“Come in.”
She opened the door, a piece of paper in her hand, but she didn’t enter my room. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I pulled off my shoes and socks. Damn, I hoped this wasn’t leading up to an awkward conversation.
“I didn’t say anything because Haley didn’t want me to tell you.”
That got my attention. “What did Haley not want you to tell me?”
“Don’t tell her that I told you.”
“Just tell me.”
“Not until you promise not to tell her.”
“All right. Just tell me.”
“Your mother came by the weekend that she was here. You were gone to the gym.”
“My mother was here?” I pointed at the floor.
“Yeah. Haley took her outside and talked to her. I think she might’ve given her some money or paid a bill or something.”
“And you’re telling me this now because….”
She looked at the piece of paper. “You dropped this in the living room. It’s a receipt where you sent money to Rachel Cambridge. Since you’re sending more money to your mother, I thought you might want to know that she had already come by and gotten some money from Haley.
“I know it’s none of my business, but I agree with Haley. As much as I admire you for wanting to watch out for her, I think at some point you should tell your mother that she should take care of herself.”
The muscles in my jaw tightened, and I stood up, aggravated with the entire situation. “First of all, Haley should’ve told me. And if she didn’t, then you should’ve told me the day it happened. Haley shouldn’t be giving her money to our mother. She needs her money to help her get started in her new career.” My voice was low, and I was struggling to keep my anger in check as I snatched the piece of paper from her hands. “For future reference when you’re sticking your nose in my business, my mother’s name is Charlotte.”
She’d had no idea. I could tell the way her mouth dropped open in surprise and her eyes widened. “Then who’s Rachel?”
I said nothing, keeping my lips tightly closed as I waited on her to realize that it wasn’t her business.
“Oh,” she drawled the word out as if she had just realized something.
I waited for her to close my door, but she just stood there, gawking at me.
Emotion flickered through her dark eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, plumping her cleavage. “It’s your ex-wife, isn’t it?”
“How the hell do you know about my ex-wife?”
“Are you sleeping with her?”
“Why would you ask me that?”
“Are you?” she asked again, her voice more forceful.
I had no desire to discuss my sex life with her or anyone else for that matter. “Are you sleeping with your ex?” I asked her. “Is that why he came looking for you?”
“No, I’m not, and don’t make this about me. You haven’t answered my question.” Her reply shouldn’t have mattered, but it did. And I was glad to know that she denied it.
“You are, aren’t you?” She sounded hysterical, and guilt began to weave its way through my body. “I thought you cared about me,” she said caustically, “but I realize now that caring about someone doesn’t make them care about you in return.”
“I’m not.” I kept my voice calm and even, trying to prevent this from blowing up further. I didn’t like answering all these questions. Sooner or later, she’d ask something that I didn’t want to discuss. “I’m not sleeping with Rachel.”
“Then why are you sending her money?”
A sticky web. That’s what I felt like I was in. Every step I took, whether it was evading a question or answering it, would have me more entangled than the previous one.
She stood akimbo, and I could see the artery in her neck throbbing with her anger. She felt betrayed, but if I alleviated her fears, it would lead to more questions. And I couldn’t do more questions. Not now.
“This discussion is over.” I peeled my shirt off and unfastened my jeans, allowing them to fall to the floor.
“You said you wanted someone to listen to your story. I was listening, Mason.” Her voice was raised as she pointed at me in an accusatory manner. “Not only was I listening, but I wanted to hear it. I wanted to know everything about you.”
“No, Lexi.” My energy dissipated, and I was suddenly very tired. Walking over to her, I cupped her cheek and rubbed my thumb along her silky skin. “You thought you wanted to know, but the truth is you don’t. There are things about me that you won’t want to know.” I kissed her on the forehead. “Do yourself a favor and walk away.”
Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t want to walk away.”
“Damn it, Lexi, leave me alone. Don’t you get it? There’s nothing for you here.”
“Fine,” she whispered, her lower lip trembling. “But I want you to remember this moment because there will come a point in time when you realize that this is the day that you let a really great girl slip away.”
She left, and I closed the door, needing to get her out of my sight.
I knew she was right.
With the weight of life’s bullshit crushing my chest, I lay down, wishing I could escape consciousness for just a little while but knowing that there was no way in hell I could sleep now.
After tossing and turning with visions of a distraught Lexi Swafford in my head, I finally gave up and meandered to the shower. I had to shake this feeling. I’d learned a long time ago that the best way to make big tips was to exude a positive energy that attracted customers, to be the guy they wanted to hang out with, to be the guy that they wanted to be.
I needed the money, and the best way to get it was to put all this shit out of my head. After I’d gotten dressed for work, the apartment was quiet. I assumed Lexi had driven herself to work, which benefited me. There was no danger of being bombarded with questions.
Out of habit, I searched for her when I took my place behind the bar. A dark-haired girl was slicing lemons, but it was Stormy not Lexi.
“Where’s Lex?”
Stormy glanced at me, her glasses sitting on the tip of her nose. “Waiting tables.”
“Why?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Spanky told me to help you tonight. I just do as I’m told.”
Scanning the tables, I spotted Lexi with her back to me, taking a couple’s order. This arrangement would work out well for both of us.
“Hey, pretty boy, you got a customer.” Stormy’s voice cut into my musings, and I turned to see Hawk take a seat.
Spinning a coaster in his direction, I grabbed a bottle of his preferred beer, opened it, and set it down in front of him. “So did you save a cat today?”
“No, but I did have to put out a car fire.”
“That sucks for somebody.”
“Yeah, it was a total loss.”
Three babes grabbed a seat on the other end of the bar. “Duty calls.”
“What can I get for you lovelies?” I asked as I approached them.
“Why don’t you surprise us?” the blonde in the middle suggested.
“I can do that. I’m full of surprises.”
She smiled provocatively, and I grinned in return. There was a time not so long ago when I would have gotten her number, maybe even had her come back and meet me after work, but my eyes scanned the restaurant for Lexi. She had just looked up from taking an order, and her eyes met mine. I couldn’t turn away, but she averted her gaze quickly, a flash of emotion crossing her face. I wasn’t sure whether it was anger or sadness or maybe a mixture of both.
Hoping to impress the ladies and land a big tip, I set up three martini glasses in front of them and using multiple tins stacked inside of each other, I slowly tilted them until the liquid in the first tin poured into the first glass. As I continued to tilt the tins, the second tin poured into the second glass and the third tin poured into the third glass simultaneously. I’d poured a
s many as twelve martinis at once, which was an impressive sight, but pouring even three was still a cool trick.
The ladies clapped when I finished, flashing smiles as they grabbed their glasses and tasted the drinks. I had attracted the attention of customers in the dining room, and when I looked up, I locked eyes with Lexi again.
Damn, I couldn’t do this all night. I carried the tins to the sink and went back to collect the money from the ladies. After dropping off their change, I took Hawk another beer.
“You should move to the other end,” I suggested, motioning to the three women. “You might get lucky.”
Hawk took a swig of beer. “I’m good.”
“You dating somebody?”
“Not really.” He rolled the bottle between his palms. “You?”
Unable to hide my amusement, I shot him a grin. “Who’d have me?”
“You have a point.” His lips curved into a smile.
“Damn, Hawk, you didn’t have to agree with me.”
“Trade you a beer for another pep talk.”
I snatched his empty bottle. “I don’t think so. If I have to listen to another one of your pep talks, I just might kill myself.”
He laughed, and Stormy approached us.
“Me and Lexi were talking about Spanky’s retirement party. I’m going to get the decorations. She’s taking up money for the food. She said you might want to pick out his cake. So anyway, everything’s a go for the last Monday of this month.”
“It’s going to be strange having someone else own this bar,” Hawk said.
“Yeah.” I agreed. “Shit, I was hoping it would be me.”
“I was, too,” Stormy said. “At least then I’d know what I was getting. Has anybody met the new guy yet?”
“I haven’t,” I said. “Wonder what it would take to buy the bar from him?” I expected my liabilities to go down soon, and with any luck, Haley would get a good job that would utilize her degree. And while she hadn’t asked for much money during her college years, I would feel better knowing that she could take care of herself financially, especially if I committed myself to a large financial transaction like buying a business.
Glancing at the end of the bar, I noticed the blonde in the middle watching me. I should smile at her, help solidify my tip, but I just didn’t have it in me. Realizing I was breaking one of my own rules—give customers what they want—I turned away and looked for Lexi again.
I had to do something to get that girl out of my head. She was like the hangover that wouldn’t go away.
The night dragged by. As we neared closing, I glanced up to see her having a heated discussion with a customer. On closer inspection, I realized that it was her ex, who was apparently relentless. I’d made plenty of the cocktail called The Showstopper in my time as a bartender, but this was the first time I was going to actually stop the show.
“Watch the bar, Stormy.”
She looked up from rinsing glasses. “Okay.”
Walking around the bar, I kept my eyes focused on him. He reached for Lexi, but she drew her arm back, out of his grasp.
Approaching them I asked, “Is there a problem?”
“This has nothing to do with you, asshole,” he replied.
I stepped between them. “Oh, you’re wrong about that. Didn’t she explain to you that she’s not interested?”
I felt her hand on my waist. “Mason.”
Talking to her over my shoulder, I said, “I got this, Lexi.” Reaching down to my waist, I gave her hand a little squeeze, and I was relieved when she said nothing further.
He stood, facing me. He was tall, though not quite as tall as me. “We were in the middle of a conversation.” The tone of his voice made it evident that he was barely controlling his anger.
Intentionally not responding for a few seconds, I waited until I was sure I had his full attention. “I don’t think I like you talking to my girlfriend that way. I get it. I really do. You realize now that you let a really great girl slip away. But she’s mine now. And if you harass her again, I’m going to have to stomp your ass. Now get the hell out of my sight.”
His eyes flickered from my face to Lexi’s. I prayed that she wouldn’t pick now to tell me that she could handle him herself. If she blew my cover, I just might have to take him outside and stomp his ass, anyway. I’d never been in a fistfight in my life, but right now, it seemed like a good way to let out a little frustration and get rid of the douchebag at the same time.
“Is he bullshitting me, Lexi?”
She scooted up beside me and wrapped her arm around my waist. I put my arm around her shoulder and tucked her into my side.
“No,” she said forcefully. “He’s not bullshitting you.” She gestured between her and her ex. “What you and I had is over, and I’ve been telling you that for months. You destroyed it. I’m in love with Mason now, so you need to leave me alone. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“But Lexi…,” he countered.
“You heard her,” I interrupted him. “She’s done with you. This is your last chance to leave without taking an ass whooping with you.”
The muscles in his jaw tightened. His gaze toggled between Lexi and me. “You can have her. She’s a lousy lay, anyway.”
Anger exploded in me, filling every crevice with the need to hurt him.
Shuffling Lexi behind me, I drew back and knocked the piss out of him, sending him stumbling backwards. Charging forward, I pulled my fist back again, but Lexi grabbed my arm. “No, Mason, he’s not worth it.”
“Get back, Lexi.”
“Just stop. I don’t give a damn what he says about me. Nothing he does or says matters to me.”
Regaining his balance, he came at me. I stepped around Lexi, and he connected with my jaw.
“Stop it!” she screamed.
I shoved him hard, pushing him away from Lexi. Then, I went after him, throwing another punch to his jaw and following it up with a punch to the ribs.
He swung at me, and I leaned out of his reach. Tackling him, we both fell to the ground, knocking a chair over with us. I delivered another punch and wrestled him into a choke hold. I stood, pulling him up, and headed toward the front door as people gathered around us.
Feeding on my fury, I dragged him outside and shoved him away from me. “Get the hell out of here, and don’t even think about bothering her because I will beat your ass—again.”
He wiped the blood from his lip and glared at me. When Lexi popped up in front of me, asking me if I was all right, he snarled, his upper lip contorting in anger and his nostrils flaring. Flipping us off, he turned around and weaved through the cars in the parking lot.
Her small hand grabbed my forearm, and I tilted my head down until my line of vision rested on her face. Her eyes were wide with fear.
“Are you okay?” She gripped my arm tighter.
“I’m fine.”
“Mason, you shouldn’t have done that. What if he calls the police?”
I couldn’t afford to bail myself out of jail, but there was no way in hell I was going to stand by and let him insult her. “He won’t call the police. He’s subject to go to jail right along with me. Besides, there are plenty of witnesses who could verify that he was harassing you.”
“Still…you shouldn’t take chances like that. I could’ve gotten rid of him.”
I grabbed her by the shoulders. “That’s what you said the last time. How long was he gone? I don’t want him near you. If he shows back up, you tell me.”
“Mason….”
“You tell me.” I annunciated each word clearly, wanting to make sure she knew that I was deadly serious.
“Okay,” she finally relented. “I’ll tell you if he contacts me again.”
I turned around and headed back inside.
“Mason.” She grabbed my forearm, and I stopped and turned to look at her. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I spun around and went back to the bar, not wanting to test my willpower to resist her.<
br />
Some hangovers were harder to get rid of than others.
Chapter 17
Hurricane
Lexi
After work, I’d called Seren, who had promptly demanded that I come over.
I knocked softly on the front door, knowing that her parents were asleep. She opened it and waved me in.
Hugging me, she didn’t say anything as she grabbed my hand and pulled me down the basement stairs to her living area.
“What happened?” she asked as she curled up on the loveseat and motioned for me to sit beside her.
“Kevin showed up at the bar again.”
“Stay away from that creep.”
I sank into the cushion beside her. “Believe me, it’s over between us. I think Mason finally made it clear to him.”
“Mason?” She raised her russet brows. “What did he do?”
“I was waiting tables tonight, and Kevin came in and sat down. He begged me to give him another chance. Of course, I refused, but he wouldn’t leave. He just kept getting angrier and angrier.”
“I hope you told him where to shove his second chance.”
“If he didn’t know before that I wasn’t interested, he should have after Mason got through with him.”
“What did Mason say to him?”
“He told Kevin that I was his girlfriend.”
Seren’s mouth dropped open. “He did?”
“It’s not true,” I quickly added. “He just told Kevin that, hoping that he could take a hint.”
“And did Kevin take the hint?”
“Not very well.” I frowned. “He and Mason got into an argument. Kevin told him that he could have me and that I wasn’t very good in bed.”
“Kevin said that?” she asked, clearly appalled. “What an ass.”
“Mason punched him.”
“Good.”
“Not good,” I said, disagreeing. “I didn’t want them to get in a fight on my account.”
“I’d kick Mason’s butt if he stood by and let Kevin talk to you like that.”
“I told Kevin I was in love with Mason.”
“Good thinking. Maybe that’ll be enough to make him leave you alone.”
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