Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Doom’s brow began to pucker in anger. “The door is right there anytime you want to call it quits.”
Biting her tongue, she carried the containers into the kitchen. She took the food she had prepared for Wizard to the microwave, even as angry as she was, and still unplugged the lights before she started it.
She took the food to Wizard when it was heated and set it down in front of him with the fork. The asshole didn’t even bother to give her a thanks. She was going to have to warn Mama that Wizard had wanted to know her name.
When she made a mess of the drink orders that came her way without Celeste being behind the bar, she finally had to clear her mind of the guilt of bringing Mama into their world. Hell, she didn’t want to be here herself, much less be responsible for Mama getting hit with bad reviews.
Men always made fools of themselves over Mama, which was why she never worked the front of the house. She preferred working out of sight in the kitchen, leaving the impression of a grandmotherly figure doing all the cooking. Any staff Mama hired soon learned she was all business where the restaurant was concerned. She was generous in her salaries and her affection for the restaurant employees, yet Mama would cut them off without a backward glance if they expressed any sexual interest in her.
Shooting a frigid glance at the table where Wizard and Doom was sitting, she saw Lola fawning over Doom since Wizard was plainly ignoring her.
Thankfully, Celeste finished eating and started helping out again.
“Tonight’s your third night.” Celest gave her a smile. “Congrats.”
Arden smiled back. “Thanks.”
Celeste handed over the drink she had just made. “Here you go. It tastes like a sugar cookie. Don’t worry; I didn’t put a lot of alcohol in it. I notice you’ve only been drinking water. Cheers.”
Arden took a small sip. “It’s good.”
“I’m glad you like it. You deserve it. You beat the odds. Well, as long as you don’t quit before the end of the night.”
“Odds?”
“Doom didn’t think you would last three days. You proved him wrong. Thank you. Now Doom has to pay up. I knew you would make it three days.”
Celeste looked like a cat whole stole the cream.
Arden downed the rest of her drink at hearing how confident Doom had been that she would quit.
“What did you win?”
“A whole night in Doom’s bed. He never lets anyone fuck or sleep in his bed. Tonight, I get to do the whole shebang. I get to get banged there, and then get to sleep there.”
CHAPTER 15
THE BLUFF
“I’m in fucking love.”
Doom arched a brow in Wizard’s direction. He didn’t have to ask who with. The brother had been acting strange since Arden’s boss had left.
“I think you’re going to be shit out of luck there. Did you miss how she looked at you like you’re a dog?”
Wizard’s face filled with determination. “That woman was fucking fire.”
“That woman looked at you like she wanted to kick you in the balls.”
“She looked at all of us that way. I just need to change the way she looks at me, which is the only thing that counts.”
“How do you plan to accomplish that? I have bad news for you. Puck is a hell of lot better looking than you, and he struck out.”
“You can’t drag a lioness to your den. You have to lure her there.”
Doom’s eyes went to the woman behind the bar as he listened to Wizard. The bar had become even busier as they reached the time when non-members were allowed inside. Celeste was overwhelmed making the drink orders while Arden tried to keep up and was failing miserably. If she had bartended before, he would kiss her ass. She couldn’t make a screwdriver without fucking it up.
He signaled Kat to help out and stood up to move behind the bar.
“Take a break.”
Arden whipped her head toward him. “It’s too busy.”
“Kat will take over until it slows down. I want to have a talk.”
Arden gave him a harassed look, but she did follow him to a half-circle back booth.
He motioned her over and let her sit first. He wasn’t going to try to talk over the loud music that was already cranked up. It would only get louder as the night progressed.
“Tell me again you bartended at Mama’s?” Doom was curious if she would be truthful or try to bluff her way out the ineptitude he was witnessing.
“I’m still learning where everything is.”
Bluffing it was, then.
“What goes into a screwdriver?”
“Orange juice and vodka.”
Lucky guess.
“A seven and seven?”
“Fourteen?”
Doom narrowed his eyes on her.
“Are you ever in a good mood?” She sighed at his lack of response and grimaced at him.
“I just need a few more days to get more familiar with the drinks. I’m a quick learner. I’m watching Celeste and Kat. In another week, I’ll be much better at filling drink orders.”