Chapter One
Gage
I’m so busy watching Connie that I mix up two drink orders and have to remake them for the patrons of my bar and grille. They’re distracted enough by the game on the overhead TV that they don’t even notice my mistake.
Connie is my new waitress. I hired the curvy beauty two weeks ago, and I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since. She’s always on my mind and a prominent figure in all of my dreams now. Dreams that leave me waking up to take a cold shower.
She never says much when she comes in. The other women all flirt with me and try to catch my attention. But not her. She gets her job done then waits outside in the cold for someone to pick her up. Other than the brief interview, she’s never had more than two words to say to me. That alone intrigues me.
One of my regulars looks Connie up and down like she’s a tempting treat he wants to try. Normally, Rocker is a decent guy but when he’s soused, he has a tendency to get handsy and that shit doesn’t fly in my bar. No one harasses the women that work for me.
Some bartenders think that it should be part of the job for the waitresses to get hit on, but I’m not one of them. You keep your hands to yourself when you’re at my bar or your ass is out the door. The regulars know that and respect it.
A flicker of motion in my peripheral has me turning my head to look at Taylor, another one of my waitresses. She speaks the order slowly, used to the fact that I’m reading her lips and not listening to her words. Even though I still have a little hearing left, it’s more annoying to strain at the words now than it is to simply pay attention to lips.
I fix her order quickly, pausing periodically to glance up in the mirrors I have stationed around the place. Connie is still working the room with a smile pasted on her face.
But in the time it takes me to get the drinks to Taylor, old Rocker has pulled Connie back to his table. His hands are around her hips and though she tries to step out of his grasp, he’s not letting her go.
I see red.
My experience as a Special Forces Marine has taught me many things. Namely patience and self-control. But all of that training is gone in this minute because that fucker is putting his hands on a woman. My woman.
Before I’m even aware I’ve made a decision, I slide across the bar and land on my feet on the other side. I stalk across the room and there must be a look on my face because the crowd instantly parts for me.
The relieved expression on Connie’s face tells me everything I need to know. It takes every bit of self-control not to lay Rocker on the floor right now.
“Hands off,” I growl at him. Normally, I try to guess my volume and adjust it for the environment. But right now, I don’t give a fuck if I’m shouting at him or not. All I know is he has seconds to leave her alone or risk paying the price.
“We was havin’ a good time,” he tries to explain. Unfortunately for him, that’s his second mistake of the night.
I reach for his neck, applying pressure in just the right spot to put him in pain. He drops his hands and lets Connie step away from his grasp. “You’re done in here.”
Across the bar, I catch the eye of Sam and nod to him. He’s the other bartender on duty tonight and he quickly scurries over to help.
“Take him now,” I grind out, hauling Rocker from his seat. If I don’t get him away from here, he’ll end up as a smudge underneath my boot before the evening is out. Something tells me that won’t be helpful for business, no matter how good it would make me feel.
As Sam escorts Rocker out the door, the crowd goes back to their previous activities though a few patrons are still staring at us.
“In the kitchen,” I say to Connie.
Taylor’s already back there, loading up her tray with burgers for customers. I know from her expression she saw what was going on.
I turn to Connie and let my gaze travel over her, trying to ignore the reaction it creates in my body. I want this woman in a way I’ve never wanted anyone else, and I can’t stand the idea that some greasy-haired old bastard was putting his hands on her. Touching her in places I wanted to touch her.
“You’re on dishwashing duty now,” I bark at her before turning to Sam who’s just come back from taking Rocker outside. “The counter is yours. I’m going to my office.”
Inside my office, I give Admiral a wide berth. He’s the cat I adopted last year. He’s sixteen years old, nearly blind, and mean as a snake. The scratches on my leg still sting from this morning when I accidentally startled the old coot.
Sometimes, you adopt a shelter cat, and you get a companion who’s so grateful, he practically worships the ground you stand on. Other times, you adopt a shelter cat who has an attitude bigger than the whole state of Texas. Still, Admiral deserves to live out his final days in comfort. No animal should be abandoned after years of faithful companionship because of a disability.
Settling down at my chair, I start my computer and try to concentrate on the payroll that I need to get done for tomorrow. But my mind keeps drifting back to Connie and the mystery she is.
Apparently, she’s been living in town for about five years and working up at the Lawrence Lodge, but I never met her until she applied for the job here. Damn if only I’d known she was there, I would have stopped in a time or two for dinner. Maybe gotten to know the beautiful woman with the shy smile.
I can’t stand it when she gives that smile to my customers. That’s half the reason I moved her to the dishwashing position. The other reason is because I can’t concentrate when I’m supposed to be at work. Not knowing that other men can see her.
It makes me a dirty bastard. Even if she weren’t my employee, she’s twenty-one and I’m twice her age. Still if tonight proved anything to me, it’s that I’m done sitting on the sidelines. It’s time to unravel the mystery that is Connie and finally claim the curvy younger woman that’s meant to be mine.
***
Connie
I recognize Rocker from previous shifts I’ve worked here in the bar. He’s usually a friendly old man but tonight, he’s acting different. He keeps touching my fingers every time I go to pass him a beer and making remarks about how good my tits look. He wants to know if they’re real and I freeze.
I’ve only been working here for two weeks but I’ve already realized that the waitresses are pretty lucky. Unlike at other places, the bartenders here have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to sexual harassment of the women. They never hesitate to intervene if there’s a problem. They have the full authority to remove someone from the premise thanks to Gage. He’s the owner and the tattooed bartender who makes my heart speed up every time he’s near.
Rocker slides his hands around my hips and tries to pull me into his lap. I know I should do something but I’m not sure what.
Glancing across the crowded bar, I scan to see who’s on duty and hope I can catch his eye. This is why I didn’t want to become a waitress at the bar, but the job opportunities were slim pickings here in Lake Bliss.
Working as a maid at the Lawrence Lodge, which is my night job, I’m in a behind-the-scenes position. The only time anyone pays attention to me is when they accidentally lock themselves out of their room.
“Come on, darlin’,” Rocker leers, distracting me. “I won’t tell no one. Just want a peek at those nice tits of yours.”
I lift my foot, prepared to bring it down on his. But before I can make the move, Gage is beside me.
He commands Rocker to let me go in a low, threatening tone. I don’t know what it is about his rich voice. It sounds like piping hot caramel poured over ice cream and it always makes me want to melt. I’ve spent the better part of two weeks avoiding him so he wouldn’t be able to see my attraction to him.
When Rocker doesn’t release me, Gage grabs onto his neck. I’m not sure what he’s doing but the hold causes Rocker to instantly release me.
“Apologize,” Gage demands.
Rocker mumbles a series of slurred words that could be an apology but it’s hard to tell because I’m focused on Gage. The muscle in his jaw is tight and he looks like he’s one second away from tearing this place down in a rage. “Like. You. Mean. It.”
The drunk old man tries again and whatever he says must finally satisfy Gage who shoves him at the other bartender on duty. He glares at me. “In the kitchen.”
On shaking legs, I walk to the kitchen feeling Gage’s big, bulky presence behind me the entire way. He seems angry but surely, he can’t fault me for that display. I didn’t encourage Rocker other than to smile when I asked him if he needed another beer.
Taylor, one of the waitresses, is in the back of the kitchen. She’s constantly flirting with Gage, and he likes her back if the way he’s always staring at her lips is any indication. I’d guess the two of them are sleeping together.
The sexy bartender rakes his gaze over me and scowls as if he disapproves of what he sees. Then he practically shouts, “You’re on dishwashing duty now.”
He tells Sam, the other bartender that he’s going to his office before he disappears from the kitchen.
I let out a shaky breath as I think of Henry, my five-year-old boy.
“I have a son. I need these tips,” I say more to myself than anyone else.
Taylor pauses in assembling one of the burgers. She sends me a sympathetic look as Sam leaves to tend the bar again. “Well, you know, there’s one way to get back on the floor. It’s not a big deal. We all do it, you know?”
I frown at her, a sick feeling starting in my stomach. I thought Gage was different. That’s why I was willing to work for him. But if this is what I think it is, I want her to spell it out for me. “I don’t understand.”
“Just go to him. Offer to take care of him and he’ll take care of you.” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t look so shocked. Everyone has needs. Meet each other’s and everything will be fine.”
I square my shoulders. I can’t do this, and I already know that. But I will confront Gage. No matter what happens in my life, I will not be that fifteen-year-old girl again.