Page 10 of Waiting for Sunshine

“Oh, perfect. Hey, Max. Come meet the new bartender I just hired.” She calls out, and what do you know, the beautiful, coffee spilling, Viking is my new boss. Awesome.

“Max, this is Shane Thompson. Shane, Max Mullins.” She introduces us as I roll my lips together, then smile up at him extending my hand out.

“Pleasure to meet you, Max,” I offer my sweetest voice. He quirks a brow and takes my hand. “You too.” He grunts, offering the saddest excuse for a smile.

First impression, not great.

Second impression, also not great.

“Can you start tomorrow?” Ruby is moving behind the bar not missing a beat.

“Um, yeah. What time?” I ask, bringing my attention to her and away from Max’s eyes.

“4 o’clock. I’ll start you off with the night shift, once you get that down everything else is cake.” She waves her hand across her face.

“I’ll be here.” I smile at her. She stops and glances down at my hand, which is embarrassingly still gripped with Max’s.

“Max, she might need her hand back.” Ruby teases. Max glares at her as he releases my hand. “Welcome to the team, Shane. See you tomorrow.” He turns to walk away.

Oh, goody. Max will be here. Maybe he’ll bring his dog becausesheseems wonderful.

CHAPTER5

MAX

Riley,Tucker, and I finally made our way out of my office to grab ourselves a drink, when I got behind the bar the first sight I was greeted with was the same face I hadn’t been able to get out of my head all day. Who was this girl? And why was she showing up everywhere today? I overheard her telling her friend that she was taking another shot due to an ex’s infidelity and being jobless. Checks out to me, I’d be drinking too.

She turned to grab the shot Ruby poured her and her eyes locked with mine. I snickered at the comment she’d made before making my way to the other end of the bar. Tucker, however, stayed behind to flirt with the redhead. When Ruby noticed me back there she called me over.

“Hey Max, come meet the bartender I just hired,” she says before introducing us.

Well, that answers mywhy is she showing up everywherequestion I guess. I nod and start walking in the direction of the girl seated at the far end of the bar.

“Pleasure to meet you, Max.” She offers her hand, with a sweet smile.

“You too.” I take the hand she extends into mine, and I feel a wave of heat in my chest.What the hell is this?

Ruby buzzes behind the bar like she always does, rambling about something to Shane, and I can’t stop staring at her. Her smile lights up the whole damn room and I can’t figure out how someone who was two tequila shots into grieving her relationship and being turned down for some crappy job, seems so…happy.

“Max, she might need her hand back.” Ruby teases. I glare at her and retract my hand, as Ruby makes a hasty exit from the bar to the dining room floor.

“Welcome to the team, Shane. See you tomorrow.” I turn to walk back to my office, but her sweet voice stops me.

“Your dog is beautiful, does she like people?” Shane asks, hopping down from her barstool. She bends down to pet her before receiving an answer.

Riley can be a little judgemental at times, she likes people she’s known for a while, but she can be kind of wary of newcomers. Before I can tell her any of this though, she reaches her hand out to her. To my absolute surprise, Riley walks right over, wagging her tail and brushing up against her.

“Riley typically doesn’t like new people, but it seems that’s not the case with you,” I fold my arms over my chest as Riley is now rolled over letting her pet her belly.What the hell, Riles?

“What a sweet girl you are.” Shane praises, as she pets Riley’s belly. When she stands to head toward the ladies' room, I can’t help but smile. It seems like I’m not the only one who got a warm feeling about the new hire since Riley is now following her down the hallway.

“What’s got you smiling like that?” Ruby bumps my arm with her shoulder.

Where the hell did she come from?

The grin dropped from my face as quickly as it got there. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I deny as I pour myself a drink.

“Oh please, Mr. Grumpy Puss.Nothingmakes you smile.” She looks around the bar as if she’ll find the reason. “Spill.” She narrows her gaze at me. I’m not playing her games today.

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