Stay For Me - Megan Smith Page 0,7

do the same down here. We both thought it was important to show our faces for the first few openings, especially for Cooper since he has baseball the majority of the time and that’ll take him away from the club a lot.

I mix and mingle for a while keeping an eye on things making sure everything is going nice and smooth. My eyes also keep wandering over towards Layla. I barely know the girl but there is something about her that draws me to her, wanting to protect her. I know I’m crazy because what could a girl like that need me to protect her from? She’s been around bars and drunks for a little while so she has to know how to take care of herself if things get out of hand, but still something is nagging at me. She’s also easy on the eyes with that fucking body of hers and has a great personality too.

The bar where Layla is working is packed but I’ve noticed the same guy sitting in the same spot since the doors opened.

I walk over to the other side of the bar from her. “Hey, Eli, you need me to get you anything?” Cary, another bartender asks me.

I smile but keep my eyes on Layla. “Just a water, please.”

“Coming right up.”

Layla leans over the bar towards the guy who’s been sitting there all night. I watch as she grimaces from whatever he is saying to her. Her eyes find mine and she slowly stands back up. The guy says something to her again and she looks away from me. Her facial expression changes and she seems pissed off. Just as I’m about to walk over I spot Jackson and Chloe, Cooper’s brother and sister-in-law, walking in. Perfect timing.

I head over to them. “What’s up, man?” I ask holding a hand out to Jackson.

“What’s up?” Jackson says taking my hand.

I lean over and kiss Chloe on the cheek. “Looking beautiful as always.”

Jackson chuckles knowing I’m just being polite because I’ve only met Chloe two or three times so I really have no idea if she always looks beautiful.

“Cooper is working upstairs. I’ll grab one of the bartenders to show you up there.”

Jackson looks like he is going to protest but I give him a look and he backs off.

I take a few steps toward Layla. “Can you please show Cooper’s brother where to find him?”

Layla nods but quickly glances toward the guy who doesn’t take his eyes off of her the whole time she walks around to where I’m standing with Jackson and Chloe.

“Hey, Chloe, nice to see you again.”

“Hey, I didn’t realize you were working here.” Chloe says in surprise.

“Yeah, I was just hired…” Layla’s voice fades as she walks off.

A stool opens next to the guy watching Layla so I take the seat. He hasn’t really done anything that warrants me to say something to him. So I just sit and see if he’ll say anything to me. Even if he doesn’t at least I know where he is while Layla is gone.

Layla returns a few minutes later and goes back to work filling drink orders. A little while later, still in the same spot, my jaw about hits the floor. I see Jaylinn walk in with her brother Hunter and his wife MacKenzie, who also happens to be Cooper’s sister. Jaylinn looks stunning in this little black dress that she’s wearing. Her normally straight sporty ponytail is replaced with curls that are cascading down her back. Her blue eyes pop with the dark make-up she’s wearing and those bright red lips that you can’t miss are going to knock Coop on his ass. She’s on her way to throwing Cooper his curveball, that’s for damn sure.

One of the bouncers point in my direction and when Jaylinn sees me her face lights up. Hunter and MacKenzie follow her over. I stand making it obvious that I’m checking her out. Jaylinn does a little turn and bashfully asks, “Too much?”

“Damn, girl.” Layla yells from behind me. “Where the hell did you come from and where are you hiding Jay?”

Jaylinn looks past me and smiles at Layla. Her smile fades though and I’m not sure why but I don’t like it. I grab her hand pulling her closer to me. “Not too much at all.”

“Thanks.” She says running her other hand down her dress.

A throat clears behind Jaylinn. “You remember my brother Hunter and Cooper’s sister MacKenzie, right?”

I hold out a hand to Hunter.