, and she’s tall and slender like Carrie, but the blond hair is redder, the complexion paler with freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks.

Nope, not Carrie. Who’s leaving in less than twenty-four hours.

“Hi,” the woman says with a smile that doesn’t quite dispel the shadows in her eyes. “You must be Cade.”

I tip my head. “Nope, sorry. I’m Marco.”

“Oh. I have an interview with Cade Hardy. “

“Interview? Oh right.” I give my head a shake. “For the waitress position.”

The corners of her pretty mouth tighten briefly, but she smiles again and nods. “Yes. I’m Reese Kirkwell.”

“Well, Cade must be running late. Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”

Her eyebrows lift.

“I meant coffee, pop . . . water.”

“Of course. A glass of water would be great, thanks.”

I add ice to a glass and fill it with water, then slide it across the bar to her. She’s gazing around the room taking everything in. It’s only ten in the morning, so the bar is empty.

She’s pretty, in a thin, delicate way. She looks like someone with a lot of nervous energy. Hopefully she’s strong enough to carry a tray of food. And strong enough to put up with cranky customers.

Notallour customers are cranky. Generally, good service goes a long way to keeping them happy. But there are some people you can never satisfy, and then there are the ones who drink too much and get rowdy . . . although the guys and I keep an eye on things and try to make sure that doesn’t happen.

When I meet her eyes, though, I see intelligence and what looks like determination. So yeah, she’s probably capable of waitressing here.

Noise from the back rooms alerts me to Cade’s arrival. Footsteps clomp down the hall and Cade appears. His gaze falls on Reese. “Sorry I’m late.”

I shake my head. Cade has bedhead and his shirt is wrinkled. He no doubt just rolled out of the sack with one of his many hookups.

Reese slides off the stool to greet Cade. “No problem.” Her smile is professional.

Cade shakes her hand. “Come on back to my office, Reese. I have your résumé there.”

Reese flashes Marco a smile as she follows Cade back behind the bar and down the hall. I hope Cade hires her and she can start right fucking now. Like, today.

I try again to focus on inventory, but my head pounds like a motherfucker and my gut feels a little queasy. Yeah, I probably tossed back a few too many shots of Patrón last night. I grimace and rub my forehead.

The interview doesn’t last long and soon Cade and Reese reappear. “So, Reese is going to start Monday,” Cade tells me. “Did you two meet?”

“Yes, briefly.” I smile at the new hire. “Welcome to Conquistadors.”

“Thank you.” Reese smiles politely. “I’ll see you both Monday.”

I turn to Cade, who stares after Reese as she walks out of the bar. In a pair of snug, ankle-length black pants, she does have a most excellent ass, although I’m noticing in a detached way because the only ass I really want to look at is Carrie’s.

Cade, however, has a hungry look on his face.

“No,” I say. “Absolutely not. Don’t even think about it.”

Cade scowls. “What?”

“I know you’re on a sex bender, but our staff is off-limits.”

---