Page 36 of Redemption

“We don’t need any more of yourhelp,” Daisy spat and instead of getting angry, the guy just smirked down at her before pulling at the cufflinks on his suit. He was dressedsuper fancy for The Lonely Bison, kinda made me wanna spill beer on him just to make him fit in better. He couldn’t be comfortable in that get-up. The Duke guy wandered off and Daisy’s gaze followed him, searing into his back before it lasered onto me again.

“I don’t want any trouble,” I said, holding my hands up and my stare flickered to Kat who appeared next to her sister. She might have been dressed casually in a top that hugged her perky tits and shorts that highlighted the legs that seemed to go on forever, right before they ended with pretty pink cowgirl boots I wasnotimagining wrapped around me, but she was the most stunning woman in the room tonight.

“I don’t give two cow pats whether you wanted it or not, it’s found you, Drayton!” The redhead sure was feisty and she took a step towards me before Kat placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Daisy, no,” her calming voice soothed. The bar was silent, everyone watching what was going on. This was probably the most exciting thing to happen in a long time, like a soap opera unfolding right in front of their eyes. Daisy’s cheeks flamed red as she glanced around. She shrugged Kat off and stormed through the crowd which parted like the Red Sea to let her through.

“I’m sorry,” Kat said to me, nibbling her lip and I tore my eyes away from it.

“You don’t have to apologize to me, ever,” I said.

“Hi Jack,” August peeked around Kat, waving wildly, and smiling wide.

“Hi August,” I smirked, intrigued as to where the confidence came from. This was not the quiet librarian I met last week.

“I didn’t realize you worked here. I guess all our free drinks this evening make sense now,” Kat said,shooting a glare past my shoulder to Max who offered a chagrined smile.

I groaned. “I’m sorry, I should have warned you, it was a new development since we last spoke.”

“It’s not my business. You don’t owe me anything,” she said before turning away and disappearing into the crowd.

But she was wrong, I owed her everything.

The onlookers eventually went back to their conversations and dancing, slyly watching me out the corners of their eyes. Max had been right; I’d drawn a crowd tonight and it made me nervous. I didn’t know if they wanted to start shit or just ogle my ass like I was a new exhibit at the zoo. I kept my head down and just got on with my job.

I wasn’t behind the bar serving, just cleaning and collecting glasses. Max said he’d show me how to mix drinks on Monday once the weekend rush was done. I didn’t mind, it kept me busy, kept my mind preoccupied and it would put food on the table.

For some reason whenever I was out in the crowd, picking up glasses and making sure the floor was dry, I kept finding myself looking for those cute pink cowgirl boots. I found them at one point and admired the legs tucked into them before hating myself and looking away. I ventured near Kat again but the steam coming out of Daisy’s nostrils when she caught sight of me had me veering off.

I didn’t blame her. But it was nice that August and Maddy didn’t seem to care I was hanging around. Or the youngest one, Tilly who I hadn’t seen since I chased her out of here earlier after she was making goo-goo eyes at Max. I wasn’t surprised that a couple of the girls harbored resentment, but I didn’t know how to make it better, or ifI even could.

Finally, the Cartwrights headed home. Leo rounded them up but interestingly he had been talking to other women all night and not Kat. If she were my girl, I’d never let her out of my sight, let alone be looking at another woman. Dude didn’t know how lucky he was to have her.

Eventually it was time to close up, Max flicked the deadbolts on the top and bottom of the doors and let out a low whistle. “Man, what a night.”

I looked up from wiping down the bar. “Is it normally that busy?”

Max grinned. “Nope, that’s all you, baby.”

I chuckled. “Glad I’m good for business.”

“It’ll die down soon,” Max rolled his shoulders. “Once everyone’s got their fill of looking at you.” He began flipping the barstools over and putting them on the bar. “Grab that broom out there, will ya?”

I headed into the back and found it, bringing it back out and began to sweep up but he took it from me. “It’s cool, I’ll do it.”

I quirked a brow. “You sure?”

“Yes, it’s only sweeping,” he said, but he avoided my stare.

“Okay then. What else would you like me to do?”

“You can talk if you like. How’s life going since you got out?”

Ugh, I hated talking about myself. But Max had done me a favor hiring me when no one else had so I guess I owed him.

I started tidying up beer mats so I didn’t have to look at him. “Uh, fine I guess.”

“Fine? That it? Come on man. I’m not just trying to grill you for information. You’re anemployee and I wanna make sure you’re okay.”

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