Page 16 of Reaper
I’ve never really been a big fan of muscular men in the past, mainly because most of the time they’re major assholes, at least in my experience anyway. However, Reaper has always been an exception. And watching him move as he walks toward his table has me wishing for things I have no right to wish for, but apparently, my damn libido isn’t getting the memo. I’ve never had this feeling or reaction toward Aiden or any other man for that matter. Why the hell is it going crazy now?
Surprisingly, Reaper sits in a chair that faces me but also gives him a clear view of the table Kelly and the Cox’s are sitting at. I don’t know if he knows about everything that’s happened these last couple of days, but oddly, I find the gesture calming.
I shake myself internally and break eye contact with Reaper. As I look down at the drink orders in front of me, I silently chastise myself. There’s no way he’s here because of everything that went down and there’s no way he’s here for me. I’m reading too much into this and I need to focus. Thank God I’ve been working as our head bartender for years. Muscle memory takes over and I continue mixing and grabbing the drinks that customers have already ordered.
I’d just finished making a drink, an old fashioned, when I hear Kelly’s high-pitched laugh. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, reminding myself that she’s trying to get my attention. That she’s doing whatever the fuck she is on purpose to cause a scene.
Releasing the breath slowly, I open my eyes, only to pull up short when I find a pair of blueish-gray eyes watching me. They soften as he gives me a little head tilt in question. However, a second later when Kelly’s shrill laughter rings out once again, his gaze hardens as he breaks eye contact to glare in her direction.
Not being able to resist, I turn and look over at her table as well, only to find her almost plastered to Aiden’s side as she talks loudly about the wedding they are apparently planning at the country club his parents own. And then I swear she rubs herbaby belly a bit too obviously and flashes her gaudy-assed ring as she waves her hand around as she talks.
“Hey, are you okay?”
I startle, not having seen or heard anyone approaching the bar. Looking up, I’m surprised to see Reaper staring down at me in concern.
Swallowing hard, I nod, even though I felt anything but okay. His eyebrows dip down in what seems like concern before he frowns, obviously knowing I’m lying. Thankfully, he doesn’t call me out on it.
He leans against the bar causing me to bite my lip as my gaze snags on his muscular arms. “Can I order directly from you or do I need to snag our waitress?”
I blink out of my stupor and nod as I once again internally chastise myself. And my libido. “Yes, I can get you a drink and add it to your table’s tab. What can I get you?”
He half smirks, and I swear he’s checking me out as he thinks, but there’s no way that could be true. I’m nobody special. And I’m sure a man as hot as Reaper has women flinging themselves at him wherever he goes. Why would he want me, my plain Jane appearance, and curves?
“Surprise me.”
I blink repeatedly as I stare at him in shock, not expecting him to put me on the spot. Sparing a quick glance at his table, I realize he was the one that had ordered the whiskey on the rocks earlier.
Smiling at him, I nod and turn.
Deciding to take a risk, I start grabbing the ingredients to make him a dark and stormy. Going up on my toes, I pull a few other rum bottles off the shelf until I get to the one I want from the back.
Goslings Black Seal.
Turning back around, I will myself not to blush when I catch him staring at my ass, but that blush still rises when our gazes lock and I see the desire and heat in his eyes.
As I grab a glass, another peel of shrill laugher has me looking up in the direction of Kelly’s table. I frown when I notice a lot of other tables giving them looks of disapproval and I curse under my breath.
With a sigh, I glance back up at Reaper. “Give me a moment, please.”
“Of course,” he replies, but instead of going back to his table, he leans even more against the bar. He frowns as more laughter pulls his attention to Kelly’s table, and as I walk toward them, I swear I can feel his gaze on my back. Not in a bad way, but it almost feels... protective, in a way.
And surprisingly, I find that I like it.
Chapter 7
Lark
Istopafewfeet from the table that Kelly and the Coxes are sitting at, not wanting to give any of them a chance to reach out and grab me, and clear my throat. “Excuse me, but can you please keep your voices down while you enjoy your meal? You are disturbing the other customers.”
Richard scoffs and his lip curls as he gazes around the room with a haughty look in his eyes and disgust written all over his face. “They would do well to keep to themselves if they know what’s good for them. They all know who we are. And we are paying customers, so we are allowed to enjoy our evening as well. Now, be a good little girl and fetch us some more wine.” He gives a little wave of dismissal as if I were his personal wait staff.
My shoulders tense even as I stand taller. I ignore his barb, request for more wine, and his dismissal. “Of course, you are allowed to enjoy your evening, but not at everyone else’s expense. If you cannot keep your voices lowered and if you don’tstop causing a scene, then I am going to have to ask you to leave.”
Kelly scoffs and scowls at me. “Why can’t you just let us enjoy our evening? Why must you ruin everything?”
Cocking an eyebrow at her, I really have to curb my tongue to try to keep this professional and not say anything personal. “I’m not ruining anything, Kelly. I’m trying to allow everyone who comes here to have a nice, relaxing evening out with their friends and families, which is what we always strive for. However, we will not tolerate guests who disrupt everyone else. No matter who they are. If you cannot abide by this, then you need to leave.”
Richard looks down his nose at me. “It would not be wise to threaten us, young lady. We can ruin you in so many ways.”
