“I’ll tell them you’re stalking me.”
“Don’t be silly.” She patted his shoulder before he could step from her reach.
“You’re barred from this pub. You are not welcome, and my staff won’t serve you.”
“Please, can’t we speak in private?” A gleam entered her eyes, sly and gloating.
He heeded the warning in his gut. “Say your piece here.”
“But I’m sure you won’t want people to hear about your girlfriend.”
His warning bubbled over to panic. If Maria thought to hurt Laura, she’d better reconsider. “Say what you’ve come to say.”
“She’s cheating on you with another man. I saw her last night at the function center where I work part-time.”
“No.” He didn’t even hesitate.
“Go on, ring her and ask.”
“I know where she was last night,” Dallas said. “She attended a work function with her friend.”
“You know?”
“She went with my blessing. Anything else?”
Maria’s eyes narrowed, her mouth shaping to an ugly line. “She’s after your money.”
“Nope,” Dallas said, happier now that he’d bested Maria with minimal bloodshed. “Although you appear fixated on my bank account. Leave, Maria. If you try to come back, my employees will toss you out.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I believe I already have,” Dallas said and walked away.
“Whoa, boss. Maybe I should check your back for holes,” Gloria said when he slipped behind the bar to help with a sudden rush of customers.
“She’s not welcome here, Gloria. Don’t serve her, and if she asks for me, tell her I’m unavailable. Pass on the word to the other staff.”
“Yes, boss.”
“What will it be?” Dallas asked a beefy man waiting for service.
“Same again,” the man said holding up a bottle of imported beer. “Are you the owner?”
“Yes,” Dallas said. “Can I help you with something?”
“Nope, just curious. Is the woman in orange with you?”
Dallas stared at the man. “Fuck no. She’s an ex. You’re welcome to her.”
The man handed over a ten-dollar note. “She’s a looker.”
“She’s all yours,” Dallas said.
Friday morphed into night, the evening passing the same as many others before Laura’s arrival in his life. Hell, he missed her and wished she hadn’t needed to go to the family dinner. Every time he let his mind run free, his thoughts darted to Laura and how she looked in the morning, all mussed and sleepy after lovemaking. How good it felt when he was buried balls-deep in her.
“Last orders,” he hollered.
He dealt with the influx of customers wanting a last drink and started clearing up for the night.
