Page 11 of Fallen Dove
I gripped the tray tighter and headed back to the table of four guys.
They cheered when I set down the old fashioneds and passed out the shots.I smiled, made small talk, kept it easy.Three of them were fine, loud but friendly.The fourth, though, the same one who’d made the pass earlier, leaned closer when I bent to set his drink down.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” he drawled, and before I could shift away, his hand brushed against my hip and squeezed.
I stiffened and forced a polite smile as I straightened.“Enjoy your drinks.”
I turned to go, but I didn’t make it more than a step.
Mason was suddenly there.
One second I was holding my tray, the next Mason’s shadow fell over the table.His voice was low, sharp, and carried through the music and chatter like a knife.“Keep your hands to yourself.”
The guy blinked up at him, slow and sloppy.“Hey, man, we’re just having a good time.”
“You touch one of my waitresses again, and you’re gone.”Mason’s jaw flexed, and his eyes were hard as steel.“Actually, you’re done now.Get up.”
“Mason, it’s fine,” I rushed in, shifting between them, my voice soft but urgent.“Really.He didn’t mean anything by it.”
Mason didn’t even look at me.His eyes stayed locked on the guy.“Out.Now.”
The guy shoved his chair back, muttered under his breath, but he stood.His three friends scrambled to smooth things over.
“We’ll stay,” one said quickly.“We’re not gonna be any trouble.”
Mason gave them a long look before jerking his chin toward the door.He leaves and make sure he doesn’t come back tonight.”
The guy grumbled as his buddies steered him away.
“Mason,” I started.
He turned his head just enough to look at me.“I’m the boss, Adley.I decide who stays and who doesn’t.”His tone was clipped and final.
Penny and Bay appeared at my side, wide-eyed.
“You okay?”Penny asked and scanned me up and down.
“I’m fine,” I insisted, and adjusted the tray against my hip.“He barely touched me.Mason didn’t need to kick him out.”
Penny frowned.“He did.That guy shouldn’t have put his hands on you.Period.”
I wanted to argue, but Mason was already striding back behind the bar, his broad back cutting through the crowd like nothing had happened.He went back to work as if tossing someone out mid-shift was just part of the routine.
But I felt his eyes on me the rest of the night.
Even when I avoided him and went to Thorn for drink orders, I knew Mason was watching.I could feel it, hot against my skin, and lingered longer than it should.
When the last table cleared and the lights dimmed, Penny came over, and pulled a small wad of bills from her apron.“Here.”She pressed it into my hand.“Your cut from last night.It’s not a ton, but it’s something.”
“Thanks.”I tucked it away.
“Weekends are a lot better,” she promised with a grin.“Less league chaos, more regulars.”
“Good to know,” I said with a laugh, and untied my apron.
Thorn was behind the bar wiping down glasses, but Mason was nowhere.Probably in the back counting something.
I helped Penny close down, stacking chairs, wiping tables, and sweeping crumbs.By the time we finished, it was past two-thirty.The Social Club looked different, empty, and quieter, with the neon lights buzzing over the silence.
