“Don’t you two get into too much trouble at dinner. Message me when you’re almost done and I’ll send the car service to pick you up.” I kiss Poppy on the forehead, and then as she turns to walk away, I tap her lightly on her delectable ass, which makes her let out a little squeal.
“I saw that,” Adrian yells at me across the room from behind the bar where he’s setting up for another busy Saturday night. “What did I tell you about that lovey-dovey crap around me.” He smirks as he closes the register drawer where he’s just put away the tray with tonight’s cash float in it.
“Oh my God, who made you the romance police,” Autumn replies, before Poppy or I have a chance to say anything. “Leave them alone. I, for one, am happy to see all the love and sexy flirting happening around here. It gives me hope that one day I might find a half-decent man who will treat me the same way.”
“By the sounds of it, Adrian,” Charlene joins the conversation too, “you aren’t that man she’s looking for. Autumn went there once, and she’s still checking out the market, so what does thatsay about you, my friend,” Charlene remarks and then bursts out laughing as she disappears into the back storeroom.
“Hang on, this wasn’t supposed to be about me. We’re talking about Landon and Poppy, not me and Autumn,” Adrian calls after Charlene.
“That’s because there will never be an‘Autumn and Adrian,’of that I’m certain,” Autumn says, linking her arm with Poppy’s. They start walking toward the front door of the bar, where the car service is waiting to take them to the restaurant a few blocks over so they can have dinner together, before they come back and spend the rest of the night with us at the bar. It’s been too long since Poppy has spent time in the bar as a totally carefree customer. I can’t wait to watch her relaxing, having a few drinks with her best friend, and then helping me lock up at the end of the night. That’s the part of the night I’m looking forward to the most.
“I know I’m too hot to handle. It’s okay, you can admit it, Autumn, we’re among friends here.” Adrian walks around in front of the bar, crossing his ankles and leaning back on the bar with one elbow, trying his best to look like some sophisticated Casanova as Autumn and Poppy stop and both look back over their shoulders at him. “You just enjoy swimming in that mediocre pond of men tonight. I’m sure you’ll find yourself some average guy who will do. Not up to my gold standard, but he’ll be passable, I’m sure,” he finishes and then winks at Autumn.
“Oh my God, are you for real? No wonder you’ll never settle down, Adrian, because there needs to be room for two people in a relationship. But you love yourself enough with your large ego, there wouldn’t be much room for the other person. And just remember, tried, tested, and moved on.” Autumn returns his wink, but with far more sexiness and sophistication than Adrian’s attempt. Turning back to the door, Autumn tugs on Poppy’s arm, and the click of their heels on the polished flooris like the exit music of two women you wouldn’t want to mess with.
“Oh, snap,” Charlene says to Adrian as she comes back out of the storeroom. It’s not surprising she heard every word with the volume of Autumn’s voice turned up after her first drink of the night.
I start laughing at Adrian’s look of confusion from what both Autumn and Charlene have said to him. He doesn’t have women put him in his place very often, so two of them at once has rattled him slightly.
“What’s wrong, buddy, can’t take rejection by two women in one night?” I question as I walk past him where he’s still leaning against the bar, staring at the front door where Poppy and Autumn have just left. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was still lusting after Autumn, but surely, he’s not that stupid. I mean, Poppy warned him to stay away, and Autumn just told him that she’s moved on from their one night together and insinuated it did nothing for her. That’s one way to deflate the ego, that’s for sure.
“Wait, what? Two women, who was the second?” He snaps out of his confused look and stands up straight, spinning on his heel to look at me.
“The woman standing beside you that has been rejecting you for years,” I say as Charlene just rolls her eyes at me while she continues to chop lemon and lime wedges that we’ll need tonight.
“Pfft, Charlene’s words weren’t really a rejection. That kind of comment from her is just normal, and definitely not as harsh as the burn I just got from Autumn,” he grumbles.
“Oh, so you do admit that Autumn was rejecting you. That’s gotta hurt,” Charlene quips back at him.
“Fuck the both of you. I’m not interested in Autumn or the Queen of Sass here beside me either. Now, haven’t you got a jobto do?” he huffs and then stomps down the hallway to the office, leaving Charlene and me laughing at his antics.
I continue getting the bar set up with Charlene, and as I’m getting to the end of my list of jobs, I check my watch and see that it’s only five minutes to opening, and Tessa isn’t here to start her shift yet. Seriously, she is testing my patience. I gave her this job as a favor, and she’s not trying very hard to keep it. I wanted to talk to her about pocketing the fifty-dollar tip last night, but now there’ll be no time. Right as I pull my phone from my back pocket to call her and find out where the fuck she is, I hear her coming in through the back door talking to John, my head of security. She’s clearly flirting with him and doesn’t look at all concerned that she’s late to work. The staff get paid to be here at least fifteen minutes before the doors open, not to be walking in as we let the first customer in for the night.
“I’d appreciate the name of the gym you use, because it’s obviously working for you. Maybe you could teach me a few things if we worked out together,” Tessa purrs, placing her hand on his bicep. John’s not an overly affectionate man, even with the people he does like, but everyone else who’s crazy enough to lay a hand on him will get the “don’t fucking touch me or you will die”look while he stares you down. He’s close to that look now with Tessa.
“Tessa, my office now, please,” I demand in a firm voice which has her quickly looking in my direction.
“Oh, Landon, sorry I’m late, my car’s been acting up. I need to get a mechanic to look at it, but they’re so expensive, you know.” She drops her head a little, looking up at me through her bangs, but her little helpless act won’t work on me. Not in the slightest.
“Clock in, get rid of your bag, and meet me in my office.” Charlene jumps a little at the tone I’m using, so it should make Tessa realize I’m not happy with her, but she looks oblivious.
“Sure thing, Mr. Bossman.” Her voice is a little higher pitched than normal as she tosses her hair over her shoulder with a little flick. Christ, she’s not flirting with me too, is she? That’s just gross. I’m her daughter’s boyfriend and very off limits.
Storming down the hall, just as I open the door, I run into Adrian coming out of the office, looking worried.
“We’ve got a problem,” he grumbles.
“No shit,” I grunt back at him, wondering how he knows what just happened out there with Tessa when he was in the office.
“How the fuck do you know? Charlene just called it over the coms, and you don’t have yours on yet. Your earpiece and radio are still sitting on the desk.” He looks at me, tilting his head a little with confusion.
“Wait, what are you talking about?” I ask him.
“The software on the sales terminal just crashed as John opened the front door. What the hell are you talking about?” Adrian replies.
“Ughh, Tessa,” I reply in a grouchy voice.
“I told you on day one that she was your problem. Whatever she’s done to annoy you can wait. We need to sort this crap out first. Saturday night is not the time to be running a manual payment system. I mean, truly, who the hell pays with cash these days anyway, besides old-fashioned people like you.”
