Alessandra: Follow your gut. As long as you promise not to prostitute yourself to help me, I’m happy.
Me: Dude. If you could see his ass right now, you’d know my desire to sleep with RR has absolutely nothing to do with you and your demo.
It’s the truth. In fact, having Alessandra’s demo in my purse has become the bane of my existence. An albatross around my neck. Although, of course, I’d never tell that to Alessandra. My phone buzzes again, and I look down.
Alessandra: Send me an ass photo, please.
Chuckling, I take yetanothersurreptitious photo of Reed, this one while he’s bending over the pool table, and send it off to my stepsister. And then I glance at the clock. It’s two minutes until midnight. Holy crap. Is Reedreallyplanning to do something at midnight, like he said before? He did call me Cinderella, after all, but that was almost an hour ago... My phone buzzes again.
Alessandra: Dat ass! OMG!
Me: I know. I’ve been wiping drool off my chin allnight. Hey, why aren’t you sleeping? It’s almost 3:00 there.
Alessandra: I couldn’t sleep now if my life depended on it. I’m dying to see what’s going to happen at midnight, Cinderella.
Me: Probably nothing, considering RR is no Prince Charming.
“Georgie,” a male voice says, making me look up from my phone. It’s Bernie, the owner of the bar... accompanied by none other than Reed and Reed’s two friends.
“Oh, hi,” I say lamely. I glance at the clock. Midnight on the button. “I didn’t know you were coming into the bar tonight, Bernie.”
Bernie claps Josh on his shoulder. “I wasn’t planning on it, but then I got a call from this guy. Hey, Marcus! Come here!”
As we await Marcus, I glance at Reed, and the look of molten lust on his face sends arousal whooshing between my legs.
“What’s up?” Marcus says.
Bernie introduces Reed and his friends, and explains that Josh used to work here many moons ago. “Reed wants to see Josh behind the bar again, for old time’s sake. So, he’s offered to pay for everyone’s drinks until closing—at double our usual prices, just in case Josh is rusty.” Bernie grins at Marcus and me. “He’s going to tip each of you four hundred bucks, since you’re both unexpectedly getting the boot for the rest of the night.”
“The boot?” Marcus asks.
“You’re off the clock,” Bernie says. “Stick around and play pool or go home. Whatever you want. You’re getting paidnotto work.”
“Wow, that’s generous,” I say, my eyes locked with Reed’s. Holy hell, he’s looking at me like I’m a sizzling steak on a plate, and he’s a man with a fork and sharp knife. I keep my tone prim and proper. “Thank you, Mr. Rivers.”
Reed smirks. “My pleasure, Georgina.”
Bernie nudges Josh’s arm. “I’ll work alongside you, in case you’ve lost a step since your glory days. Come on.”
“Lost a step?” Josh says playfully, following Bernie behind the bar. “I’m still in my prime, old man.”
Laughing, the two men shoo Marcus and me out of the well, while Reed’s other friend, the nerdy one, takes a stool. And, suddenly, I find myself standing on the customers’ side of the bar with Marcus and Reed. Which isn’t awkward at all.
Marcus looks suspicious as he assesses Reed. “I assume you did this because you’re trying to impress Georgie.”
“Marcus!” I say, shocked.
Marcus looks at me, his eyes blazing. “He’s been ogling you all night, Georgie. Even when he’s supposedly been playing pool, he hasn’t stopped peeking at you.”
My body zings with arousal, which is probably not the result Marcus was going for. Well, well, well. As I’ve been covertly ogling Reed from across the bar, he’s been covertly ogling me?
Marcus turns to Reed. “I don’t know who you are, but Georgina isn’t going to fall at your feet, just because you’re tossing out hundred-dollar bills like candy. Georgie’s smart.Special. She’s worth a hundred of the women you’re probably used to picking up in bars by flashing your money clip.”
“Marcus, stop,” I say, putting my hand on his forearm. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I don’t need your protection this time. Truthfully, I’ve been ogling Reed all night, too. And not because of his money clip, but because we had great chemistry when we talked.”
Marcus looks crestfallen. A knight toppled from his horse. The good guy, once again,notgetting the girl.
My heart aching for Marcus, I turn to Reed. “Marcus is right about one thing, though. Your penchant for throwing around hundred-dollar bills is a bit much. Thank you for your generosity tonight. We both appreciate it. But if you keep throwing big money at me, I’m going to start wondering if you think I’m a stripper, rather than a bartender—which isn’t something I want to be wondering.”
