Chapter Sixteen
Jack
Friday was just as busy as Thursday. Thankfully, when Saturday night rolled around, we were back to being fully staffed. I have now banned all staff from eating seafood for the foreseeable future. I didn’t ‘need’ to work Saturday night behind the bar, but if it allows me to be around Ria, fuck it, I was doing it.
I watched her work the bar with such ease and confidence. It”s like this whole other side of her comes out at work. She”s not a mom or someone going through a shitty breakup, she”s just Ria. There are so many versions of her and with every version she allows me to see, she has me more enamored with her. The staff love her and so do the patrons, some a little too much. The past hour I”ve watched the same guy only go to Ria at the bar or call her over to his table, causing my jaw to clench every time I look at the prick.
I watch him wave his empty glass at her as she strolls around the VIP area, collecting glasses. I can”t tear myself away from their exchange. He gestures for her to come closer, and she bends slightly so he can whisper in her ear. I don”t like the look on her face, unease etched all over it. She shakes her head and smiles politely but the dick obviously doesn”t listen as he snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her into his lap.
Rage courses through me at the sight of his hands on her. I’m striding over there, fists clenched, before I give myself time to think.
“Jack, I”m fine. He was just—” She tries to wriggle from his hold and I don”t wait for her to finish her sentence. I pull Ria up gently, trying to keep my cool and tuck her behind my back to protect her from this sleaze.
“Out,” I growl.
“What? Ah, man, it”s all good. I was just talking to the pretty girl. No harm,” he slurs, hands up in defeat.
“I don”t care. You touch my staff, you’re out,” I shout. “Now leave, before I have security throw you out.” My pulse hammers loudly in my ears, my jaw clenched so tight I”m surprised I haven”t cracked a tooth.
The drunk staggers from his seat, taking his jacket and heading for the exit. I don’t give a shit that he”s a member. He touches Ria, he’s gone.
I close my eyes and mentally count to five, trying to calm my ragged breathing before I turn. Forgetting where I am, I place my hands on either side of her face. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Did he hurt you?”
She places her hands over mine, squeezing them, reassuring me for a change. ”Jack, it”s fine. I”m alright.” I check her over still, panic gripping my throat at how differently that could”ve gone.
”Listen, I don”t need you to go all caveman on me every time a guy flirts with me. I”m a big girl, I can handle it. And besides, we”re at work. You can”t throw me over your shoulder and carry me out of here.”
Yes, I can, is my first thought. My second is that she”s right. God, I know she”s capable. I just saw red. I drop my hands from her face and let out a long sigh.
”I don”t like them touching you,” I admit quietly, but I know she hears me. Her ocean-blue eyes assess me and soften at my admission.
”Jack, I promise, I”ll be careful, okay?”
I nod, knowing she”ll keep her word. But just in case, I stay out on the floor for the rest of the night.
I spend the evening keeping a watchful eye on Ria. The club has been packed all night and only in the last hour has it started to die down. Our bar manager, Annabelle, places a drink in front of me. It breaks my attention for a second and I gratefully accept the whiskey on ice. ”Thanks,” I mutter, keeping half an eye on Ria.
The whiskey slips down easily. Annabelle knows my favorite drink. She and I aren”t exactly strangers, but we”re definitely not more than a one-time thing either. The guys weren”t happy when I told them what happened between us in Miami, but it”s not happened since. And it won”t again.
”Jack?” I turn to face Annabelle, not realizing she was still standing there.
”What”s up?” I ask cooly.
“Can we go through next weekend”s events? There are a few big name clients in the VIP book and I want to run some things by you,” she says seductively, licking her bright red lips. When she leans over the bar, pushing her cleavage my way, I know exactly what she’s getting at. ”I thought maybe we should talk in your office tonight?” I place my drink down between us, purposefully creating a barrier.
”I think here is fine. I want to stay on the floor tonight.”
It”s a brush off she needs to hear because right now. All I see is Maria Kennedy. I don”t want anyone else.