Scarlet took her place behind the bar and started serving drinks. It was still relatively early, so the customers were all still relatively sober. Given two hours, that would no longer be the case.
The later it got, the louder the music started pumping and the more the alcohol started flowing. With a few subtle glances toward the blond guy at the end of the bar, Scarlet noticed that he remained unmoved. A few women had already made their move on him, but it seemed like he had given them all the cold shoulder so far.
“Yo, Scarlet. Can I see you for a sec?”
Scarlet turned around to face Warren, her manager, while wiping her hands clean with her apron before taking it off.
“Sure.”
She rounded the corner to the back of the bar. “What’s up?”
“Can you do a double tonight? Sarah just phoned in and said her son came down with the flu or something, so she can’t make it.”
“Yeah, sure, no problem.”
“Awesome. I owe you one.” Warren patted her on the shoulder. With dark hair and bright blue eyes, he was quite the catch. Word had it that he and Snow White with the porn star tits enjoyed each other’s company every now and then.
“You owe me ten already, Warren.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Scarlet leaned against the wall, trying to catch a few breaths without inhaling smoke and having the smell of lust fill her nostrils. Normally, her shift would be four hours. Now she had to mentally prepare herself for another six before she could blow this joint. But it was all good since a double shift meant double pay.
Without looking up, she walked back out and turned her back toward the customer while tying her apron back on. “What can I get ya?”
“Beer.”
“Coming right up.”
She bent over, grabbed the beer from the bottom fridge, turned around, and froze. Standing in front of her was the stranger she had been sneaking glances at the entire night. Not only was he even bigger up close than he was from across the room, but he had the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen in her life. She thought of every shade of green known to man, then scrapped that thought altogether, because this green was unlike any other shade she had ever seen before.
He kept her gaze while she struggled to remember what she was supposed to do.
Serve him his drink. Right.
As she placed his beer in front of him, he slipped the money toward her. She reached for it, and her fingertips lightly brushed against his. He didn’t loosen his grip on the money, and their gazes were locked on each other for about an extra three seconds before he eventually allowed her to take it.
“Thanks for the beer.” Good Lord, that voice. It sounded like the promise of every sexually gratifying act known to woman was hidden in that voice. Low, deep…rough.
“No problem.” She swallowed.
He held out his hand. “I’m Hunter, by the way.”
She looked from his eyes to his hand, and back up to his eyes again. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. “I’m S—”
“Scarlet.” He narrowed his eyes, and tightened his grip on her hand. “I know who you are, Scarlet Woods.”