Love Her - Andrea Johnston Page 0,3
to take ten and set Cammie up over in the corner for beers only. Maybe that’ll take some of the pressure off us. I already gave Joey a heads-up, and he’ll stick close to her and keep things moving over there. What time does the band go on?”
“Nine,” I answer before looking back at the clock on the wall then motioning to the stage. “From the looks of it, they’re almost set up.”
Taylor follows my gaze to the stage and nods in acknowledgment before rushing from behind the bar with the bucket. We normally save the beer setup for summer when the patio is open. I hope he isn’t having regrets for giving me this opportunity. We’ve talked about me taking on more responsibility around here, giving him some support and more time with his family. I may have bit off a little more than I planned. Truth be told, I’m having a twinge of regret right now.
A familiar scent surrounds me, and I look up to see the cleavage I spent a lot of time worshiping last night greeting me. Laurie, whose name I remembered about two hours after she climbed out of my bed this morning, scans my body before a Cheshire grin appears on her face.
“Hey, Connor. You’re looking fine this evening.”
“Laurie, fancy seeing you here two nights in a row. What can I get you tonight? Cosmo?”
“You remembered,” she purrs as she leans forward, her elbows resting on the bar top, pushing her tits together. The movement serves its purpose, my eyes drop to the invitation and my dick jumps to attention.
Before I can respond, the rest of the customers begin demanding my attention. I acknowledge them and quickly move about, making the Cosmo. When I slide the glass forward, she places her card in my hand and says, “Leave it open. I feel like being a little bad tonight.”
Nodding, I take the plastic and put it in the box with the rest before punching in her order and moving to greet the other patrons. I easily fall back into the groove and through the motions of mixing drinks and pouring beers. The sound of feedback fills the room and Taylor greets everyone before announcing the band, a roar of applauds and whistles reacting.
The rest of the night is a blur. We pour more whiskey and tequila than all the nights in the last week combined. The atmosphere is intense and by the time we ring the bell for last call, my shirt is stuck to my skin with sweat and the ache in my back is pulsing, twinges of pain radiating down my leg.
Twisting to grab a bottle of beer from the cooler, I stop, the pain going from pulsing to sharp, punching the breath from me. Slowly, I reach for the lager and pop the cap before placing it on the bar and sliding it toward the customer.
Breathing through the pain, I rotate my ankle slowly, a move that sometimes relieves the agony enough for me to move. After a few twists of my foot, I open my eyes only to see Laurie sauntering in my direction. Her walk is slow, her hips swaying a little more than I assume they do when she’s shopping at the market for cereal.
“Ready to close out?” I ask while feigning disinterest, my focus on wiping the surface of the bar.
“Sure am. How about I stick around again and wait for you?”
If sleepovers aren’t my norm, two nights with the same woman is my hell no. “I don’t think so. I’ll be here late, and my back is hurting.” There. The truth and an out.
“I could help you and then give you a massage. Did I tell you I went to school for massage therapy? I have very strong hands.”
TJ would call me an idiot for not taking her up on the offer. Taylor, who left hours ago to be with his family, would remind me hooking up with customers is a bad idea especially if they are a local. Taylor has few rules for his staff but one of them is to not bring drama into his bar. Tonight, it’s neither of them whose voice I hear in my head though. No, it’s Grant’s disapproving words I imagine. My friend, and former captain, would tell me two nights is giving a woman who I have no intention of seeing outside of my bed the wrong idea.
“Maybe another time. Let me close you out.” I move as quickly