Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 117443 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117443 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Her search for a new place to stay had been cut short as she made her way to Maria’s at five o'clock. One of the night waitresses had called in and Maria had asked Hayley to cover her shift. Hayley, grateful for the opportunity to make more money if not happy about the late shift, accepted.
By ten o'clock, Hayley was impressed with the way Maria and Thomas seemed to make sure the place was fun but not too rowdy. Her tips had been exponentially better than working the day shift and everyone wanted a piece of Maria's new girl.
Hayley smiled, politely dodged roaming hands, and delivered drinks with aplomb. All in all the night was going well for her until she nearly tripped on her own two feet as she spotted Chris and three large, very large, men entering the front door.
She spun away from them and proceeded to be very occupied by gathering empties at every table in her vicinity. Her night took an even more pronounced turn for the worse when Chris and his boys seated themselves in her section.
Miranda, though, seemed awfully pleased to see the Fearsome Foursome and so Hayley casually offered the other woman the opportunity to take the table.
"Really?" Miranda asked, immediately eyeing Hayley for some kind of ulterior motive.
"Well, you know them and all," Hayley explained.
Miranda practically squealed and headed over to them, hips working over time in her stilettos.
Maria gave Hayley a raised eyebrow, but Hayley merely smiled, shrugged, and loaded up a tray with more drinks.
*******************************
"Hey, boys," Miranda drawled, extra emphasis on the ‘boys’.
They all grinned back at her. Chris could appreciate what those heels did for her ass. Yes, he sure could. He put in his order and glanced across the crowded bar. Hayley was wearing a tight shirt, but it showed no cleavage whatsoever. He wasn't sure she was capable of working a biker bar based on her attire. He smirked over his beer.
"How's the new girl?" he asked Miranda.
Miranda's face immediately darkened and she glanced over her shoulder at Hayley. When she turned back to him, he offered her a winning smile and she dropped her budding rivalry with the new waitress. He'd never slept with Miranda, but she was cute and fun to flirt with and it was well known she could turn on a dime on anyone she thought was staking a claim on what she perceived as her territory.
"She's good," Miranda responded.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," Miranda repeated. She playfully bumped her hip into his side. "She gave me you, so in my book that makes her fabulous."
Chris paused with his beer in hand and looked at her. "Gave me to you?"
"You're sitting her section, Shooter," Miranda informed him.
As Miranda tottered away, Hawk laughed. "Guess she's holding a grudge."
Chris shrugged, but his gaze zeroed in on Maria behind the bar and he picked up his beer to head that way.
"So," he said, taking the only empty stool. "New girl."
Maria looked up from the sinks. "Can't complain. In fact, wish I had two more just like her."
"That right?"
"That's right. Never late. Never bitches. Never comes up short on her bank. Had to call her in last minute to cover for Bree."
"Guess I might have been wrong," Chris admitted.
"What happened, anyway?"
He scowled. "Might have told her I thought she was a con artist. Playing on your sympathy."
Maria sighed and after a long moment said, "Well, no harm in telling it like it is, even though she still doesn't have a decent place to live."
Chris scowled even harder. He headed back to his table, keeping one eye on Slick, one eye on his boys, and a third eye on the time. At nearly Midnight, he watched Slick cash out with Maria and take off her apron, headed for the back.
He thumped the table twice, announcing his departure, and stood up.
"Where you headed?" Doc asked.
"Gonna make sure Slick gets back to the motel okay."
Tex laughed. "You're gonna have to pull out the big guns if you want that honey to roll over."
"Does Shooter have a big gun?" Hawk asked sarcastically. "I bet mine's bigger." He made to stand. "How about I give Slick a ride? Then I'll give her a ride."
Chris shoved his friend back into his chair with a grin. He headed to the corner of the bar next to the swinging door and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally he shoved off the bar and stepped through the door into the kitchen. Thomas was there, manning the grill.
"Where's Slick?"
Thomas looked over his shoulder at Chris. "Who?"
Chris sighed. "Hayley. Where's Hayley?"
Thomas continued to look confused. Chris rolled his eyes and held up his hand. "Brown hair. Bambi eyes. Yay big. Weighs a buck. Is unaware she has tits."
Thomas laughed. "Oh, yeah. Left."
Chris’ eyebrows knitted together. "What do you mean she left?"
"She's off shift. Done at midnight. Maria didn’t want to make her close on account of she was nice enough to fill in in the first place."