Page 6 of Merry Me Bartender

Kade reaches up and plucks the mistletoe off the doorframe and cradles it in his hand.

“Don’t want to have to kiss the bartenders,” he mutters as he looks around for a better place for it to hang.

Oh.Oh.He said it himself.Traditions.

Now my heart is in my throat and I really can’t talk.

He hated the kiss. Must’ve only done it because I basically begged him to.

My cheeks burn with humiliation. The best I can do is nod my head and try to finish my work so I can go home and try not to cling to the memory of tonight.

* * *

I don’t mention the kiss to anyone, not even Carol. Even though my chest swells up every time my lips tingle and I accidentally remember.

I’m not very good at telling myself not to cling to feelings that aren’t matched.

Kade hasn’t looked at me once today. If anything, he’s been hiding away in his office or the storage room doing whatever he possibly can to avoid me at all costs.

“You think he’d come out and help,” Carol grumbles at my side like she can hear my thoughts. While she pours four shots, she huffs and puffs. “How many times does he need to count inventory?”

We’ve had a streak of nice weather lately, and the bar is running like usual. Numbers aren’t looking too shabby, but two women can only handle so much.

Wincing, I swallow down an apology. Knowing well enough that it’s my fault why he’s hiding, I try to pick up my own speed. Maybe if I work at the speed of two people, it’ll be alright.

Dropping a glass, my body stiffens up at the shattering sound, and I flinch.

Awesome job, Joyce. Seriously, good going.

With the crowd going silent, my cheeks burn in embarrassment and I hunch down to pick up a few of the shards. By the time I’ve got the third piece in my hand, I hear the heavy thud of his boots. Double awesome. Now Kade is going to see I broke one of his cups.

“What happened?” He’s standing next to Carol and I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck shoot up. He’s looking at me alright.

“We need your help,” Carol tells him instead, refusing to put even more attention on my slip-up.

He grunts, and steps away long enough to grab a dustpan and handbroom. When he kneels down in front of me, he takes the pieces carefully before I can damage my hands too.

“Don’t cut yourself,” he orders, cleaning up my mess. “Wash up and let’s take care of this.”

Pursing my lips, I nod my head and do as he says. Everything feels so freaking awkward now and I don’t know what to do with myself. I definitely can’t look the man in the eye, that’s for sure.

The crowds resume their conversations and my mistake is easily forgotten. With a held breath, I work alongside the other two and pour drinks.

Kade

I shouldn’t have kissed her.

Ever since that shared moment, I can’t even look this woman in the eye.

Tradition she says. Knowing damn well how much she loves Christmas, it’s no surprise that she’d feel obligated to kiss me. If it weren’t for the way she melted against my touch, I’d almost be fooled into thinking that shewantedto kiss me.

After these last few days, I’m confident that even some plant isn’t enough for her to breathe the same air as me, let alone share a kiss.

“You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

Joyce is sitting on one of the barstools looking absolutely wrecked. After closing up, and wincing when Carol volunteered to go home first, she’s been resting against the bar since.

The longer I look at her, the more twisted up inside I feel. She’s cradling her hand, staring down at her palm. Even though I don’t see a cut, she’s staring down like she sees a gash.

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