Page 6 of Kiss of Deceit
“If you want a drink that strong, then it means you’re going to get drunk and probably puke all over my bar. And I’ll have to clean it up.” He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “The least you could do is leave me a tip.”
“Not a problem,” I said curtly, snatching my money off the counter and shoving it back in my pocket. “Now you don’t need to worry about making the drink because you lost the sale. Here’s a little tip, if you treat your customers like shit, then people are going to go elsewhere.”
I turned to leave, my body tensing when fingers wrapped around my upper arm, spinning me back around. The guy was leaning far over the counter, his hold on me tightening even when I didn’t move a muscle. His touch was sending me into a tailspin that had me frozen.
“This is the only place in town that sells alcohol and has a pool table,” he informed me with a smirk. “Customers always come back. I’m sure I’ll see you again, gorgeous.”
My cheeks heated even as I shot him a scathing glare. “Doubtful.”
“There’s not much to do in this town. Coming here is what everyone does after work.”
“Well, I won’t be if you’re here,” I snapped, tearing out of his hold.
“If you say so.”
I turned away from him, hurrying toward the hall in the back that had a restroom sign. My heart was still racing fromthe conversation, and I pushed the door open, only to stop short when four women turned their heads to look at me. Two were sitting on the counters, and they all went quiet, meaning I’d walked into some kind of talk they didn’t want anyone overhearing. I gave them a small smile, and backed out into the hall, letting the door swing shut.
There was another door across the hall, and I twisted the knob, bursting into the dark room. I ran my hand along the wall until I found a switch and flicked on the light. There were metal shelves on either side of me lined with dry packaged food. The room was so small, I could raise my arms and touch both shelves at the same time. In the back sat a huge deep freezer. The kind where the door was on top and had to be lifted. There was a small window above the freezer, letting in the moonlight, but my gaze went back to the food.
I leaned against the door, not in a hurry to leave and see that bartender again. Or Miles and all the interns. I had enough of socializing today. My stomach rumbled from the sight of all the food, reminding me I hadn’t had anything today except the coffee. Biting my lip, I ignored the small nagging voice as I moved toward the freezer. If I found something small, they wouldn’t miss it, and I'd just leave some money on the bar before I left.
I lifted the lid of the freezer, my mouth watering when I spotted ice cream. Chocolate ice cream, which was my favorite. They were in mini plastic cups, each packaged as a single serving, and it was the kind that had those little wooden spoons attached to the inside of the lid. Glancing back to the door, I debated for a split second before snatching one of the ice cream cups up. Taking a few steps back, I flicked the light off before climbing onto the deep freezer and sitting cross legged as I opened the ice cream.
My eyes adjusted to the dim light, and I rested my back against the wall as I took my first bite. I let out a sigh, my taste buds relishing in the flavor. One of these wasn't going to be enough to fill me up, but it would do for now. I took my time, digging out small bites and licking it off the wooden spoon. It had been forever since I’d indulged in sweets. The muffled music from the main part of the bar drifted through the door, and I heard women laughing as shadows passed under the door.
Scraping the last bit of ice cream from the bottom of the container, I licked the spoon clean before putting it in the empty plastic. I wasn’t full, but at least my stomach wasn’t screaming at me anymore. This job came with meals provided, so starting tomorrow I wouldn’t have to worry about where I’d be getting food.
The door suddenly swung open, and I froze, not moving a muscle when it closed again, casting the room back in darkness. But I’d seen him when light spilled in as he entered. It was the fucking bartender. Since he was rummaging through a shelf, he hadn’t seen me. My heart pounded against my ribs, and I silently reached up and shoved the empty ice cream container onto a shelf behind some boxes. Hopefully he’d leave without even knowing I was here.
He muttered something under his breath before the light suddenly came on. I swallowed thickly, watching him search as he kept his back turned toward me. If he was a prick about a drink, I could only imagine how he’d be if he found out I was here, eating his food without paying. Not the kind of thing I needed my first day here.
I saw tattoos poking out of the top of his black shirt, crawling up the back of his neck, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much ink was under his clothes. Relief filled me when he grabbed a box of napkins, and reached out, turning the light back off. I watched his shadow when he moved to open the dooruntil he went still, his spine straightening until he reached his full height.
Fuck me.
CHAPTER FOUR
dani
He whirled around,and even though I couldn’t see his face, I was positive he knew I was here. Tension blanketed the small space, and I struggled to take a breath as he stepped closer. I readjusted, getting ready to move if he came at me.
“I don’t keep alcohol back here,” he murmured, and I could have sworn there was a note of amusement in his voice. “If you want to steal it, you came to the wrong room. Or you could have just paid me earlier.”
“I’m not stealing,” I retorted, hoping he didn’t find the empty ice cream container until I was long gone. “I was looking for the bathroom and accidently came in here.”
“Liar,” he shot back. “All you’ve had is soft drinks since you walked in. Any sober person wouldn’t miss the huge signs for the restroom.”
“You’ve been watching me?” I bit out, jumping off the freezer and landing on my feet. “That’s not fucking creepy at all.”
He didn’t move when I got closer, and this room was so small it was impossible to get to the door.
“Get out of my way,” I demanded, my voice cold.
“You were impossible to miss when you walked in,” he replied, ignoring me. “Subdued. Quiet. Yet you still claimed my attention.” Shock coursed through me at his sudden change, and I didn’t move as he chuckled. “But that was before you broke into my pantry.”
“I didn’t break in. The door wasn’t locked. And if you would move, then I can fucking leave.”
Instead of getting out of my way, he stepped forward until he was right in front of me. He was about eight inches taller than me, but even when I tilted my face up, it was impossible to know what he was thinking when I couldn’t see his face in the dark. But his closeness wasn’t scaring me. I’d taken everything from self-defense to Krav Maga in the last decade because I refused to be a victim again. If he wouldn’t move, then I could easily fight my way out.
