“Yeah. Everything you need should be there. The sheets on the guest bed are clean. Call if there’re any issues. Just…make sure to lock up.”
A small slice of guilt gnawed at his conscious. A dangerous man was on the loose. Maybe Tara shouldn’t be alone, but saying that out loud would only upset her and bait Dax into saying something else to piss him off.
As if reading his thoughts, Lily hooked her arm through Tara’s. “She’ll be fine. We’ll make sure she has everything she needs before we leave her for the night. She’ll be safe.”
“Thanks, Lily.” He leaned over the bar to give Tara a quick hug. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. You two have fun.” Tara’s laugh lingered behind her as she waved goodbye to Eve then walked with Lily and Madden out the door, Dax following.
The sound of the cash register continued to chime, and he returned to work. He wanted the place sparkling and Eve’s mind clear of any more chores. Then, when the bar was empty except him and Eve, he’d find a way to finally discover how Eve felt in his arms.
Exhaustion seeped into Eve’s muscles. Fatigue made her eyes heavy, but she finished poring over the revenue for the night. Normally she’d sit in her small office after closing time and ready the deposit for the next day. Tonight she opted to sit on a stool beside the register. She didn’t want to be tucked away, out of sight of the staff bustling around the restaurant.
And hell, she wasn’t sure her feet would carry her that far.
Becca slid a plate in front of her. “Hungry?”
“God bless you. How did you get this?” A colorful salad topped with grilled chicken and a side of Italian dressing stared up at her. “The kitchen’s been closed for a while. I was mentally going through the contents of my refrigerator to figure out what I could make really quickly when I got home.”
“I made sure to set aside some chicken and threw together the salad.” She set down another plate.
“You joining me?”
“No.” Becca twirled her braid around her finger then wound it on top of her head, wrapping it in place with a hair tie to make a messy bun. “I’ve got a foot rub and a comfy bed waiting for me at home.”
“Suzy’s waiting up to give you a foot rub?” Eve stabbed a cherry tomato and popped it in her mouth.
“Ha-ha,” Becca said. “Her cute little butt better be fast asleep.”
“Who’s the extra salad for?” Eve asked. “Think I’m hungry enough to eat two?”
Becca flicked her wrist toward Reid, who was placing turned-up chairs on top of tables. “Figured he’d be hungry, too. He worked for his supper tonight.”
Reid grabbed a broom and tidied the floor, making her smile. “He sure did. Nellie already left. Why don’t you let him know he has food waiting then take off?”
“You sure? I can finish sweeping while you two eat. That’s the last of what needs done tonight.”
“I’ve got it. You’ve been here longer than you should have been tonight. I appreciate you.”
Becca wrapped her in a side hug. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Eve attacked her salad again, cutting into the grilled chicken. Notes of garlic and pepper exploded on her tongue. She closed her eyes to savor the taste and sent a silent prayer of gratitude for her best friend.
“Must be a damn good salad.”
Reid’s amused voice lifted her lips and opened her eyes. He stood next to her, one arm hooked behind the back of her stool while the other leaned against the bar.
“You have no idea.” She nudged his plate. “Becca made one for you, too. Take a seat. We’ll finish cleaning after we eat.”
“Everything’s done.”
“Floors are mopped?”
“Yep. I did that a little earlier, after Nellie swept. I just noticed a few crumbs and wanted to get them out of the way.” He sat next to her but kept his arm behind her. “How’d we do tonight?”
She beamed, liking the waywesounded a little too much. “Best night of the year, as always. The next two days will still be a little busy, but then we’ll slow down. Thanks for all your help.”
“I was here. Might as well be useful.” He speared his fork into the chicken and took a bite. “Holy hell. This is amazing. Make sure to tell Becca I said thanks.”
