Chapter 2
Marlowe
We all know those girls who have perfect hour-glass figures, flawless skin, and naturally-thick beautiful hair that women spend hundreds of dollars trying to replicate.
With just a quick flicker of their long eyelashes and a feigned smile, everyone fawns all over them.
Well, one of those girls would be my younger sister, Kate, in a nutshell.
From the moment Kate was born, she was a shining star.
Everyone adored her, especially my parents.
It didn’t matter what it was—clothes, toys, even jewelry—if she wanted it, she got it.
If that wasn’t enough, it seemed she could do no wrong.
Kate had perfect grades, wonderful friends, and even when she slipped up and made a mistake, there always seemed to be a valid reason why it was someone else’s fault—mainly mine.
I, on the other hand, was nothing like my sister.
I had two left feet, curves in all the wrong places, and don’t get me started on my hair or skin.
I wasn’t a complete troll, but I didn’t hold a candle to my sister.
How could I? She was the one with all the expensive clothes and trendy, new hairstyles.
My parents made sure of that. They also made sure she had cheer lessons, dance lessons, and everything in between.
None of which was allowed for me. I tried not to let it bother me how I was always left in her shadow.
After all, it wasn’t her fault she was God’s gift to humanity and the apple of my parents’ eyes.
She couldn’t help the fact my parents never seemed to think about me unless there was something I could do for their precious Kate.
I did my best to swallow the hurt, but as the years went by, I grew tired of always being second best. I’d hoped going off to college would help, but my parents would only support my attending a nearby community college.
I quickly learned why. They wanted me to be close so I could help out whenever they needed me.
After years of pure and utter neglect, I’d had enough.
I was done catering to Kate’s every whim, so I packed up my things and left San Antonio.
I set off to Tennessee in hopes of making a life of my own and never looked back.
I’d like to say my big move went off without a hitch, but that was far from the truth.
I left home with very little money, two years into a business degree, and absolutely no job prospects whatsoever.
All I had was my unbreakable will and determination, but sadly, that just wasn’t enough.
No one wanted to hire someone with no experience, so I got turned down for one job after the next.
There were days when I worried I wouldn’t make it, but I finally caught a break when I found Crockett’s.
I didn’t have money for a place, so I’d spent the night in my car.
When I woke up, I found a flyer for the small bar plastered across my windshield.
I figured it wouldn’t hurt to see if they might be hiring.
My clothes were a little disheveled, but I pulled my hair up in a ponytail, put on my best smile, and headed inside.
Crockett’s was small and a bit on the rustic side with just a few booths along the wall and a couple of tables scattered about.
The décor was lackluster at best, but the place was hopping.
There wasn’t an empty seat in sight as I made my way through the crowd.
When I reached the bar, I spotted an elderly lady with short gray hair and dark, round glasses.
She was wearing a plaid shirt with baggy jeans and boots and didn’t seem to be in any hurry as she shuffled from one end of the bar to the other.
As soon as she looked in my direction, I waved and asked, “Hey, is the owner around?”
“You’re looking at her.” She stepped a little closer and asked, “Whatcha need, hun?”
“My name is Marlowe Davenport, and I was just stopping by to see if you might be hiring?” I asked, trying my best not to sound too desperate. “I’m new to the area, and I could really use a job.”
“Hmm.” She straightened her back and leaned to the side, trying to get a better look at me, then said, “You ever work in a bar before?”
“No, ma’am, but I’m a quick learner. Just tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll do it.” Worried she was about to send me packing, I smiled and said, “If you give me a chance, I promise you won’t regret it.”
“When can you start?”
“Anytime,” I answered excitedly.
“All right, then. We’ll give it a try and see if you can keep up.” As she reached into the cooler for another beer, she motioned her head to the doorway behind her. “There’s an apron in back. Grab it and start clearing the tables.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you!”
I couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t even asked me my name, much less my age, but she’d actually hired me.
Before she had a chance to change her mind, I darted to the back and grabbed an apron.
I’d just started to wrap it around my waist when the sound of a man’s voice caught me by surprise.
“Can I help ya with somethin’, darlin’?”
I spun around and was surprised to find a tall, handsome stranger leaning against the sink with a sandwich in his hand.
He was wearing jeans with a black leather jacket, and behind his thick beard, he was sporting a sexy smirk.
I could feel the heat of his stare as he stood there ogling me like a I was his next big conquest. I had no idea who the guy was, so I decided it was best not to respond with the smartass comment that was sitting on the tip of my tongue.
I quickly swallowed my words back, then smiled and said, “No, I was, ah ... I was just grabbing an apron.”
“An apron? What for?”
“So, I can get to work,” I answered, sounding snippier than I’d intended. “The owner just hired me as a waitress ... I think?”
“No shit?”
“You sound surprised.”
“’Cause I am.”
“Why? You don’t think I can handle it?”
“No, not saying that at all.” He took another bite of his sandwich, then tossed the remains in the sink.
As he took a step over to me, he shrugged and said, “Just surprised Gran actually hired someone to help her around here. Stubborn ass likes to think she can handle it all on her own, but that crowd out there shows otherwise. Hell, she’s barely able to keep up. ”
“Wait, she’s your grandmother?”
“Yeah, but let’s keep that between us.” He chuckled under his breath. “She doesn’t want me or my brothers scaring off her clientele.”
I glanced over my shoulder to take a quick look at the wide variety of roughnecks that filled the bar and smiled. “I don’t think she has anything to worry about.”
“You might be surprised.” His smile returned as he looked down at me and asked, “You got a name?”
“Marlowe.”
“I’m Country.”
“Hi, Country. Nice to meet ya.”
“Nice to meet you, too, doll. Would be even nicer if we could spend a little quality time together. Maybe over a couple of beers at my place.” His eyes slowly skirted over me. “What do you say?”
Even though he was unbelievably hot, there was no way I could get involved with the boss’s grandson—not when she was the only one around who’d even considered giving me a job.
There was just too much at stake. I had no other choice but to turn him down.
I just had no idea how. I could tell he wasn’t the kind of man who took no for answer, so my response had to be a good one.
Before I had a chance to really think it through, I answered, “Sorry. I have plans with my girlfriend tonight.”
“Your girlfriend?” His brows furrowed with disbelief. “You mean with one of your gal pals or your legit girlfriend?”
It might’ve been wrong to mislead him, but I had to make sure he wouldn’t try asking me again in the future.
Not wanting to lie any more than I already had, I cocked my eyebrow and just glared back at him.
Taking my lack of response as an answer, he crossed his arms and huffed.
“No shit.” He shook his head and smiled. “Sure didn’t see that one coming.”
“Thanks for the offer, though. It was really sweet of you.”
“Nothing sweet about me or my invitation.” He gave me a wink, then turned for the back door. “Good luck, kid. You’re gonna need it.”
As he disappeared out the back door, I noticed the words Ruthless Sinners MC were embroidered on the back of his leather jacket.
It wasn’t until that moment I realized what he’d meant by brothers.
I’d later find out Country’s particular MC was one of the most dangerous in the South, but for the time being, he was just the owner’s grandson, and I was her employee.
When I finally made it back out to the bar, the owner gave me a disapproving look as she said, “Was beginning to think you got lost back there.”
“No, ma’am. I was just talking to your ...” Remembering Country’s warning about calling him her grandson, I cut myself off short. “I … uh ... I got sidetracked with Country.”
“Hmph. Best watch yourself with him.” When she noticed the surprised look on my face, she shook her head and said, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
I didn’t know how to respond, so I simply smiled and said, “Yes, ma’am.”
“None of that ‘ma’am’ stuff. Everyone ’round here calls me Gladys.” She grabbed a cleaning rag from the sink and offered it to me. “Those tables aren’t gonna clean themselves.”
“On it.”
I rushed over and quickly started cleaning off one table after the next, trying my best to make a good first impression.
Apparently, Gladys was impressed with my initiative, and after a couple of days, she hired me full-time.
It didn’t take long for me to make enough money to get a place of my own and even buy a little furniture.
It was just a small, one-bedroom apartment downtown, but it was mine—and mine alone.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t have to worry about Kate or my parents.
I could just live for myself, and I couldn’t have been happier.