Chapter 14
S CARLETT
“Not so fast,” our boss says from behind the bar. “Take this to the VIP table,” she instructs, and my stomach drops when I notice Ewan’s drink amongst the ones on the tray. “Now,” she barks as I hesitate.
I pick up the tray and stroll across the room, swaying my hips and thrusting my chest out. My heart races, and my arm hurts when I reach the table and set the drinks down.
His water and whiskey are next, and I tip my eyes down as I set everything in front of him, planning to move away as quickly as I can when he cuffs my wrist.
I jerk my eyes to him.
“Sir?” I say quietly, no one paying attention to us.
His eyes lock mine.
“Meet me at the bar in five minutes,” he says silently as well.
I lean closer to him.
“I can’t do that. I’m working.”
“No one will stop you from talking to me.”
“I still can’t. I’m sorry.”
With that, I straighten my back, my heart jumping up and down in my chest.
I spin around and glide away as if I’m chased by monsters. Having him so close to me, disrupting the chemical bonds in my body, is one thing, but messing with me at work is a whole other thing and a reason for concern.
Sammy wouldn’t vouch for me again, and our boss would replace me in a bit and send me home if anything bad happened.
Even if things ended up all right, they still wouldn’t consider me for future events if I turned out to be a distraction.
I move across the room and make myself useful someplace else so I don’t have to return to his table.
A few minutes pass, and I feel better about the whole thing.
He’ll eventually leave, I’ll get my money, and things will be fine.
A few seconds pass, and a strong hand wraps around my forearm, making me spin on my heels.
I almost bump into our boss.
Her eyes throw flames.
“Come with me.”
She drags me past a few tables before I pick up the pace and follow her.
What have I done?
Has he complained to my boss?
Is he trying to be difficult now?
Does he really want to ruin everything for me?
I swallow my surprise when we inch closer to his table, and she gestures at me.
“Please go there and talk to that man.”
“What man?”
She searches my eyes for a second before erasing the space between us and giving me a pointed look.
“Go. Talk. To. That. Man,” she pushes through her teeth. “This is the tip that he just left for their drinks.”
She points with her forefinger at her tablet and shows me a two, followed by three zeroes.
“Besides, he can close this establishment in a second if he wants to.”
I look at her, baffled.
I don’t know what she means by that, and I don’t think she wants to get into details with me.
“Go there and entertain him for a while. He asked for you specifically. If you don’t want to go, you’re done for the evening.”
She shoots me one last warning look before moving away, and I shift my eyes to Ewan, who watches me with the patience of a lion about to eat his prey.
His elbows rest on the table, his fingers clasped together, his eyes unreadable.
He gets what he wants whenever he wants it.
One way or another, it always happens.
But what does he want from me?
I smoothly move to the table, and even as mad as I am, I still notice how outrageously handsome he is.
Even without a smile or a warm glint in his eyes, he’s still a ten.
“Have you asked for me, sir?” I ask, playing stupid.
He studies me for a few seconds before pushing his chair back, rising to his feet, towering over me and everybody at the table, and signaling me to follow him.
Nobody at the table as much as flinches when we walk away.
I trail closely behind him as he pushes a door open and leads me into an adjacent room, usually designated for larger events.
The space is now empty, with only a few tables and chairs and nothing set up for guests.
He barely closes the door when I turn to him.
“What is wrong with you?” I ask, my eyes latching onto his.
“Why are you here?” he asks, unfazed, and I don’t know what to make of that.
Is he annoyed that I’m here? Is he thinking that I have done it on purpose? That I knew he’d be here, and I just popped up to make his life difficult? The way he’s making mine difficult now?
“Can’t you see?” I say, pointing to my attire. “I work here.”
“I thought you were a teacher,” he says with humor in his voice.
“It’s not funny,” I retort. “Yes, I am a teacher. But some teachers have side hustles, especially when they’re on a break.
And why do I need to explain myself to you?
It’s not your business why I’m here. I would truly appreciate it if you stayed out of my business.
I didn’t plan to be here tonight and serve you drinks.
What are the fucking odds?” I huff, slapping my hands against my thighs and making my little apron jerk.
“I got the call today. Never in a million years would I have thought you’d be here. I tried to forget about you.”
Oops.
Too much information.
I stop while he tips his head to the side.
“Go on,” he says.
“What do you want me to say? Thank you for fixing my car. It looks fantastic and runs smoothly. And thank you for teaching my ex a lesson. I owe you a lot. And I even liked the way you kissed me. That doesn’t mean I will indulge in the idea of you.
You’re too much of a variable for me. And I hate variables.
You’ve already disrupted my evening and put me in the crosshairs of my boss. ”
“She won’t do anything to you.”
“She told me that as well. But she might change her mind if you’re not around. Can I go now? Please?”
He ponders an answer before I begin to spin away.
Despite hesitating for a second, he grabs my arm and pulls me back straight into his chest.
I get to experience him through my senses: my sight, my touch, and my smell. Tiny molecules of cologne roll into my nostrils while his hard frame ignites a fire in my softness. His eyes explode with light as only an inch separates us from a real kiss.
A sexual kiss.
It becomes clear we’ve worked hard to avoid this.
Getting involved with one another looks like a big risk, and I think it is, although our reasons for believing that might be different.
“Let me go, Ewan. Please,” I beg. “I think we know enough about each other to understand there’s more to lose than gain if we are not pulling away from one another.”
His grip slackens, and that’s my cue.
I remove my arm from his hand and walk away, relieved, knowing that it’s the right thing to do.
“I’ll wait for you outside when you get off from work,” he tosses behind me.
I come to an abrupt halt and spin around.
“I have no idea when that is.”
“I’ll be outside,” he says, undeterred.
I stare at him.
“I’ll take you home,” he says in response to my baffled expression.
“What if I’m not going home?”
“You’re going home,” he says, the edge in his voice making me smile.
“You can’t boss me around.”
He sets himself in motion and walks past me.
“Outside,” he reiterates, not flinching, before he pushes the door open and leaves me alone in the room.