The parking lot buzzed with a surprising amount of activity for a Tuesday night, and when I pulled open the heavy door, I walked straight into a wall of noise.
Bodies packed every inch of the place. The combination of clinking glasses, shouting, laughter, and the rhythmic sound of axes hitting targets created an energetic atmosphere. Eight throwing lanes lined one wall, separated by chain-link dividers. The bar opposite overflowed with people clutching beers and colorful cocktails.
A man stood at the hostess stand near the entrance, staring down at a seating chart with the expression of someone trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while blindfolded. He had tattoos climbing up both forearms and running along his neck.
He looked up as I approached. “Table for one?” His voice carried the ragged edge of someone who’d been talking all day.
“Table for two. He might have made a reservation… for Lucan?”
He didn’t bother to look at his list and grabbed two menus. “Follow me.”
I followed him and noticed the server-to-customer ratio was a little more than off. “You guys look slammed. Are you hiring by any chance?” It never hurt to ask, especially because I was desperate.
He stopped so abruptly that I almost ran into him. He turned to me, his eyes wide with hope. “Can you start right now?”
The desperation in his voice would have been funny if it hadn’t been so familiar. I’d heard that same edge in my own voice plenty of times when the crew called out and a deadline was breathing down our necks.
My face heated. “I have this meeting first, and then I can.”
He continued walking to a table near the back wall that was slightly removed from the worst of the noise and extended his hand. “Beck. I own this place, and yes, we’re hiring. One of my servers quit via text this morning, and another called out sick an hour ago.”
I shook his hand. “Liz.”
“Do you have serving experience? Although at this point, any help is welcome.”
I slid into a seat as he placed menus on the table. “I helped with some catering gigs in college, but since then, I’ve been in construction management and operations.”
“You just saved me countless gray hairs.” He ran a hand over his head, and I noticed the silver threading through the dark. “Come find me when you’re done, and we’ll talk details.”
“You should welcome the grays, Beck. You’re bordering on silver fox territory.”
The voice came from behind me, low and warm and entirely too effective at making my pulse jump. I turned to see Lucan, and my brain promptly went offline.
He wore dark blue jeans that fit him in ways that should probably be illegal and a light purple button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. The fabric pulled slightly across his shoulders when he moved, and I had to physically stop myself from staring at his forearms.
Apparently, I had a thing for forearms now.
Beck’s face brightened, the exhaustion lifting for a moment. “Lucan. Should’ve known you’d show up on the one night I’m drowning.”
“I live to make your life harder.” Lucan slid into the seat across from me, and I caught the scent of something clean and woodsy.
My brain cataloged that information against my will.
“Clearly.” Beck crossed his arms, studying Lucan with the familiarity that came from years of friendship. “Though if you’re here to steal my new employee before she even fills out an application, I’m banning you for life.”
“Your new employee?” Lucan’s gaze shifted to me, something unreadable flickering across his face.
“She offered to help after your… meeting.” Beck gestured between us. “So don’t have too good a date. I need her functional and ready to work.”
The word “date” hung between us like smoke. Neither of us moved to correct him. Lucan just smiled, easy and unbothered, while my face betrayed me with what I was certain was a noticeable flush.
“I’ll try to restrain myself, but it will be difficult.” Lucan’s tone was teasing, and I had the uncomfortable sensation that he knew exactly what his presence was doing to my nervous system.
“Right,” Beck snorted back a laugh as he tapped the table twice. “Someone will be by to take your order eventually. Probably. If you’re lucky.”
He disappeared into the chaos, leaving us alone at the table.
Lucan was completely at ease, watching me with blue eyes that seemed almost purple with the way they caught the light. “You’re staying?”
