Page 38 of Leashed

Chapter Fifteen

Sage tugged the hem of her skirt down in a fruitless attempt to cover more of her thighs before she went back on the floor to serve the table of businessmen running up a huge tab at the back of the lounge.

The young cook working the grill wrinkled his nose. “Those old guys still getting handsy? I can come out there if you want.”

Giving the kid a smile, she hefted her tray onto her hand. “Thanks, Josh, but it’s fine. This is what they pay me the big bucks for, right?”

He rolled his eyes and returned his attention to the deep fryers.

He was a nice boy, but she was certain she outweighed him by a good twenty pounds. And sending a young cook into the belly of the businessmen beast would be cruel.

With a quick check of her phone to see if Nixon had texted her yet to let her know he’d made it to his hotel, she slipped her cell into her apron and plastered a smile on her face, nodding as the group called her over.

“Hey, beautiful. Another bottle of the red. And tell the kitchen we’re still waiting on those dry ribs.”

“The ribs should be up in five,” she said while she scribbled it on her notepad, moving down the line and staying as far out of arm’s reach as she could without being obvious. She side-stepped one wayward hand, giving the guy a tight smile when he made another lewd comment about the smoothness of her legs. Swallowing back her disgust, she retreated to the safety of the bar counter as quick as she could.

“Another bottle of red?” the bartender asked.

Exhaling loudly, she nodded and entered the rest of the order into the computer. “Unfortunately. They’re going to be here all night, aren’t they?”

“At least they tip well,” he replied, uncorking the bottle. “Always worth it for the money they throw around.”

Says the guy standing safely behind the bar.

Loading her tray, she braced herself for the drink drop-off, where she’d have to slip between the chairs to clear the empty glasses and pass out the fresh ones. A twenty dollar bill was tossed onto her tray as she leaned over the ringleader, his thumb grazing the inside of her thighs while she set the bottle of wine down. She muttered a thank you and eased out of his reach to work her way down the table, her skin crawling when a second man stood and tipped her another twenty while he wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a squeeze for being “so damn sweet.”

Extricating herself from his hold, she passed out the last of the drinks, loading her tray with the discarded glasses and promising to return with their appetizers. She pushed into the kitchen and placed the cups into the dishwasher, nodding as Josh called her order out for her.

“Want me to spit in the dip?” he asked, sliding the hot plates toward her.

Grinning, she balanced the five plates on her arm. “Maybe with their next order. Thanks, Josh.”

She nudged the swinging door open, smiling when she saw C leading Bo and three other guys across the lounge. She squeezed between two of the businessmen and started setting the plates down, jumping when she felt a cold hand slip under her skirt and onto her ass.

“Whoa!” she exclaimed, ignoring the burning plates still on her arm and backing away quickly. “No, no, no, no, no.”

The man watched her move out of his reach to set the rest of the food down. “You should come join us,” he called out. “We’ll talk to your boss for you, sweetheart.”

Several others joined in agreement, two of them sliding their chairs back and patting their thighs. “Come sit with us, sweetcheeks.”

A long arm draped over her shoulder and she flinched as she was pulled tight against a hard body.

“Hey, baby.”

She blinked, looking up at Bo as he bent down to kiss her forehead, his eyes locked on the ringleader. “Oh,” she breathed, catching on. “Hi…babe. You guys staying for a bit?”

He nodded tersely, straightening to his full height while he scanned the group and pointed to an empty table beside them. “We’re going to be sitting right there.”

And sit he did.

*

Bo swirled theice in his cup and continued to stare down every suit who looked his way, grunting in agreement with Clotho’s new buddies while they discussed the concert’s opening act. “C? Did you know we would end up here?”

“I know what I know,” she replied, silver eyes on the phones in everyone’s hands. “I want one of those.”

He passed his cell over to her as Sage approached the head asshole and the guy wisely kept his hands on the table. “That’s right, little man,” he growled. “Keep those sausage fingers in view.”

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