Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,11

direction.

He smiles.

Dammit.

“Okay, I need to clock in. I’ll see you around,” I finally spit out before basically turning and sprinting toward the back room.

I push through the door and find Gigi and Marla getting ready to start. We’re all in matching polos with the company logo on the front. I slip my purse into my assigned locker, tie my apron around my waist, and slip my phone into the pocket. Gigi told us we could hang onto them, as long as we promised not to abuse them. The only person who would be calling me is Mrs. Fritz, and that’s as good of a reason as any to keep it close by.

“Angela quit this morning,” Gigi informs me as we head out to start our shift.

“Really?”

“Yeah,” she replies with a sigh. “Jasper’s difficult to work for. I know that. Hell, he knows that. But he’s a really good guy, Mallory. I hope you can stick it out.” There’s something pleading in her aged brown eyes.

“No worries there, Gigi. I have bills to pay,” I state, as I help place silverware rolled in a napkin at my tables. Rent will be due at the end of the month, and there’s no way I can risk losing this place. My daughter needs a roof over her head and food in her belly. Getting butt-hurt by a jerky boss is the least of my worries.

“Good,” she replies, giving me a kind smile. “I think you’re going to fit in nicely here.”

Gigi hurries off to help set tables and prepare the menus.

“You’re gonna have the middle section today, Mallory,” Marla informs me as she fills pitchers with ice water.

I nod, recalling which tables were in which section from my first day of training yesterday. I glance around, movement catches my eye through the open double doorway that leads to the bar. Standing there behind the big, gorgeous hardwood is Walker. He’s setting out a glass and filling it with what looks like Coke from the fountain. Even from this side of the building, I can see how big and imposing he is. He plops a straw in the glass and takes a long pull. When he does, our eyes meet again.

“That’s Walker,” Marla says, coming up behind me and hip-bumping me.

I clear my throat and look away. “I met him Monday after my interview.”

“He’s a nice guy. Wednesdays are usually his only day shifts, so you won’t see him much behind the bar when you’re here. He usually works evenings,” she states, sticking a stack of straws in her apron and handing me a pile for my own.

I glance back over one more time to find him watching me still. His hands are resting on the bar top, and I can feel the heat of those blue eyes all the way over here. Forcing myself to turn away, I try to push Walker and his sparkling baby blues out of my mind and focus on the task at hand.

My first table is an older couple, who orders classic cheeseburgers with waters to drink. I keep their glasses full, a rule Gigi has for serving the customers. Fill their glasses when they hit half-empty.

Our hostess, Stella, seats a small group of four guys in my section next. I can already tell they’re going to be a handful. “Welcome, gentlemen. My name’s Mallory. Can I get you something to drink?” I ask, handing each one a menu.

“Coors Light,” the first one replies.

“Jack and Coke.”

“Whatever Summer Ale you have on tap,” the third one states, scanning his menu.

“And I’ll have a Miller Lite and your phone number, sugar,” the fourth guy says, making the other three chuckle.

I give him a polite smile. “Well, I can definitely handle the beer, but I’m all out of numbers,” I reply with a shrug. “I’ll go get those drinks and give you a minute to look at the menus.”

Slightly rattled, I make my way to the counter to get their drinks, only to realize I’m in the wrong place. I need to head over to the bar for alcoholic beverages.

To Walker.

Knowing the longer they have to wait for a beer, the less of tip I receive, I hold my order tablet in my shaky hand and walk through the doorway. The lighting is less bright on this side of the business, but not too dark. Jameson’s sitting at one end of the bar, watching a baseball game on the television, while Walker’s down at the other end, talking to an older