I talked about my history with the bar, from when I first got to Vegas and learned under the previous manager to the change in ownership and how Raleigh and Angel used social media to blow the place up from there.
“I saw some videos of you,” James said, leaning back in his seat. “You know how to work a camera.”
I groaned and buried my face in my hands. “I’m going to kill Angel.”
“Don’t. It’s the reason I wanted to meet with you. You’re damn good at what you do. Why the move? You seemed pretty comfortable. Raleigh sang your praises; said you were the best bartender they ever had. He was sad to see you go.”
Oh boy, here we go. I wasn’t sure that I was ready to tell the world I had a daughter. Would Erin want that? What about Hannah?
“Life change,” I settled on. “Something came up, and I had to move back.”
“‘Back?’” James’s brows shot up.
“I uh, I was born and raised here. Moved to Vegas when I was twenty-two.”
“Welcome home, then. Can you work nights? Weekends? Holidays?”
I nodded. “I prefer the rush actually.”
James grinned, then gestured to the partition that led behind the bar. “Come on then, Ryder. Let’s see what you got.”
A chill went down my spine at the sound of my name coming out of his mouth. I realized I hadn’t responded and jerked to my feet, passing under the partition. After lowering it, I turned around and jumped out of my fucking skin when James stood next to me. On theother side. “I didn’t see a partition on the other side,” I said, trying to explain away the heart attack he’d nearly given me.
“There isn’t one,” he said nonchalantly, settling against a corner of the bar.
I frowned, but returned to my task, eyeing the bottles. “What do you want me to make?”
“What’s your signature drink? The one that everyone asks for when they seeyoubehind the bar.”
I smirked. I was in my element, nerves forgotten, and I drank him in just as I would have any other customer. Especially one who looked likehim—and who was looking at me likeIwas his next meal.
“The Vampire’s Kiss,” I said, eager to show off.
James watched me, one brow raised. “Go on.”
“Chilled glasses?”
“The freezer in front of you. Shakers are in the cupboard to your left. Ice is in the chest.”
I opened the cupboard and grabbed one of the many shakers there. I spun and eyed the bottles, searching for Absolut and raspberry liqueur. I filled the shaker with ice and poured in the alcohol, not skimping on the theatrics. I could feel James’s eyes on me, but that only spurred me on to a better performance. I was at my best with an audience.
I added the lid to the shaker and jammed it into place. James scrubbed a hand over his chin, and I flashed a smoldering smile his way.
It was just for show, of course.No crushes on the new boss, Ryder.
I shook the cocktail until my fingers started to freeze, and with the other hand, I ducked down and grabbed a chilled martini glass. The heat in the room thawed the glass to the perfect temperature, and I dipped it into the sugar before I strained the cocktail, catching a drop on my finger as I set the shaker down. I popped open a bottle of Asti and topped the glass off. I licked my finger clean as I pushed the glass down the counter with my other hand toward James.
Damn, I’m good.
“Normally I’d rim the glass with fake blood and add a pair of plastic fangs.”
“Like these?” James grabbed a bottle with thick red syrup and produced a tiny pair of vampire fangs seemingly out of thin air. I cocked a brow at him as he handed them over. “It’s spooky season in Salem; are you really that surprised?”
I added the final touches to the drink. “You’d think I wouldn’t be.” I balanced the fangs on the edge of the glass. “There: one Ryder special.”
“Let’s see if the TikTok-famous Ryder Clark knows what he’s doing.”
I wasn’t worried.
