on Corey’s face said he knew he scored the hottest female here.
My teeth ground together and my fists were clenched together at my sides, when I felt Bailey’s hand cautiously press against my shoulder.
“Dani, if you want to go home, I think you should. There’s no reason to be here now that dinner is over, the staff and I can easily take care of the rest of the night.” Going home is probably what I should have done, but now I was a woman scorned and leaving to cool off was the last thing on my mind.
“Okay, I’m officially off duty.” I told her. “But I’m not going home.” Bailey’s jaw dropped to protest but I stepped away from her, when I saw a server carrying a tray of champagne exiting the kitchen.
“Hold on a second!” I called to him, making the nervous server stop in his tracks.
“Yes, Danielle?” He asked politely.
“Hang on here for just a moment, okay?” He nodded; I grabbed a glass from the tray and downed it. His eyes bulged wide as I did the same thing with the second and third glass I took hold of. The lack of food in my stomach gave the bubbles and alcohol free reign in my system. The devastation that filled every part of me was slowly lifting; replaced with a fuzziness that was doing a damn good job to cloud out the pain. What I needed now was hard liquor, to drown away the rest of the shit I didn’t want to feel.
“You can go deliver the rest of those now.” I said with a smile after setting the drained flutes on an empty table next to where we stood. “See you around, Bailey.” She tried to stop me but I was having none of it.
The only thing I knew right now was I needed to get to the bar—and quick. My eyes shot over to Corey once again to see his date lean in close to his ear and whisper something that caused him to drop his head back in a rich laugh.
Yes—liquor—that’s what will make this better.
My face pulled into a smile as I saw Sanders mixing and serving drinks. When he looked my way a sympathetic attempt at a smile brushed his lips. Apparently he knew that his dick of a boss was at my place of business with another woman. Yippee.
“How have you been, Dani?” Sanders finished the drink he was mixing and pulled my shoulder into his side. “I’ve really missed you.”
A snort escaped me. “I can see you’re the only one.” Sanders immediately shook his head.
“No—not by a long shot.”
“I need a drink.”
Thankfully there were no other guests waiting for a beverage; as most of them seemed to be enjoying the champagne and wine being passed around on trays.
“Well what can I get you?”
“Tequila and keep it coming.” He was hesitant but I fixed him with a glare.
“Don’t forget who you are working for tonight, Sanders. If you were to be fired tonight from this gig, that would make your boss over there,” I pointed to Corey continuously flirting and cooing with his replacement. “Have to leave his date and come serve the guests. That probably wouldn’t make him very happy.”
Sanders huffed out a sigh and pulled out a shot glass. “At least make me a promise, Danielle.” My arms crossed over my chest as I waited. “If you need to go home, please come tell me and I will take you.”
This made me soften my harsh attitude, marginally. “I promise but I’ll probably just end up crashing in one of the empty rooms tonight.” This seemed to make him feel a little better. Well, until he set my shot down and readied the lime.
I waved my hand to stop his progress. “That takes too long.”
With that I took the shot straight and replaced it in front of him, indicating I wanted more. Sanders poured another and then another before someone walked up needing a drink. While he was distracted I poured myself another couple of shots, I finally started to forget about the pain. I didn’t care that the only person I wanted in my life, was the one I kicked to the curb. It didn’t bother me to see him here with another and I sure as shit didn’t care about my life in Serenity Cove anymore.
I poured myself another shot and was inches away from letting it add to the rest of the magical liquid surging around inside; when