By the end of her second hour of training I felt sure that she was going to be okay once I saw her relax and the others, instead of giving her shit were being helpful.

They were probably curious about the girl I’d lost my shit over the night before. I didn’t kid myself that the story hadn’t spread through the place like wildfire.

The staff can be pretty clannish and though I stay far away from their interactions, I’m not blind to what goes on behind the scenes, and how some might go out of their way to make things hard for her.

I wouldn’t have felt right leaving her here to deal with that shit while I went off to Miami. At least with me here I was sure no one would get out of hand. Again I questioned just what the hell was going on with my ass.

Since when did I give a shit about such things? That was usually left to management to deal with, unless someone crossed the line into illegal territory, then I’d step in. But it was a known fact that I steered clear of in house bullshit. As long as they did the job I was paying them for I really didn’t give a shit about anything else.

I forced myself to stop watching her once I was sure she’d got the hang of it. It was obvious that she’d studied the menu at some point because she wasn’t taking too long at the computer when putting in orders.

I realized as I left the office that I’d forgotten to give her the stuff we gave all new hires the night before. Stuff she would’ve needed to get ready for her first day of training.

Like the menu, the rules, the serving etiquette etcetera, but she didn’t seem to be suffering from my mistake. From what I’d seen so far there was no reason she shouldn’t get hired on her own merit, which saves my ass.

I went to the bar where Tony was chatting up one of the bartenders and took the stool next to him. “You finish doing what you came here to do?” I know just what he was thinking from the look on his face.

Always in my damn business. “Why don’t you go back to what you were doing before I came out here and leave me alone? Give me a water Celeste please.”

“Didn’t you restock your fridge yesterday? I could’ve sworn I saw them carry in a case.” He whispered when she walked away to get me the bottle of water and a glass with a lemon wedge.

I started to answer him but just then the hair on my arms stood on end and I felt that cramping in my gut. I didn’t have to turn around to know who had just approached the bar.

I saw her out the side of my eye as she sidled up to the bar at the other end, tray in hand. The male bartender smiled at her and said a few words as he filled her order.

I waited until she walked away to turn and watch her. She never looked in my direction once. Did she not see me sitting here?

I had no reason for the sudden frustration I felt and I didn’t appreciate Tony’s snicker. “Quit or I’ll tell your mom what you were getting up to last week.”

“That’s low bro.” At least it would shut you the hell up. “So is your girl mad at you or what? She just straight pretended not to see you sitting here, that’s cold.”

I took out my phone and scrolled to the third number in my contact list. The damn fool nearly broke my arm. “Okay damn I’ll stop. But you gotta admit this is some funny shit. You usually have them eating out of your hands. This one looks like she’d like to roast you on a spit.”

“I guess this is your karma coming back to bite you in the ass.” He had quite a lot to say about my dilemma as he called it and I let him have his fun while I sipped my water.

“You done?”

“I’ll think about it. It might be worth getting into trouble with ma to rag your ass.” I endured his bullshit until his words registered.

“What do you mean she pretended not to see me?”

“You weren’t looking in her direction, I was. I noticed her notice you. She got this look on her face like she smelled something bad before looking away again.”

“Did she really?” I looked back towards the entryway leading into the dining area.

“So what exactly happened between you two last night?”

“Nothing happened, I gave her a job what else?”

“But not the one she wanted. Why is that again?”

“Stop being an ass and go back to pestering my staff.”

So she saw me did she? Impudent little girl. If that’s the way she wants to play it fine. No gratitude for the man who gave her a job and saved her from having to bare her ass to put food in her mouth.

“Get the plane ready, we’ll leave tonight.”

“Uh-huh, whatever you say.” Oh he’s having a grand old time at my expense. I’ll figure out a way to get him back before long. That’s always the way with us two.

Right now I was too upset with her to think of much else. How dare she? Does she know how hard it is to get a job in one of my places?

I have hundreds of applications in my office right now from people I was sure were more qualified than her just waiting for a chance to get in the door.

I got up from the bar and stormed out the door with no set destination in mind. It had been a while since I walked the streets of the city. Tony with his over protective ass never let me do anything anymore.

But I needed some fresh air to cool me down before I wring her damn neck. “I want to be alone.” I heard him behind me, but didn’t turn around.

“People in hell want ice water, what’s your point?”

“Don’t talk to me.” Idiot.

“If I may, the plane will be ready by ten tonight, unless you change your mind…”

I glared at him over my shoulder and kept walking, my mind constantly on her. Maybe some distance is just what I need. Maybe then I can come back to my senses and get her off my damn mind.

I ignored his whistling shit as I made my way down the sidewalk. Any minute now I expect him to call me on my rash behavior, but I didn’t have it in me to care.

I’d stayed for her, but if she wants to act like my

ass don’t exist, why should I bother? Even I knew that shit sounded like a ten year old girl, but again, I didn’t much care.

As I walked I tried drumming up some excitement for what awaited me in Miami, my second favorite city in the states, but it was no use.

Where I was usually upbeat and ready to head to my beach house there and the nightlife that rivals New York’s, this time I just kept seeing almond shaped green eyes, a pert nose and that cute little cupid bow mouth with the soft pink lips that needed no enhancement.

I walked aimlessly down one block and up another before heading back. Tony was there the whole time, but surprisingly heeded my words and kept his trap shut.

I wasn’t sure if that wasn’t more annoying and worrisome. If it weren’t serious, he would’ve stayed on my ass. But the fact that he was leaving me to my own thoughts spoke volumes.

Did he see something new in the way I treated her, the way I’ve reacted to her since the first time?

Of course he did, but what? I would feel like ten kinds of fool if I asked him that shit, though I know of everyone else I could trust his take.

I stood outside the club with my hands shoved in my pockets and looked up at the sky. He came to stand beside me, looking up as I was.

“You sure you want to leave tonight Max? You seem troubled by the decision.”

“Of course I’m sure, why are you asking me that?”

“Oh no reason. Other than I’m your best friend and I know you better than anyone else. If you like her, don’t run brother. You know your instincts better than anyone.”

“Who says I like her?”

“Bruh, if I wasn’t there last night you would’ve broken down the door to Kenny’s place and dragged her out yourself.”

“As long as I’ve known you I’ve never seen you act like that over a female. You went all caveman! If you can tell me honestly that you don’t feel anything for her, I’ll leave it alone…”

“I don’t know what I feel okay. The shit is all fucked up. I don’t know if I see her as a little sister type or someone I want to fuck. What the fuck are you grinning at?”

He stepped back out of the way like he thought I was going to hit him. I just might flatten him to alleviate some of this frustration that was burning a hole in my chest.

“You might want to have a talk with Arlene before you leave. Word is she’s been very interested in your little bird.”

“If she touches her or fucks with her in any way I’ll bury her.”

“Uh-huh, you’re not interested, I can see that clearly now.”

“Don’t think because you’re my brother I won’t knock your ass across the street. What exactly did you hear?” Fucking girl is a nuisance. Now I have to worry about her when I have shit to do on the other side of the damn country.

“It wasn’t much but it was enough to catch my notice. According to Celeste she was trying to get information on your girl. It’s strange because she has nothing to do with the waitresses so it makes me wonder.”

I knew Celeste was his little snitch. He usually sat at the bar picking her for information, getting a feel for the place and what was going on when I wasn’t here. He had one like her in each of my clubs.

I could go back through the tapes if I wanted to know something, but nothing beats having a warm body you can trust to keep their finger on the pulse of what’s going on.

“I kinda knew that she’d do something like that. Let’s wait and see what play she makes if any. I hope by now she knows it’s a bad fucking idea to cross me.”

“Yeah, but if you don’t make your feelings known who’s to stop her or one of the others from doing some shady shit?”

He knows of what he speaks. When I first took over the place there were more than a few of the dancers who’d shown an interest in getting in my bed.

Since I don’t shit where I eat that shit never went anywhere, but that hadn’t stopped the in house fighting and misunderstandings.

That was one of the reasons I’d gotten rid of quite a few of them in the beginning, and though I never addressed it, the word had spread that I wasn’t interested and never will be.

Is that why I hadn’t wanted her to be a dancer? Because I didn’t want to break that particular rule of mine?

That makes no damn sense Max, she’s still working for you isn’t she? Accept it, you didn’t want her dancing because you didn’t want anyone else seeing her body.

“What is it now? You’re as twitchy as a fucking virgin in a whore house.” He looked me up and down.

“I’m fucked if I know.”

I played with the change in my pocket and kicked at nothing on the sidewalk. He was right, I felt unsettled, but then I’ve felt this way ever since I met her.

I don’t like being blindsided, don’t like not knowing my own mind. The shit feels almost like I’m going insane.

“Stop stressing it so hard, the answer will come to you soon enough.” Why does he keep talking like he knows what the fuck this is when I don’t have the slightest clue?

My phone rang and I answered when I saw it was my mom. “Hey pretty girl how are you?”

“Never mind that, who’s this new girl I hear have you tied up in knots?”

I turned to glare at Tony who had a sudden renewed interest in the sky. Blabbermouth. “What are you talking about momma?”

“Oh it’s like that is it? Do I need to come home?”

“Why would you do that? You still have weeks left on your vacation.”

“Yes, but it isn’t every day I have the prospect of a daughter in law lurking on the horizon. I hear she’s a real beauty but nothing like your usual fare.”

Damn Tony, what the hell did you tell this woman? His ass was keeping his distance as he pretended to play with his phone. Nosy ass!