of glasses that contained more froth than beer, Rhys suggested cocktails might be more my thing.
And he wasn’t wrong. Mixing, shaking, and stirring the colored cocktails was like playing scientist. Splashes of lemon and lime, a spoonful of sugar syrup, dashes of bitters—I never realized so much work went on behind the bar. I also made a note to get me my own lab coat with my name embroidered in pink. Hey, if I’m going to play a scientist, I may as well look the part too.
As Rhys prepares to leave, he opens the till and counts the money, then heads off to find Angel while I continue cleaning every surface until the entire area is sparkling. Rhys stops by and says goodbye before he heads out the front door, meeting Jax who’s just walking in. I grin at him, waving my hand like an idiot. He chuckles and makes his way to the bar before taking a seat.
I pull out a bar napkin and coaster and place them down in front of him. “Hey there good lookin’, can I interest you in a drink?”
His gaze runs over me leaving a heated wake in its path. “You might… depends what’s on the menu.”
“Hmm…” I turn, giving him my back so I can browse the neon menu hanging on the wall. I squeal when Jax wraps his arms around me and hauls me over the bar before settling me on the worn wood in front of him. Seated between my spread legs, he runs his hands up and down my jean covered thighs. “No need to go searchin’, darlin’. Seems I have a taste for something not on the menu.”
I lean forward and press my lips against his, greedily swallowing his groan. Time stands still as we continue to make out, only stopping when a throat clears. We manage to pull apart and turn to find Angel staring at us with equal parts amusement and lust.
“Think we can continue this at home?”
I nod rapidly, nearly falling from the bar with the force of it. Jax stands and pulls his keys from his pocket. “I’m gonna pull the truck round back. Lock it behind me,” he tells me. After I lock the front door behind him, I turn and survey the club doing one last walk through when I spot a table at the back of the room that hasn’t been cleared off. Damn! I walk over, wondering who forgot their last table of the night. It wouldn’t be Shelly, she’s OCD about everything. Living with her opened up my eyes to just how frustrating that can be.
“Maddox!” Jax’s shout comes from the back door before he jogs in, a slightly alarmed look on his handsome face.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Where’d Madd go?”
“I’m here,” he says, coming out of the bathroom.
“Need you outside.”
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
Jax shoves his hand through his hair and glances at me before looking back to Angel. “The tires on the truck have been slashed.”
I gasp at the same time Maddox growls “The fuck?”
Panic curls in my chest, but I hide it by turning to pick up the jugs and glasses left on the table. Stay calm. Stay calm.
Jax and Angel both look at me strangely.
“What? Tell me what’s going on,” I demand.
“Nothing...” Angel says. “Just stay put. Both doors will be locked, wait for us up in the office.”
“Why can’t I—”
“No,” they say in unison. “It’s freezing out, Oakley, you’ll be fine, baby,” Jax adds. He rubs my arms and kisses my forehead.
Sighing, I nod and leave the jug and glasses in the sink behind the bar before I head upstairs to twiddle my thumbs like a damsel in distress. Ugh. Boring. For a few minutes, I live like a child and spin around on Angel’s desk chair, not stopping until I’m dizzy and positive I’m about to throw up.
When I hear footsteps coming up the stairs, I breathe a sigh of relief and jump to my feet. Opening the office door, I smile bright. “Took you long—” My words get caught in my throat when I find Malcolm standing in front of me, a long, coiled length of rope in one hand. I open my mouth to call for the guys, but Malcolm is fast.
“Gotcha now, Scarface.” He holds his hand hard over my mouth and I struggle to free myself. His other arm is tight around my chest and arms, so I kick back and try to stomp on his feet, but to no avail. He