Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Friday afternoon, Jimmy helped Petey button up the store by five p.m. After their conversation the other night, Brad had offered him a job.
Since he had no money of his own and didn’t want to take any more of Petey’s generous salary for doing little to nothing, he accepted.
It would be nice to take Evie to the movies or out for a bite somewhere with his own cash.
The job also meant he couldn’t stay at the hardware store until seven.
He and Petey came to an agreement. Weekdays, the store would stay open until seven, and five on Fridays and Saturdays.
Sunday, they would close in observance of the Lord’s Day.
Jimmy’s bartending knowledge and skill had unexpectedly emerged from the dark cobwebs in his mind. He could shake a vodka martini like the best bartender in a Bond movie, or concoct a frilly mai tai, little pink umbrella and all.
By the time he got into his station, the usual group of customers, plus a few more from a nearby town, had already started their weekend drinking.
A couple of hours passed, and the place got crowded.
As the clock struck eight, Evie came in with four friends.
He signaled at a still-empty table. She nodded in understanding and ushered her friends there.
“Cover for me? I’m taking drink orders from a table,” he half shouted at Ted. The noise level kept rising. “Be right back.” Ted nodded, and Jimmy slipped under the counter flap.
Evie’s friends were an assortment of beauties in different shapes and colors.
A redhead, a blonde, two light brunettes, but the star of the group stood out for him: gorgeous, dark-haired Evie.
He started to introduce himself, and Evie finished.
He took their drink orders, but noticed the blonde’s intent stare.
Her gaze shifted quickly from Evie to him and back.
Ignoring her, he rushed back to the bar and started to fix their drinks. But the blonde didn’t stop eyeing him. And not with the kindest expression either. Didn’t matter. He was too damned busy to coddle insecure girls or play games in this packed bar.
Customers stayed while a new group trickled in. Space was at a premium, but Brad hadn’t opened the side section yet. He was waiting until after the Christmas holiday to prep and decorate the party space.
Jimmy hurried to place Evie and her friends’ drinks on the table. He started for the bar, but the blonde dropped her hand on his arm.
“Why the rush, Jimmy?” Lifting a shoulder, she fluttered her eyelashes. “I wanna talk to you. You’re so handsome.” She walked her fingertips across his skin.
The gesture was meant as a playful caress, but an obscure warning popped in his mind. Careful not to anger a viper, he slowly moved his arm away from her.
“I’m sorry, ladies.” He used his best smile. “I took your orders because you’re Evie’s friends. As you can see, the bar is packed. I don’t have time to sit and hang out. I wish.”
“No. Don’t be silly. Go, Jimmy,” Evie said. “We understand, thank you for the special treatment.”
The blonde just glared.
He felt her icy stare for long minutes after he resumed his work. Another group of drinkers came in, and he forgot about her.
An hour or so later, things got complicated. Evie’s blonde friend pushed her way over to stand between a group of bikers. She flirted with one, dropped the sleeves of her top to display her shoulders, and leaned in, brushing her breasts on another guy, while offering her lips to a third.
Jimmy knew trouble was coming like a fast-approaching runaway train.
“Ted,” he called out to his partner. “Get Brad out of the office. Now.”
“My friends want male company.” The blonde’s voice carried. She tugged at a biker’s muscular, tattooed arm, pointing at the table. “Bring your friends.” She laughed.
“Don’t mind if I do. Guys, let’s go,” he shouted.
Jimmy stiffened, ready to pounce.
All four men were big and drunk… They wanted the good time the little blonde tease had promised.
One tried to kiss the redhead; she jumped out of her seat.
“What’s the matter, girls?” the guy slurred, pulling over a chair to sit at the table with Evie and her friends. “Don’t you wanna party?”
“I said, leave me alone!” Evie shouted at another biker. She pushed at him to get away, but the guy yanked her hair.
Jimmy vaulted over the countertop. “Ted, Brad!” he shouted, rushing to Evie. “Leave her alone,” he thundered.
“What the fuck?” Growling, the guy turned with Evie’s hair still in his fist.
Jimmy saw red.
He thrust out his arm, clutched the guy’s larynx, and squeezed. The biker leaned back, but refused to let Evie go.
“Release her.” Jimmy hissed. “Or I’ll really hurt you.” He tightened his hold. The man opened his mouth and fist as his legs wobbled. Evie scrambled free, massaging her scalp.
“Stop it, mister. You made your point.” One biker held on to Jimmy. “We’re leaving.”
As Jimmy let the guy go, his friends stepped in to help the gasping man stand and stagger out of the bar.
“We didn’t come looking for trouble,” one of them said, glaring at Evie’s friend. “She did it. She invited us.”
As soon as the bikers left, Jimmy went to Evie. “Are you okay?” He touched her shoulder.
Hiccupping and sobbing, Evie pressed her forehead to his chest. She fisted his shirt, and he drew her into his arms. “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s okay. You’re safe. He’s gone.”
“All right, everyone.” Brad clapped his hands at the gawking guests. “Nothing happened. Show’s over. Drinks are on the house.”
The guests hooted and hollered with approval. The incident forgotten, they pushed and shoved to be the first at the bar.
“Take your time,” Brad murmured. “I’ll step in for you.”
Jimmy nodded. Evie’s sweet scent floated to him. He glanced at the precious little person seeking refuge in his arms. He was sorry for her experience, but she felt wonderful in his arms. Even better, her sobbing had stopped.
“Okay?”
Drying her face, she sniffled up at him. “Yes. Thank you.”
“We’re taking her home,” one of her friends said.
He hated to let her go, but he had to. Gently, he guided Evie to her friend. She seemed much more composed.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. Bethany’s our designated driver. I’m fine now.”
“Good.” He pointed over his shoulder. “I have to get back to work.”
The other two girls waited by the door. Holding Evie’s hand, Bethany moved to them, but Evie stopped. Frowning, she turned to him. “Thank you, Jimmy. I mean it.”
“Anything for you, Evie,” he said.
Her group left the bar, then it hit him. Where was the fifth girl? As he headed for his station, he saw her. She sat at the edge of the counter with two guys, one on either side of her. Although the men were chatting up a storm, her eyes remained glued on Jimmy.
He slid under the flap to resume his work.
“Thanks, man,” he said to Brad. “I can take over.”
“I appreciate your quick reaction,” Brad said. “That could’ve escalated.”
“Thank goodness it didn’t.”
Brad clasped his shoulder. “One day, you’ll have to teach me that move. In the meantime, watch out for Merilyn. She hasn’t stopped staring at you.”
“So that’s her name,” he said, glancing at the angry woman. “Thanks for the warning. I can recognize a troublemaker a mile away.”