Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
I looked up, startled to find the prospect standing in the open walkway at the end of the bar.
“Um, sure,” I said. “Give me a sec.”
Bone was at the far end of the bar, flirting with a very drunk, very friendly girl whose tank top was so tight it might as well have been painted on. I caught my boss’s arm. He turned to me, frowning.
“Sorry, but Shade wants to see you in the back.”
“Won’t be long,” he told Drunk Girl. She pouted as he started down the hall, then narrowed her eyes at me.
“Are you with him or something?”
“With who?” I asked, confused.
“Bone.”
I burst out laughing, then shook my head.
“Nope, I don’t think I’m his type.”
She looked me over, and I couldn’t help but notice that she didn’t look so drunk now. Interesting. Someone was playing games, trying to catch Bone’s attention. “And what’s his type?”
“Drunk and pretty,” I said, offering her a smile. “Keep up the good work and he’ll be all yours.”
That seemed to make her happy, which felt nice. It’d be interesting to see if Bone went home with her. He lived in an apartment right over the bar, but I’d never seen him take a woman there. I’d asked him about it once and he said it was too hard to get rid of them when he was done.
Yeah, my boss was classy like that.
One of the regulars shouted for beer, and I’d just finished pulling his pint when Bone showed up again, looking pissed. He stomped over to me, glaring.
“You’re done for the night,” he said. I stared at him, confused.
“What do you mean?”
“Grab your shit and punch out,” he replied. “Your shift is over.”
This made no sense.
“You’re going to close by yourself?”
“Suz is here,” he snapped.
“But Suz has never closed before.”
And I need the hours…
“Not your problem. Leave. Now. And watch your ass, okay?”
The warning confused me even more.
“What’s going on?”
“Not a Goddamned thing,” he muttered. “Just me running my bar all by my fucking lonesome. Christ.”
He ran a hand through his hair, obviously frustrated as he glanced toward Drunk Girl, then sighed. Okey-dokey. Whatever was happening here, it was way over my pay grade. I turned to leave, then thought about my poor drowned cell phone. Turning back, I asked, “Can you give me an extra shift this week? I mean, since you’re sending me home early?”
“We’ll see,” he replied, looking even more frustrated. “Depends.”
“On what?”
“On how many more fucking questions you ask.”
Well, that was confusing and bizarre all mashed together. Great. Trying not to scowl, I headed for the office, untying my apron as I walked. The prospect was gone and the back room had been abandoned. Had the Reapers gone out the back door? I stepped in, looking at the table. It was covered with empty glasses but no money to pay for their booze. Not even a tip.
Fuck.
I knew Bone sent them drinks on the house sometimes, but they’d always left something for me. Now I’d lost my hours and gotten stiffed.
“Fucking men.”
Five minutes later I’d punched out, grabbing my bag as I went to look for Rebel. He met me coming down the hallway, obviously excited. I opened my mouth to ask about his talk with Shade. Before I could say anything, he caught me up into his arms, giving me a hard, smacking kiss.
“Gonna get the bike,” he said when it ended, eyes still dancing. “But I need your help picking it up. Shade wants to take care of things tonight. That’s why he asked Bone to let you off work.”
Ah, crapsicles. That explained Bone’s general pissiness about sending me home.
“You should’ve talked to me first,” I said, frowning. “I can’t afford to—”
“It’s all good,” Rebel insisted. “Bone won’t hold it against you, I promise. But I really need your help. I’ve got my truck here. We’re gonna head to Shade’s place and pick up the bike, and then I need you to drive the truck back home for me.”
“Can’t we go in the morning?” I asked, annoyed. “It seems weird that we have to do this in the middle of the night.”
Rebel flushed.
“He gave me a discount, okay?” he admitted. “Way better deal than I expected. I’m scared he’ll change his mind. We get it done tonight, it’s done. You’ll love the new bike, I promise. We’re gonna have a blast on it.”
“Okay,” I said. “But you owe me.”
“Anything you want, baby. I promise. Just do this one favor for me. I swear you won’t regret it.”
Grabbing my hand, he dragged me down the hall, through the bar and into the parking lot. Lined up across the front were the Reapers MC bikes, flanked by Shade and his brothers. Most of them were busy getting ready to leave, but Shade stood staring at us, his big arms crossed over his chest in the dim glow of the single streetlight.