She twisted around in the barstool and looked directly at her potential employer.
And directly into the piercing amber gaze of the man who had changed her tire the day she arrived in Brown County…
And the man who had been starring in her dreams every night since then.
Chapter 6
“Well if it isn’t the lady with the flat tire.” He ran his caramel colored gaze up and down the length of her. “I must say, you dry out nicely.”
Robyn felt heat creep up her cheeks. “Thank you. And thanks for changing my tire the other day.” She tried to sound strong and confident, but she’d been caught unawares. She hadn’t expected to ever see this man again.
“Don’t mention it. So, Brady tells me you’re interested in the bartending job.” His gaze flicked up and down her slim figure doubtfully. “Have you got any experience?”
She felt his eyes scanning over her. She knew she looked good, looked sexy, but did she look competent? That was the question.
“You know a lot of our customers are kind of rough.” His voice held a note of questioning.
“No rougher than I’ve handled before.” She put all her bravado into the statement. She meant it. She’d handled many a drunk heathen bent on creating destruction. She wasn’t worried about it.
“You’re really little. What makes me think you would be able to take care of trouble out here, let alone yourself?” He propped an elbow nonchalantly on the bar.
“Give me a chance. I’ll prove it to you.” Robyn stared him directly in the eye. He might terrify her, but she wouldn’t let him stand in the way of her finding Crystal, and in order to do that she needed this job. It was exactly the kind of work she’d sworn she’d never do again, but now she’d do what she had to do. Even if it meant working for this guy.
“Okay. Brady needs a break anyway. Take over the bar.” He took a seat on the stool next to her and gave her a challenging look.
She drew in a shaky breath then stood and walked around the bar. This was it. Now or never.
The first few minutes went smoothly. Robyn kept up with the demand from waitresses and customers. Slinging beer after beer and mixing any combination of drinks was easy for her. She’d made her living as a bartender for several years and the basics didn’t bother her.
She’d probably been working for about twenty minutes, just starting to feel comfortable, when a rough looking biker pushed his way up to the bar. She pulled a beer and watched him out of the corner of her eye as he shouldered his way through the crowd to the front of the line, two smaller guys stepping back to let him have their place as he glared at them.
The man was built like a Sherman tank. Big and muscular, with a protruding belly, he leaned on the bar and looked straight at her. She noted the downturned mouth and the frizzy braid hanging down his back. He didn’t look like a patient man.
Robyn finished serving the beer she’d drawn then turned to face the newest customer.
“There were a couple people in front of you. I need to take care of them and then I’ll be right with you.” She kept her tone light and added a big, warm smile for affect.
“They said they’d wait. I’m thirsty.” He glared at her with a steely eye. “Get me a beer.”
“Just as soon as I’m done taking care of these gentlemen.” Robyn was just as determined as he was. She wasn’t going to deal with bullies and line cutters. She spoke to the guys behind him. “What can I get you boys?”
“Listen, Red, I told you to get me a beer. Now.” The man’s hand reached out and snatched her wrist, jerking her halfway across the bar.
Robyn didn’t say a word. She quickly gave her arm a twist, then easily broke his hold on her. She moved lightning fast, using the forward momentum he’d given her and rolling over the rest of the bar, landing on her feet in front of the angry biker. The stunned look on his face would have made her laugh if she hadn’t been so pissed. But she was fuming. Nobody touched her without permission.
Nobody.
Without hesitation she raised her leg and delivered a good, swift kick to the balls of her attacker. A grim smile passed across her face as she watched him double over in pain.
Hawk and Brady rounded the bar and grabbed the wailing biker, both of them ignoring him and staring at her in amazement.
“Holy crap.” Brady’s tone was awestruck. “How’d you do that?”
Color flashed into Robyn’s cheeks. She probably shouldn’t have gotten so carried away.
“I uh… I just don’t like being manhandled.”
“I guess not. But that was so cool. Old Rooster here is always causing trouble, but this time he’s barred cause he grabbed you. Right, boss?”
Hawk didn’t say anything for a long moment, his eyes burning into her like two amber beams. Finally, he answered without taking his gaze away.
“Absolutely. Barred for thirty days. Now get the hell out of here.”
Brady kept hold of the big biker’s arm as he waddled out the door, still cupping his crotch.
Robyn refused to meet Hawk’s gaze as he stared at her. She might have overreacted a bit to Rooster’s grab hands but, damn it, she wasn’t going to give any man a chance to hurt her. He wanted to see if she could take care of herself behind the bar; he knew the answer to that question now.
Brady walked back in, still grinning and Hawk ordered him back behind the bar.
“The lady and I are going to talk in the office.”
Without another word he turned and strode down the hallway.
Chapter 7
Robyn looked at Brady for a moment, shrugged, and followed Hawk towards the office. At the back of the house he opened a door and led the way into a spacious room. Two of the walls were nothing but book shelves. On the third, a wide window overlooked the backyard as it rolled away to the edge of a small lake. A credenza sat below the window. A stone fireplace dominated the other wall. The center of the room was occupied by a desk and two chairs for guests.
It wasn’t really the room she expected as the office of a place like the Hawk’s Nest. She didn’t know what she thought. Maybe a small, cluttered room with cases of beer bottles and paperwork everywhere. That’s what she was used to at the bars she had worked in. Not an inviting and neatly arranged room like this.
“Have a seat,” Hawk ordered even though he chose to stand. She obeyed him, crossing her feet at the ankles and folding her hands in her lap, the picture of a demure young lady.
He stared at her for a moment then shook his head as though he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“You know, I usually encourage bartenders to handle things diplomatically if they can. But in your case, when a customer actually physically assaults you, you need to be able to take care of yourself.”
“Did I convince you?” she asked drolly.
“Yes and no. You look like such a lady, an innocent, but then you turn into a ninja princess or something. You are certainly equipped to defend yourself… but you scared the shit out of me.” She heard an undertone of anger in his voice. “Why the hell didn’t you wait for me or Brady to take care of Rooster? We were right there. We would have done it. You could have got yourself killed.”
“But I didn’t.” Robyn forced her voice to stay calm despite the quivering along her spine. “Look, I’m sorry if I scared you but I won’t let anyone manhandle me. I’ve got my reasons. But I’ll try to be more diplomatic if you’ll give me the bartender’s job.”
Once again she felt as if his eyes were seeing past her clothes, past her exterior, and looking into her soul.
“Why do you want this job so badly, Robyn? You don’t look like the bartender type. You’re not from around here and your application says you’re a teacher.”
Robyn argued with herself for a moment. If she told him the truth he might not hire her because she might not stay long. If she lied, her persistent conscience would drive her crazy. At last she stood up and faced Hawk, her expression serious.
“I’m going to be hones
t with you. I’m here to find my sister.”
After that, the story came tumbling out of her lips like water over a damn. She told him the story of Crystal, how she’d raised her then lost her when she ran off with a biker named Guts. She told him about the phone call, the private detective, and her decision to come to Brown County to continue the search herself. When she finally stopped talking she felt like a jabbering fool.
Hawk turned his back to her and rubbed his chin. Damn. She’d blown it. He was just trying to figure out how to let her down easily.
“I’m sorry. This isn’t fair to you. I’ll leave.” She shouldered her purse and turned towards the door with resignation.
“Why are you leaving? We haven’t discussed your schedule yet.”
Robyn stopped midway across the room. Did that mean what she thought it did? She turned and faced him, her face alight with hope.
“You mean I got the job?” Her voice was breathless when she finally spoke.
“I understand how much you want to find your sister. If you only work for a couple weeks I’ll just start looking for another bartender again. I won’t be any worse off than I am right now.” His deep voice washed over her and she almost danced with pleasure.
“Thank you, Hawk. I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll be here tomorrow afternoon at five.”
“Tomorrow afternoon at five. I’ll be here.”
When Robyn climbed back into her car her knees were shaking. She’d gotten the job. She couldn’t believe it. She’d have to do something extra nice for Sheila for turning her on to it. She drove back towards Nashville with her hopes high. Now she could stay here and keep on looking for Crystal. She wouldn’t have to work all the time. Her spare time could be spent searching for her sister.
Robyn spent the next morning making the rounds in Nashville again, asking about Crystal, but there wasn’t any more news. She stopped in a shop where you could watch them make fudge and purchased two different types as a thank you gift for Sheila then headed back to the motel.
Sheila congratulated Robyn and immediately offered to share the fudge. Robyn took a piece of black walnut and sank her teeth into it.
“Mmm, that is so sweet and delicious.”
“Yeah,” Sheila agreed, “but not as delicious as your new boss.”
Geez! Was she ever going to be able to learn to control her blushing?
“Well, you have to admit he is one big sweet piece of man flesh.” Sheila waggled her eyebrows as she bit into a piece of peanut butter fudge. “I wouldn’t mind getting to spend some time working closely with him. I hear he’s quite… manly, if you know what I mean. And he’s single.”
“Well, he may be single, but I’m not interested,” Robyn declared with more fortitude then she felt. Just remembering the sound of his voice turned her on.
“Well, if you’re not looking for anything long term, it’s a good thing. Hawk isn’t one to settle down from what I hear. He likes to play the field.”
Hmm, that didn’t surprise her. Robyn hung around for a few more minutes then headed down to her room. She tried to relax for a while before work but her mind wouldn’t cooperate. She kept picturing Hawk “playing the field.” And why shouldn’t he? He was a handsome young bachelor. He had every right to be with whomever he wanted.
Yet there was a little voice in her head that kept whispering that she didn’t want him to be with any woman but her.
Now how stupid was that?
Chapter 8
Robyn arrived at the Hawk’s Nest about fifteen minutes early. She’d dressed carefully for her first shift, not because she’d be seeing Hawk, she assured herself, but because she’d be working with the public and wanted to look her best. She wore a pair of dark jeans and a pale blue closefitting top with cap sleeves. A gold medallion belt rode her hips. She was used to wearing heels to teach in, so it didn’t bother her to wear a pair of navy sandals with slender heels even though she’d be on her feet all evening. Besides, the extra height always made her feel a bit more powerful.
She and Brady worked the bar together that evening. Robyn got to know the waitresses and the cooks and found them all to be a friendly bunch with the exception of one server: Lacy Baker. Lacy was a tall, willowy blonde with an attitude. She was all smiles for the customers but cold glares for the staff.
Well, Robyn didn’t have to do more than fill her drink orders. She shrugged off the other woman’s chilliness and just did her job.
They were busy that Friday night. All you could eat catfish was the special and people flocked in to indulge. Robyn found she enjoyed most of the customers, eclectic as they were. She adored the dull-looking baldheaded man who wrote slasher books and the two Pointer sisters who lived nearby. The women were as different as night and day; one short and round, the other tall and pencil thin, one blonde and blue-eyed the other a brunette. The shorter sister did almost all the talking for the pair.
At last the dinner crowd dissipated and they were left with the pool and karaoke crew. Robyn had yet to see Hawk, though she had subconsciously been looking for him all evening. She’d been bracing herself for her first encounter with him but it never came.
“Hey, Robyn, things are slowing down a bit. Why don’t you go ahead and take your break? I’ll take mine when you come back.” Brady waved a bar towel at her as he scooted her out from behind the bar.
“Okay, okay, I’m going. You don’t have to tell me twice,” she laughed. She really could use a break. It’d been a while since she’d bartended, and she found she used a whole different set of muscles than she did when she was teaching.
Robyn walked through the house to the back door. She noticed Hawk’s office door was closed and a light peeked out from under it. So that’s where the boss was hiding.
She let herself out the door onto the back porch and breathed deeply of the sweet summer night air. She was alone, the back porch off limits to customers. This was a private space for employees, complete with a table and chairs and an array of potted plants.
Robyn dropped into a chair, slumping low. She hadn’t realized how tired she was until she stopped. The roses were in bloom nearby. Now she simply sat and drew in the fragrant air. She could hear the occasional laughter of customers sitting on the front porch or the rumbling of a motorcycle engine now and again, but for the most part she was alone with the night noises. She tilted her head back, taking in the starry sky and the crescent moon rising over the horizon. It was so calm, so quiet compared to Indianapolis. There was always noise there.
She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t even hear the door click open. Hawk was almost beside her by the time she noticed him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone else was out here.” His liquid gold voice slipped over her and she had to fight to control a shudder. Damn. What was it about this man that his mere presence turned her on so?
“No, don’t apologize.” Robyn straightened up in her chair. “It’s a communal porch, after all. You have more right here than anyone. You own it.”
He smiled, flashing that dimple buried in his cheek. “Well, I do spend a lot of time out here. I love the view.” He turned and looked towards the lake, bracing his hands on the porch rail. “And the smell is intoxicating.”
Robyn stood and moved to gaze out over the scene as well. “Is that a lake? It looks too big for a pond.”
“It’s a small lake that’s all on my land. It’s stocked with catfish, blue gill, crappie, and a few other kinds of fish.”
“I hate to admit it, but I’ve never been fishing in my life.”
“What? A native Hoosier girl like you?” His voice held a teasing note. “We’ll have to remedy that while you’re here.”
“It’s probably too late. I’m too old to learn new tricks.”
“Hey, what kind of talk is that? One, you’re comparing yourself to a dog and, animal lover that I am, you’re no dog. And two, it’s never too late to learn.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so. Hey, let’s find out. You’re off on Monday. Let’s go fishing.”
Robyn hesitated. The thought of spending time alone with Hawk was both intriguing and terrifying.
Plus, the idea of handling worms and slimy fish didn’t hold a whole lot of appeal.
“We’ll take the boat out. You’ll love being on the water.” His golden voice was persuasive. The boating part sounded good, but that meant she’d be trapped, alone in a confined space, with this man who tempted her more than any other ever had.
“I don’t think so, Hawk. It wouldn’t be right. You’re my boss.”
“I’m Brady’s boss, too, but he and I go fishing all the time.”
“I need to spend that time looking for my sister.” She tried to sound firm.
“Oh, about that. I thought we could make up some posters to put up around the place. Maybe that’ll help. Someone might recognize her.”
“You would do that for me?”
“Robyn.” He reached out and took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. “I want to help. I know if I were lucky enough to have a sister I’d want somebody to help me if she were missing.”
She turned her eyes up and looked into his face: hard and chiseled, a close-trimmed beard outlining his jaw. Yet his eyes, usually so fierce and piercing, had softened. She honestly thought he meant it. It wasn’t just a come on or a ploy to get closer to her.
“Thank you, Hawk. Thank you so much.” She couldn’t stop herself. She reached up and laid her palm against his cheek.
“You’re welcome.” His voice was soft, tender.
Neither of them moved for a long moment. Then Robyn shook herself back to reality, away from the golden pools of his eyes.
“I best get back to work.”
“Okay. But we’ve got a date for Monday afternoon. Me, you, and the fish.”
Bad Boy Series: Hawk's Call (Bad Boy Romance Book 1) Page 3
