Page 23 of Carry Me Home
I glanced around. The energy had shifted. The same four men who had been relaxed and loose on their stools were now stiff and fidgety. Even old Saul looked like he was considering making it an early day. I couldn’t say I cared. Some of thecustomers needed a little scaring to put them on their best behavior.
I turned back to Janie. “You work alone?”
“Only for the afternoon shifts. We’re not busy enough for Brax to pay two people. Someone else is usually here to close with me on Friday nights.”
“Usually.” My eyes narrowed as I remembered. She had been alone here the night of the snowstorm. “But not always.”
“Not always,” she conceded. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine because it’s not safe. What if something happens?”
She made a big, dramatic show of looking around the room and then back to me with raised eyebrows. “Like what? Some drunk guy tries to cop a feel but only manages to fall off his barstool?”
My brow furrowed. “Did that happen?”
She gave a little shrug. “Maybe.”
My blood pressure ratcheted up. “Janie?—”
“Oops, that’s my phone.” She held up her finger to silence me as she pulled her phone from her back pocket. “Gotta take this.”
I glowered.
She flashed a teasing grin back at me as she cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder. “Hey, Essie. Your brother is being a menace at my place of work. Want to come get him?”
“Jack is there?” I heard Essie’s voice loud and clear through the phone.
“Sure is. It would be great if you could change that for me.” Janie twirled a lock of copper hair around her finger and twisted away from me, leaning her hip on the bar.
“Hang on,” Essie said, and then her voice was too muffled to hear.
I folded my arms across my chest, eyes narrowed, as Janie murmured, “Ohhh, really? Who?” She straightened and mouthed to me with exaggerated, silent words.Your mom has a date.
I lunged across the bar. “Essie!” I barked into the phone. “Do not let Mom give him free pie! Do you hear me? No free?—”
Janie snatched the phone back. “I’ll handle him, don’t worry—” She smacked my hand as I reached for her phone again and pivoted out of reach. “Gotta go. Bye!”
I had my own phone out before Janie turned around again. It went straight to Mom’s voice mail. Frowning, I pushed to my feet.
“Sit your ass back down, Jack,” Janie ordered. “Let your mom have some fun.”
I made a face, but I sat. I didn’t want to leave her alone here with no one but Saul for protection, anyway. “I don’t like this guy. He’s too young for her, plus he’s a widower. He wants a maid, not a friend. Someone to help raise his two daughters. That, and free pie.”
Janie snickered. “Have you seen your mom, Jack? She’s hot. He’s not there for the free pie. It’s a different kind of pie he’s interested in.”
“Janie.” I took a deep swig of whiskey, hoping the burn would set fire to the image she had put in my mind, but no such luck. “What a terrible thing to say.”
Unrepentant, she smirked at me over her shoulder before squatting next to the cabinet behind the bar. “I like it when you say my name like that. All disappointed daddy.” My dick twitched. Her voice dropped a couple octaves as she growled, “Janie.” Then she giggled and slapped the deck of cards on the bar between us. “All right. What are we playing?”
“War,” I said. I needed something fast-paced to keep my hands occupied.
Because right now, the only thing I wanted was to have my hands full ofher. The trouble was, I already knew exactly how it would feel. I didn’t have to wonder if her breasts would overflow my palms—I’d already tested it. I didn’t have to imagine the noises she would make when I teased her—those little breathy moans were already ingrained in my brain.
We’re just getting to know each other, I’d told her.
But my hands already felt like they did.
9
