Nor the gentle pat to his hand.
He felt Jocelyn’s eyes on him but wouldn’t be embarrassed over what his grandmother had done.
Then it hit him. His grandmother would have noticed him talking to Jocelyn or at least putting more attention on her.
“Says not too many people,” he said. Jocelyn snorted, then laughed, knowing she’d been caught when he glanced at her.
He filled more drinks, chatted with others at the bar. Some regulars, others just stopping in for a bite to eat or a place to chill.
When Jocelyn’s second drink was gone, he still didn’t want her to leave, so filled up a glass with only ginger ale and lime, then replaced the one she had. “Mocktail.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll be swimming in bubbles tonight, but it’s worth it.”
“Do you want water instead?”
“No, this is good.”
“It will slow down soon,” he said.
His grandmother had just left. There were only half the tables full now and most were finishing their dinner. He’d be down to one server by ten to cover if anyone came in. Only one cook in the kitchen too.
“I’ve got no place to be,” she said, then he walked back to another hand held up.
“He’s a hot one, isn’t he?” he heard one woman say to Jocelyn. Customers didn’t think he could hear their conversations even if he was only a few feet away.
“I think he knows he is,” Jocelyn said to the stranger.
“A night of fun,” the woman said back. “I bet he’d get some screams out of you, but you know, he’s just a bartender. Can’t bring him home to Dad. But for the night, yes, please.”
He didn’t want to see Jocelyn’s reaction to that. That it was just another reminder of what he was to women.
“Here you go, ladies,” he said, putting their drinks down. “Enjoy.”
They both giggled and left, Jocelyn rolling her eyes at him. As if she knew he’d heard their comments about him.
He wasn’t sure she was the type to sit in a bar alone on a Friday night. Few women did unless they were looking to pick someone up.
He’d never put her in the same category as the two women who just left, but who the hell was he to say if she wasn’t one of those women out to find some fun for the night?
Twice a man sat next to her to chat. She gave them minimal attention and shot down what they might offer. He couldn’t explain the relief he felt over that.
He’d wanted to slip in and fend the guys off, but he had no hold on her. No reason to intervene if it was what she wanted.
Didn’t seem she wanted attention from anyone but him.
At least he was telling himself that.
At ten, there were only three tables with people finishing their meals. The bar had about twenty customers at it. Most would be gone before midnight and he’d be cleaning up anyway.
“So, did you come here to watch me work? You know, so you could see me at both my jobs?”
“Seeing you on the firetruck surprised me,” she said. “Maybe I was more surprised than seeing you here last week when I picked up lunch.”
“Don’t forget about a few days ago. At your job. Which I have to say surprised me. Not sure I thought of you on the sites. It’s the first I’ve seen you.”
“I work in the office,” she said. “Managing the finance department. Trying to do more, but my mother isn’t so keen about loosening the reins.”
He laughed. “My grandmother is the same.”
