“Thanks, darlin’,” I assumed the brother said with a dip of his head.
I nodded, my eyes quickly taking in the dark blue eyes and short beard of the man who really didn’t look anything like Oscar.
“Asher, meet Beckett.”
“Hi?” Great. I was so stupid.
Beckett leaned a bit on the countertop, hands folded in front of him. His eyes looked me up and down like he was trying to figure out who I was. Or more likely what I was.
I couldn’t move as his gaze landed back on my face. There was something there, something appealing and demanding to that part of me that I hadn’t exactly explored around with much. Or at all, if I was being honest.
Never before had a single person caused me to want to fall to my knees and submit.
I shook the thoughts away, stepping back with a grimace. Here at work was not the place to let my mind go to anything like that. My kinky side which I was starting to play around with wasn’t allowed to come out in here. It was bad enough I knew the dark desires that simmered under the surface. I knew what I wanted, just not how to go about it.
“Uh...I need...to...” I pointed down the way, even though no one needed a single thing from me.
Why did Oscar have to bring his brother in tonight, when I was the least bit busy? Why did my heart pound in my chest the way it was? What the heck was wrong with me?
“I think you broke him,” Oscar’s muttered words washed over me as I slowly walked to the other end of the bar area.
To keep myself busy, I refilled a few drinks and made small talk with a grumpy man who was sure his next-door neighbor’s kid was going to burn the entire town down. Stopped to chat with one of the waiters who needed some drinks from the bar area, joking that I shouldn’t even be behind the bar, since I wasn’t quite twenty-one yet.
That little fact hadn’t seemed to bother the owner so far. And as long as no one else knew, or cared all that much, I got to make drinks. It was one of the things I picked up quickly. Mixing things together was a special sort of magic, one that I happily took on.
Having a huge piece of half-wall between me and most of the customers was nice. I wasn’t a huge people person, but I was a people pleaser, in some form anyhow. I liked knowing I had something to keep my hands from touching me.
Soon enough, I was out of reasons to not return to the other end of the counter. Return back to Oscar and the man who lit something inside me. Something I didn’t want to name or address.
For once, fate was on my side, as the two men seemed to be in a conversation. Although, Beckett’s eyes watched me as I refilled both cups of water. With my back to them, I could still feel his eyes on me.
Having nothing else to do, I decided to take a small break. Giving the waiter a heads up, just in case someone came in and took a seat at the bar area, I then made my way towards the breakroom. Once there, finding the room empty just like I expected, I took a seat at one of the small tables and pulled out my phone.
First, I sent a text to Noah, just checking in. Then, I called Collin.
“Hey, kiddo. Aren’t you working?”
“Yeah, taking a break.” I sighed.
“I’m assuming you wanted an update?” If he could see me, he’d see me have a raised brow. Of course, I wanted an update. Thankfully, he didn’t need me to voice that. “I believe I found him. Well, his social media, anyhow. Lives in the same town, but seems to keep to himself. Not much on his accounts, from what I can tell. No pictures of Noah at all were posted, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t. I’m still trying to hack into his accounts. I’ll send you a pic of his profile once I know for sure.”
“Guess it’s better than nothing.”
“There’s several Matthews in that town alone, so be patient, kiddo.”
“Yeah, yeah.” That wasn’t something I enjoyed doing.
“How’s Noah doing anyone?”
“He’s fine. Resting. He just texted and said he was getting ready for bed.” I still planned to get home a bit earlier. I really wasn’t needed here at the restaurant on slow nights. Nor did I exactly need the money.
“Good. He’s safe with you. If he wasn’t, I’d have done more than what I’m currently doing.”
I knew that, too. It didn’t mean I had to like any of it. I didn’t like my friend being hurt and fearing to walk out the door.
“Thanks, again.”
“Anything for you, Asher. You know that.”
