“Keep the change, beautiful.”
Even under the dim lights, I spotted the blush staining her cheeks.
“Hey. Put this on my regular tab.”
I was about to head back to my father when I spotted Artie grab a beer glass from a confused Cece’s hand.
“I’m sorry, no tabs,” Claudia told him. “Larry told me he settled the existing tabs, and for right now, I’m not extending tabs past one night.”
“What the fuck, no tabs? That’s not how we run things here.”
“No, that’s howIrun things here. Sorry if paying for what you drink each night is a hassle, but—” she shrugged “—my place, my rules.”
“Your place,” he scoffed, reaching into his wallet and throwing a bill at Cece. “It would have been mine if Larry was a fair man.” My blood boiled as his eyes trailed up and down Claudia’s body. “I guess if I’d made an offer on my knees, maybe—”
I slammed the glasses down and was in his face in two strides.
“Watch your fucking mouth,” I hissed through gritted teeth.
He widened his eyes for a moment before he took a tiny step back. “What are you going to do? You can’t arrest me for speaking my mind.”
“With all the shady shit you do, I’m sure I can find something.”
“Stop,” Claudia called out as she stepped between us. “I’d hate to hurt your ego, but you’re not the first man to try to insinuate I earned something on my knees just because I have what he wanted. I’m not backing down, so this sour grapes, misogynistic little tirade won’t change my mind. Understand?”
Artie narrowed his eyes at Claudia.
“Good thing your boyfriend is always around to fight your battles.” He looked between us. “Your very own bar and police protection, who’s better than you?” He flicked his gaze to me for a second, his face twisting into a scowl before heading back to his table.
“Go back and have a nice night with your father,” Claudia said, handing me the beer glasses. “It’s fine.”
“It is definitely not fine,” I gritted out. “He’s always been a jerk, but never this bad. I don’t want him near you.”
She shrugged, craning her neck to where Artie stood with his friends. Something about the hate in his gaze as he looked at Claudia coiled in my gut.
“It’s fine, babe. Simmer down,” she said, pushing me toward where my father sat, staring at both of us with the same uneasy concern churning in the pit of my stomach.
“Simmer down?” I cleared my throat when I noticed heads snap in our direction at the loud pitch in my voice. “Baby, just promise me you won’t close up alone. At least for a while.”
“Larry installed cameras in the front and the back, and Brandon usually closes with us at night.”
“Brandon is a hundred pounds wet. Hire someone bigger.”
“Someone bigger? Like a bouncer? Do they have employment agencies, or is there somewhere I can order one?”
“Claudia, this isn’t funny. I’m just—”
“I know, babe,” she whispered, kissing my cheek. “I promise I’ll take it seriously and be careful. Your dad is waiting for his beer.” She nodded behind me. “I’ll come see you both in a bit.”
I nodded, holding in a frustrated groan as I made my way back to Dad’s table.
“Sorry I took so long,” I said as I set the beer glass in front of him. “Where did your friends go?” I asked as I took the now-vacant seat next to him.
“They left. A couple of dirty old men wanting to see the beautiful new management. I set them straight that she was spoken for, not that they had a chance in hell.”
“Good,” I grunted as I took a long sip from my glass. The alcohol sliding down my throat did nothing to calm me down, but for right now, I had to find a way or I’d drive myself nuts.
“What did that asshole say to Claudia?” Dad asked, his jaw clenched as he watched Artie march out the door. That at least brought me a little relief—for the moment.
