Throughout my shift, I would find myself watching him as we worked. He’d smile at the customers, laugh at something they said. Just watching him made my body feel electrically charged, which was ridiculous. The man was nothing but a jerk to me all the time. He’d made it perfectly clear last night that he had zero interest in me, and yet I pathetically lusted after him like some love-sick moron.
No more. I would be professional. I would figure out how to pay my rent and ignore my sexy-as-sin boss until I could find a new job.
***
After closing, I brought the last of the dishes into the back and set them in the racks for the dishwasher. Sam was taking out the trash, which was code for sneaking a cigarette.
Hands gripped my hips and I jumped, spun around, and came face to face with Al.
“You scared me,” I said.
“Ah, don’t worry, babe. It’s just me.”
I pushed on his chest. “What do you want?”
He smiled down at me, ignoring my attempts to get him to back up. “Just looking for a little sugar, that’s all.” His hand slipped from my hip to my ass, giving me a firm squeeze.
“Get your hands off of me,” I said, trying and failing to push his arms away.
“That’s not what you said last night, baby.”
“That was a mistake.”
“How could it be a mistake when you were screaming my name all night?” He leaned forward, his lips attacking my neck with sloppy kisses.
I braced my hands on his shoulders and shoved him as hard as I could. “I was faking it. Now get your hands off me.” My feeble attempt to force him to release me did nothing but piss him off. Al gripped my hips hard, his fingers bit into my skin through my jeans.
He pulled me hard against him, his eyes narrow and cold as he glared down at me. “Don’t be a bitch, Gwen,” he growled. I was quickly losing control of the situation and panic began to set in.
I pushed at his chest again, but he didn’t budge. He just laughed and gripped me harder, trapping my hands against his chest as he leaned down to kiss me.
“Let me go,” I screamed.
Just then, he was ripped away from me. I stumbled forward from the force of it and looked up to see what had happened. Liam had him pinned against the wall, and Al’s t-shirt was clenched in his fist.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he roared.
Al’s face was a contorted mix of anger and panic.
“I…I was just—”
“Apologize,” Liam demanded.
“But she—”
“Apologize!”
Al looked over at me, his eyes narrow and bitter. “I’m sorry.”
Liam released him and gave him a hard shove against the wall. “Now get out.”
Al frowned. “What? You serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Liam stepped forward, placing himself within inches of Al’s face. “Get the fuck out of my bar.”
Al looked over at me with hatred in his eyes. He pushed off the wall and shouldered past Liam. “Fucking slut,” he muttered, then turned and disappeared through the kitchen door.
Liam was breathing hard, his hands on his hips, his back to me. Slowly, he turned to face me. “Did he hurt you?” he asked, sounding almost concerned.
“No.”
Liam nodded.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice low and a little shaky.
His head snapped up. “Next time I tell you not to fuck around with the staff, how about you listen and keep your legs closed.” Then he turned and pushed through the kitchen door. It slammed hard against the wall and I flinched as I watched it swing violently back and forth long after he’d gone.
A tear slid down my cheek as I listened to the sound of Liam’s boots as he stomped up the stairs. I really messed things up this time.
Chapter 10
Liam
I stormed into my apartment and slammed the door behind me. Fuck! That was too much. I’d been way too harsh, but I was completely livid. I knew Al was a creep. It’s why I tried to warn her off him in the first place, but I never expected him to pull some shit like that. I should’ve know telling a girl like Gwen not to do anything would immediately make her want to do it.
Goddamn it! I took a swing at the heavy bag and it swung back hard, the chains rattled as it rocked from the impact.
Why couldn’t she just listen to me? Now I was down a bartender and seriously pissed off. The worst part was the rage I felt when I saw his hands on her. The jealousy caught me off guard, and when I heard her tell him to let her go, I just lost it. Before I even knew what I was doing, Al was slammed against the wall, his shirt clenched in my fist and fear in his eyes.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. This wasn’t her fault. I knew that. No woman deserved to be treated like that. Just because she’d said yes last night didn’t mean she’d say yes again tonight.
I grabbed a beer from the fridge and chugged it, then slammed the bottle down hard on the counter top. I rested my hands on the edge and dropped my head with sigh. This chick had been nothing but a thorn in my side from day one, but the terrified look on her face when Al trapped her nearly tore me in half. I should’ve just kicked her out the first night her tight little ass walked into my bar. Maybe then I wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with.
Regardless of how my body reacted to her, I knew that if I gave in to this lust, it would be a disaster of epic proportions—not only for me, but for my business as well.
I needed to lock that shit down. I’m a goddamn professional.
***
After a while, I calmed down enough to head back down stairs to close up by myself since what was left of my staff was long gone.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs I stopped dead in my tracks. The tables were clean chairs stacked neatly on top. The beat-up old bar top shined and the floor was swept and mopped to perfection.
Gwen pushed into the bar from the kitchen, nearly colliding with me.
“Oh, hey,” she said.
“You did all this?”
She shrugged.
“You didn’t have to stay,” I said.
“Not like I had anything better to do tonight. Besides, you threw your little tantrum before I could cash out for tonight and I really need the money.”
I nodded and headed for the register to cash her out and check the receipts since she’d already done everything else. I flipped the key in the register and hit the button to slide the cash drawer out. I went over her totals and counted out her tips. I was so focused on my task I almost didn’t hear her.
“I’m sorry, Liam,” she said, her voice barely audible.
I looked up at her. Her sea blue eyes were flooded with tears. Gwen was hell on heels, twenty-four hours a day, so the sight of her on a bar stool breaking down wasn’t something I’d ever expected to see.
Before I could think about it, I dropped the cash, made my way around the bar, and pulled her into my arms as her tears continued to fall.
I said nothing. I just let her cry while I held her. The sound of her sobs nearly broke me in two. I hated to see women cry, especially if I had a hand in it. While Gwen’s break down was probably a fucked up mix of the bullshit she was dealing with, I knew my harsh words earlier in the kitchen were a part of it.
She pulled away and looked up at me. Her make-up was streaked down her face, her nose was red and running, and her eyes were swollen from crying. She was a disaster, but completely and utterly gorgeous.
She took a deep breath and wiped the back of her hand across her cheek. She sighed when she spotted the blurred smear of make-up that came away with her tears.
“God,” she said. “I must look like complete shit.”
“Not complete shit.”
She playfully slapped at my arm and hopped down from the stool. “I’m just gonna…” She pointed down the hall toward the bathroom.
I picked up the cash and finished counting while she was gone. The b
athroom door creaked open and I heard her stop beside me, but I didn’t look up right away as I was counting and didn’t want to lose my place. I finished and handed her the small stack of bills I owed her, then froze.
Her face was clean, not a stitch of make-up left, and the result was breathtaking. Her skin was bright with a pink tint that practically glowed. Long dark lashes framed what were possibly the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. Without all the shadows and shit she wore every day, her eyes seemed brighter.
“What?” she asked. I must have been staring.
“Nothing.” I shook my head and tried to clear it of—well, her.
Gwen rolled her eyes. “I know I look awful. No need to rub it in.”
I shook my head, and met her eyes. “No. You’re beautiful.” The words slipped from my lips before I realized what I said.
Gwen’s eyes widened and a shy smile spread across her face.
What was going on? I cleared my throat. “I mean, you look better without all that shit on your face.” I swallowed hard and went back to counting receipts.
Gwen laughed and shook her head with her tongue stuck in the side of her cheek. “Wow, Liam, you’re a real charmer.”
“That’s me,” I said, refusing to look at her out of fear that more stupidity would fall out of my mouth if I did.
“Whatever. I’m heading out. You good?”
“Yeah,” I said. “See you later.”
I could feel her as she watched me, but I refused to turn and look at her.
“Yeah. See ya.”
The bell on the door sounded when she opened it and again when it shut behind her. When the coast was clear I leaned my elbows on the edge of the bar, and exhaled. I dropped my head into my hands and raked my fingers over my face. What in God’s name had gotten into me?
I wasn’t attracted to Gwen. She was a pain in the ass, and an extra bitchy one, at that, but fuck—seeing her bare, without the mask she put on to keep out the rest of the world, was enlightening. For a second, I thought I caught a glimpse of the strong, yet broken girl underneath…and she was beautiful.
Chapter 11
Gwen
The bar was packed. People flooded in wearing those ridiculous team t-shirts. Every table was taken and I busted my ass running between the bar and the kitchen.
Liam really needed to hire a second waitress, if only on a part time basis, and thanks to me, he needed to hire a second bartender as well.
I’d gotten myself into some shitty situations over the years, but Al trapping me like that had been scary. Who knew how far it would’ve gone if Liam hadn’t come in? I’d never seen him so angry. I hated to admit it, but it was sexy as hell watching him come to my rescue and pin Al to the wall like that, all muscle and fiercely protective.
He’d gone from wild and strong to soft and sweet as he comforted me while I ugly cried on his shoulder—and it was an ugly cry. I took one look in the mirror that night and cringed. I looked like the love child of Alice Cooper and the Joker. It was awful. Thankfully, I had make-up remover wipes in my bag. I scrubbed my face clean and tied up my hair before finally returning to him.
The way he looked at me that night was intense, as if he’d seen me for the first time, and from the heat in his eyes he liked what he saw. Then he said I was beautiful. Not hot or sexy, but beautiful. My heart felt so full in that moment, but it was short lived. As quickly as that look appeared in his eyes, it washed away and the same jackass Liam was back, only he refused to look at me. Something told me he’d felt it too.
“Hey, sweet cheeks!” someone called breaking me from the memory.
I rolled my eyes and headed toward the customer to see what he wanted.
After I took Mr. Sweet Cheeks’ order for another round, I pushed through the crowd to the service well at the end of the bar. I typed the drinks into the computer for Liam and set my tray down for him to fill.
“You know, if you keep answering to that, they’ll just keep calling you sweet cheeks,” he said as he popped the cap off a bottle and exchanged it for a wad of cash.
I shrugged. “Eh, I’m getting used to it. Besides, my ass is pretty sweet.” I shot Liam a wink and took off toward the kitchen as he shook his head.
Armed with eight baskets of fish and chips I hip checked the kitchen door and headed out to deliver the food. I heard her before I saw her.
“What the actual fuck!” Alex screeched. She stood just inside the door, her eyes wide with shock her long red waves seeming to grow brighter in her anger.
“Shit,” I muttered.
I steeled my nerves, stood up straight, and tried not to let her know how much her presence affected me. I went about my business and delivered the food to the once boisterous crowd that had gone silent, their stares volleying between Alex and I, eager for a cat fight.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Gwen?” she asked. Before I could answer, she turned on Liam. “What is she doing here?”
Liam shrugged. “What does it look like she’s doing? She’s working.”
“Here? She’s working here?”
“No at the Subway down the street. Of course, here.”
“Don’t be cute. Liam, this is no time to be cute.” She jabbed her finger at him.
The bell above the door sounded as an out of breath Drew came in, followed closely by a rather amused Sean.
Alex turned on them. “Did you know about this?”
Drew scratched the back of his head, a guilty look on his face.
“Are you kidding me? You knew and you didn’t tell me.”
Drew stepped forward and reached for her but she took a step back. His hands fell, his eyes full of hurt. “Come on, Red. You’ve been so crazy with the wedding stuff. I didn’t want to stress you out.”
Alex threw her hands up in the air. “Un-fucking-believable.”
“What’s the big deal?” I asked. “It’s just a job.”
“You tried to ruin my life!”
“Oh please, don’t be so dramatic.” I scoffed.
A low guttural sound rose from her throat and she lunged toward me, her eyes crazy and her hands curled, ready to claw my eyes out. Drew caught her before she even got close to me and ushered her toward the front door.
He looked over her shoulder at Liam. “Happy now?” Drew asked.
Liam shot me a look and pointed toward the back. I rolled my eyes and pushed through the kitchen doors, then stopped with my hands on my hips. Liam came in seconds later and waved me toward his office. I groaned and kept moving.
In his office, I dropped heavily into the chair behind his desk. Liam closed the door behind us, leaving him just enough room to lean against the edge of the desk with his arms folded.
“You’re more trouble than you’re worth, aren’t you?” he asked.
I leaned toward him. “I don’t know. I’m worth a whole lot of trouble.”
Liam scoffed. “Is there anyone in my life you haven’t pissed off?”
“Your sister likes me.”
“Yeah, well don’t get too excited. Madison is the patron saint of lost causes.” He looked up at the ceiling and ran a hand across his face in frustration. I dropped my head, trying to suppress the tears that threatened to fall. So that’s how he saw me, a lost cause.
Liam frowned. “Hey.” He took hold of my chin and turned my face up to meet his eyes. “I wasn’t talking about you.”
I turned my head sharply and forced his fingers to drop from my face. “Yeah, I’m sure.” My tone was flat and sarcastic. Of course, the asshole was talking about me. His sister took pity on me. She hired me when no one else would, and how did I repay her? By causing trouble for her brother and their bar. If that wasn’t a lost cause I didn’t know what was.
Liam sighed. “Jesus Christ, Gwen, I was talking about me.”
“You? How are you a lost cause?”
“It’s a long story. She was there for me when I needed someone to straighten me out.” My eyebrows shot up. Liam got to his feet, stepped toward me,
and rested his hands on the arms of the chair. He leaned forward his face mere inches from mine as he added, “But I’m not as nice as my sister, which is why I’m going to tell you enough is enough.”
“What?”
“The attitude. It’s time you quit the bitchy bullshit, Princess. It’s getting old.”
“What can I say? I’m a bitch. Take it or leave it.”
Liam shook his head. “Not buying it, Princess. It’s a front. You push people away and hurt them before they have a chance to hurt you,” he said, his tone clipped and frustrated.
My body shivered as his warm masculine scent invaded my space. I narrowed my eyes and squeezed my thighs together tight. I hated the way I reacted to his closeness. I steeled myself and tried my best to get a grip.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said as I shot to my feet and attempted to move past him in the tiny space.
Liam braced a hand on the wall beside my head to stop me. He looked down at me, his eyes a strange mix of emotions I couldn’t name. There was almost no space between the desk and the wall. Liam’s large frame blocked my exit, but I wasn’t panicked or afraid. For the first time in a long time I felt safe.
“Whether you believe it or not, you have an opportunity to redefine yourself. To get rid of all the make-up, the fake hair, the bullshit, and just be you.”
“No one gives two shits about the real me.”
“You’re wrong,” he said as his eyes locked with mine. “I do.”
My eyes went wide. I’d been nothing but a thorn in his side since I walked through the front door. He was full of shit. I was sure of it, but when I searched his eyes, I saw nothing but sincerity. Hope bloomed in my chest. Liam cared about me?
We were still mere inches apart. I felt a tug in my chest and my body moved forward on its own. I pressed myself against him and touched my lips to his. He didn’t move. His body was stone still as I continued to brush my lips softly against his.
A Chance At Redemption (Madison Square Book 3) Page 7
