Page 33 of The Barkeep and the Bro

“The stock room’s a little messy,” I responded in defense.

“Yeah, and it’s just a little chilly outside,” Natasha said. It was about twelve degrees and windy. Message received.

“I hate going in there. The anal, OCD side of me wants to retch,” Charlie said.

My cock twitched in my jeans at the word anal escaping his lips. Damn, was I really this triggered? I needed to get laid.

Not with him.

That was what the internet was for.

“It’s fine,” I grumble, trying to steer clear of Charlie’s anal anything. Though his ass is so perfectly round, it should be studied in geometry textbooks. Every time he bent over, my first thought was how many fingers I could slide in there at once.

“There’s no system. Maybe we could reorganize?”

Natasha laughed, still plugged into her phone. “Such a newbie. That’s what they all say. New guys and gals come in and think they’re going to be the one who can clean up that room. They’re like presidential candidates who promise that they’re going to be the ones to cut taxes and bring jobs back.”

“I don’t think it could hurt to have some better organization. Even just labels on the shelves.” Charlie shrugged to minimize his suggestion, but I could tell it was getting to him.

“Who knew Charlie was a closet librarian?” Natasha snickered.

“I don’t think we should rely on tribal knowledge. You know, if it’s busy and a new guy needs to find something in there, he’s screwed.”

“Okay, Charlie. Go for it.” I dared him to take this on. It was one thing to complain about the stock room. Complaining was easy.

“Go for what?”

“Reorganize the stock room.”

His face lit up for a second before he realized what he signed up for. Man, this guy was cute. And he knew it, too.

“Let’s see what you come up with.”

Charlie retreated to the supply room. Natasha would summon him if she ever got any customers. A few minutes later, someone walked through the front door, but it wasn’t a customer.

It was my daughter.

“Ellie Bear.” I couldn’t help turning mushy when I saw her, even though she was an all-grown-up lawyer. She was my little girl forever.

“Hey, Dad.” She looked very professional in her fancy coat and purse. No girls ever teased her about not having the latest fashions anymore, that was for damn sure. “I was on my way home, and I wanted to stop in and talk with you about wedding details. Tim and I are reviewing vendor proposals, and since you’ve catered events, I wanted to get your thoughts on these.”

“My pleasure, Ellie Bear.”

“I haven’t gone by that name since I was eight.”

“Doesn’t matter to me.” She was eight about ten seconds ago in my mind.

Charlie popped his head out from the supply room. “El Dorado!”

He jogged over and gave Ellie a hug. His friendliness and warmth never ceased to impress me. Ellie didn’t have the same reaction to seeing him, though.

“Charlie?” She looked utterly confused. “You work here?”

She turned to me, then him, then back to me, then back to him. “I thought you were in the city?”

“It’s a long story.” Charlie let out a nervous chuckle. He probably had to rehash this story many times over at this point. “I decided on a career and life pivot, and I wound up here. Learning the bartending ropes from your dad.”

“Huh.” Being my daughter, I knew every emotion on her face, including the undercurrent of frustration laced with her confusion. I worried that I made a mistake in hiring him. It’d seemed like their breakup was amicable, but maybe it wasn’t.

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