7. Rob
7 ROB
"Jeez, girl, that's your twenty-third yawn. Did you get any sleep in Cancun?" Kayla was off today and had volunteered to pick me up from the airport since I didn't have my car.
"No," I growled. "And it wasn't because I was partying or soaking up the beautiful Mexican sun." The photo shoot had been long and grueling, thanks to a new photographer eager to prove himself.
"Are they always like that?"
"Not usually, but Bennie is motivated to do a good job. How else would they justify my paycheck?" I laughed it off because the shoot was nothing out of the ordinary. "I just didn't sleep much the night before, so I'm heading into my fourth day running on fumes."
She sucked in a breath. "Another night with Levi, the sexy bartender?" She wiggled her brows.
"How would Mac feel about you ogling the bartender?"
"As long as I ogle him more than anyone else, he's fine. And you're deflecting."
"Maybe a little," I conceded. "Do you have plans tonight?"
"Other than dinner and a video chat with Mac, no. Why?"
"I have a surprise for you. Come up to Ol' St. Nick's tonight."
Kayla's eyes widened. "Now I'm totally intrigued."
"Then I'll see you there. Thanks for the ride." I grabbed my bag when she stopped in my driveway and jumped out. I needed a nap and a shower—preferably in that order.
Three and a half hours later, I stepped into Levi's pub dressed for a night of slinging drinks. Leather pants, a lace crop top that would scandalize half of Holiday Grove, and knee-high boots that were equal parts comfortable and sexy. If they didn't grab Levi's attention, nothing would.
"You made it." His voice was right behind me, close enough that I felt the heat of his body against my back.
I looked straight ahead, soaking up his nearness. "Did you doubt me?"
"No." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Just wasn't sure with that storm sweeping through Mexico."
"That's why I bumped up my flight."
He laughed. "That eager to see me?"
"Maybe. Or maybe I just really missed sleeping in my own bed." It was a bit of both.
"Hmm." He pressed a kiss to that spot below my earlobe that made my knees weak. "Glad you're back." His hands settled on my hips, pulling me flush against him. "Let me show you how to use the register."
Fifteen minutes later, my nipples were sore, my panties were ruined, and my libido was in overdrive. And the night was just getting started.
It took less than an hour after the pub officially opened before it was packed to capacity. Locals and tourists alike filled the booths and chairs, and pretty much every free inch of floor space. Bartending wasn't as glamorous as modeling, and it didn't pay as well, but it required many of the same skills. I kept my pink lips curved into a friendly—but not too friendly— smile while I poured icy mugs of beer, mixed up margaritas and daiquiris, and even shook up a few more margaritas.
In between all of that, I managed to spend at least half of every hour flirting with Levi. "You wear that apron well, Mr. Chef."
His mouth twisted into a lopsided grin as he plated up the shepherd's pie bowls that were on special tonight. "Doin' all right up there?"
"Just great, Chef. The drinks are flowing freely, well, not free, but flowing like a river." I rolled my eyes at my corny joke. "I made you this. It has no booze in it, but it's refreshing." Suddenly feeling ridiculous and needy, I set the glass on the nearest flat surface and rushed out of the kitchen.
"Rob!" Torey called out to me from the end of the bar where she stood with Nix and Kayla. "Holy shit, girl, what are you doing behind the bar?"
I flashed a cheeky smile at my friends and gave them the abbreviated version of how it all happened. "Levi didn't want to be a liar, so here I am." And it was the most fun I'd had in a long time. "What are you drinking?"
"Somebody on Insta said you were making lavender mojitos. Please tell me that's not internet gossip," Nix pleaded.
"It's not. Three?"
"Four, actually." Nix moved aside, and my gaze landed on a face I hadn't seen since I was fifteen years old.
"Hailey?"
She flashed a shy smile and nodded. "You remembered."
"How could I not? You were the coolest chick to ever walk the halls of Holiday Grove High." A few years older than us, Hailey had worn leather pants and a denim jacket together. She smoked French cigarettes and wore high heels with jeans to school. "What are you doing back?"
"Starting over," she answered and looked away.
There was a story there, but now wasn't the time. "It's so good to see you. We'll catch up soon, I'm sure, but for now...four lavender mojitos?"
They all nodded, and I busied myself making the drinks when I felt a hand on my hip. "Where in the hell did you get ingredients for lavender mojitos?"
I glanced over my shoulder and right into those killer green eyes. "You have two bottles of lavender syrup for some reason, and they're selling for twenty bucks."
His eyes bugged out. "In that case, here's the mint. Sela said we were running low." He pressed a kiss to my cheek and disappeared back into the kitchen.
"We'll definitely have to talk about that at brunch on Monday," Kayla demanded with a smile.
"That rock star is having a negative effect on you," I told her.
She laughed. "I know, right?"
When Levi finally locked the door hours later, I was exhausted. And thrilled. I'd filled an entire evening, and I hadn't once thought about my career. It had been a long few days, but I wasn't ready to call it a night just yet.
"You did good tonight," Sela offered with a hesitant smile. "I wasn't sure."
"Thanks. Making drinks on demand is different than doing it in class, but we all made it." I laid out three stacks of cash and pushed one toward Sela and the other waitress, Dani.
"We don't split tips," Dani said in confusion.
"No? Well, it was busy tonight, and you ladies did all the running around."
"Seriously?" Sela's big brown eyes were wide with shock.
"Yeah, seriously. You earned it."
She smiled and counted her stack. "This is more than I made all night! What's your secret?"
"She's a famous model," Dani groaned.
I ignored her comment and shrugged. "Like I said, the place was packed, which meant a lot of customers ordered from the bar."
"Thank you," Sela said again, giddy with her haul for the night. "See you tomorrow?"
"Have a good night."
Dani followed her out, and I locked the door behind them.
"All done?" Levi's ever-present apron was gone, giving me a long, hard look at his blue-and-white flannel that hugged his pecs and biceps.
"Yeah. The girls are gone, and the bar is clean."
"They're right, you don't have to split your tips with them."
I smiled. "You were eavesdropping?"
"Maybe you just talk really loud."
"Maybe I do," I conceded. "They earned the tips, and it's not like I need the money."
He studied me, then grinned. "You just keep surprising me, Rob. I have to keep up." He produced a large paper bag from behind him. "Dinner?"
My mouth watered as I nodded. "Nothing hotter than a lumberjack chef."
He laughed. "Come on, I'll drive. That drink helped, what was in it?"
"Ginger, citrus juices, and tonic water. Refreshing, right?"
He wrapped an arm around me, and we left the bar together. Without discussing it, we both went to his car and headed to Levi's place.
"Dinner was delicious, thanks."
"My pleasure. What did you think?" His question held a hint of uncertainty, which surprised me.
"It was a clever twist on a pub favorite, and bowls are very trendy right now. They popped up all over social media tonight. How was it being in the kitchen?"
"Great. I forgot how much fun it could be." He hit me with a smile that would've buckled my knees if I wasn't already sitting down.
I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out—just a jaw-cracking yawn. "Oh my god, I guess I'm more tired than I realized. Sorry."
"Don't be," he replied around a yawn of his own. "Shower and then bed?"
"That sounds heavenly." I sighed heavily and followed him up the stairs, not thinking at all about the fact that I was spending the night with Levi and sex wasn't on the table.
That had to mean something.
Right?