“There now, and it didn’t even hurt. Now go and restock the spirits, and start cleaning the glasses.”
“Yes, boss.” Hope resisted the urge to scrub her face.
Noah appeared with more wine, and whistled loudly as he looked at Hope.
“Damn, girl, where the hell you been hiding?”
“Ha bloody ha,” Hope muttered. “This shit makes my face itch.”
He smiled, but backed out of the bar before she smacked it off his face.
“It’s Newman’s birthday, so try and be nice to him for five minutes,” Faith said.
Damn, damn, damn.She’d hoped like hell he wouldn’t turn up, but it seemed like she’d have to face him and no doubt his questions.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Newman arrived with Katie and Cubby at the Howler. The air was warm and filled with the scent of a summer night. The town was bustling with tourists and locals out enjoying a walk. No one was in a hurry to go anywhere, and Newman liked that. When he left Howling, everyone was always on the clock. Tonight was rock ’n’ roll night, and he and his friends were dressed accordingly.
“It’s gonna take me a week to get this shit out of my hair, Katie.”
Cubby wore jeans, a white T-shirt, and had his hair slicked back. Katie wore a tight skirt, high spiky heels, a wide belt, and a short-sleeved shirt. Around her head was a pink band.
“Aww, it’s a proud moment. Our sheriff has product in his hair for the first time in his adult life,” Newman said.
“One more word and I’ll deck you, I don’t care that it’s your birthday,” Cubby snarled.
Newman laughed, but left the sheriff of Howling alone… for now. He was greeted by friends as he walked into the bar.
“Happy birthday!” Everyone slapped his back or kissed his cheek. Home, he thought. There really was no place better.
“Your folks back?”
Newman shook his head at this question from a local. “Not for a few more weeks.”
“Shame, your dad’s missing a weekend of golf.”
He smiled and moved on, and tried not to tense up at the mention of his father. Not many people could get a reaction out of him, but he was one. Honesty had him adding Hope Lawrence as the second. But his reaction to her was totally different.
Pushing thoughts of both Hope and his father aside, Newman made for the bar, and waited to be served with Cubby at his side. Noah and Faith often employed tourists temporarily during the summer months, and he guessed that the waitress with her back to him was one of them. Not overly tall, but she had nice long legs, and as he was an ass man, he checked that out too. Very nice in a short denim skirt. Thick, shiny brown hair hung to her shoulders. He nearly swallowed his tongue when she turned and he realized it was Hope. Her eyes looked bigger, and those lashes were indecently long now. He couldn’t seem to drag his eyes from her soft, pouty lips. Makeup, he realized. She was wearing some. The shock held him speechless for seconds.
“What?” Her frown was fierce as she came to serve him.
He found his tongue. “I didn’t know you were working here.”
“Now you do.”
“Be nice, Hope, it’s his birthday,” Cubby said.
“Happy birthday,” she said, offering him a fake smile. “Nice hair, by the way. Although without all those fluffy curls for the girls to swoon over, it may be a lean night. Because let’s be honest here, they’re your best feature.” Her head then tilted slightly as she studied him, and he noted glitter on her cheekbones.
“You told me my abs were my best feature.”
Her eyes shot from him to Cubby, who was now smirking at Newman’s side.
“You play with fire, little girl, you’ll get burnt,” Newman said. Hope may smack talk with him, but the truth was she was an innocent in the world of man-woman combat.
“Whatever. What do you want to drink?”
