Jolene couldn’t believe how busy it’d been at Fierce. She’d started part-time for the two weeks as she finished her job at the restaurant and this was her first week full-time.
Gavin had her on eleven to eight Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then four to two Friday and Saturday nights. She’d requested those nights and he gladly gave them to her once he saw how capable she was.
“It’s starting to slow down a bit,” she said to Gavin around eleven thirty. “I thought for sure it’d be busier with tomorrow being Thanksgiving. Thinking of people visiting in town and wanting to get away from some family craziness.”
“That’s why it’s slowing down,” he said. He was wiping glasses clean and restocking the bar behind him. So far she’d noticed that most ordered beer when they were seated at the bar. Around the pub and when people were eating, they tended to go for wine or mixed drinks. At least the ladies did and there were a lot of ladies in the bar for some reason today.
“I think everyone is going home to get ready for their big meal.”
“That’s my guess,” he said back, not really looking at her right now and just wiping off more glasses like she didn’t exist. She wondered if she stood on the bar and started to dance if he’d look at her. Even when she was placing orders lately, he barely made eye contact.
After her interview, she’d gone home thinking of how nice and handsome he was. Nah, he was smoking hot! All big and hard, with that deep voice that sent warm fuzzies all through her when he talked.
Too bad he barely talked to her. Now he was the boss and she was the employee.
There was definitely something under the surface with him though. She could sense it. He was hurting and she wanted to do what she did best. She wanted to help him.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t figure out the best way to do it, but until she could, she was going to enjoy just being around him.
“How busy do you think it will be tomorrow, being the holiday and all?” she asked.
She started to push the stools in after she wiped them off. They’d gotten into a routine closing in the past few weeks when she’d been scheduled nights, helping him close up earlier.
“Hard to say. I figure it’ll be dead early on, which is why I’m not opening until five. Tony is the only one that’s going to be on in the kitchen, as neither of us thinks many will want to eat.”
“I don’t know about that,” she said. “Not everyone has a big family dinner, but they still might not want to cook.”
“Like you,” he said, and actually cracked a grin. Color her amazed.
“On the cooking part, exactly. I’ll spend the day with my family though.”
“That’s nice.”
She wanted to grind her teeth. For a second she actually thought he was going to carry on a personal conversation with her.
“What about you? Will you spend it with family?”
He looked up almost shocked that she’d asked that question. “Yeah. My mother and brothers. An early dinner so I can get here to open up.”
She wanted to ask about his father but didn’t bother. He was already walking to the other end of the bar to clean up there.
Not to be ignored, she rushed over to that side of the bar and started to clean and push the stools in there. She’d just change the topic. “Are you going to decorate for Christmas?”
“Why?” he asked, looking stunned to see her there. He should know by now she moved fast when she wanted to. He even made a few comments on it. Times when she thought he might be flirting with her. Guess she’d thought wrong those times though since they were few and far between.
She stopped and laughed, then put her hand on her hips. “Because most places decorate for Christmas to make it festive. Make people want to come in here and hang out rather than spend money shopping.”
“By reminding them Christmas is coming and they need to go do other things? Nah.”
“No,” she said. “Some people are into the holiday spirit. Christmas carols, red and green, tinsel, and snowflakes. I’m guessing that’s not you.”
He snorted. “Hardly,” he said, then made his way to the other end of the bar.
She was just getting ready to follow him when she caught sight of an arm being raised at one of the few remaining tables. They’d been nursing their drinks for the past thirty minutes. “Would you like another drink, or are you ready for your check?”
“If we could get our check, please?” the man said.
“Coming right up.” She wasn’t even at the bar before Gavin handed it over. As grouchy as he seemed to be at times he always could anticipate what was going on, just like her. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, they worked well together.
Now if she could only figure him out.
***
Gavin was thrilled when Jolene made her way to the table, giving him something to occupy his mind as he watched her. He didn’t realize how distracting she was going to be when they worked together.
Her first few shifts he’d scheduled her on at eleven so he could see how she worked. No worries there, as she put everyone else to shame.
She wasn’t kidding when she said she was fast and friendly. He lost count of the number of times she’d sweet talk someone into another drink when they looked like they were ready to leave. Or how fast she’d ask, “Can we call you a cab?”
He’d always had his eye on those at the bar, watching for someone who might need a soda or water before they were ready to call it a night, or a ride home. But it was hard to keep track of the whole pub and he was glad to know she seemed to have her finger on every pulse.
When she asked if she could close on Friday and Saturday, he gladly gave her the hours knowing she’d be the best one for the job. She even kept the other waitresses moving and motivated too. If this kept up he might consider having her just oversee them all and take that off his plate.
The only problem was, he’d have to talk to her more to do that and every time he got near her he’d lose his train of thought.
Her smile that always filled her face, both engaging and addicting.
Her laughter that was like Christmas carols she’d mentioned that he hated to listen to but always found himself leaning closer when no one was around.
Her slim little body that moved both gracefully and speedily.
She reminded him of a figure skater. Always poised, always balanced, always smiling and drawing everyone in just waiting for an applause at the end when she could take her bow.
And the more he thought of her, the more he wanted to be near her. But he couldn’t because she worked for him and all his focus had to be on the bar.
“They need change back,” Jolene said, handing him over the bills.
He cashed the order out, handed her the change and tried to keep as much of a straight face as he could when their hands touched. That damn spark he kept feeling just went up his arm and into his chest.
“Thanks,” she mumbled and left as fast as she came.
She probably thought he was an ogre, but he didn’t care. Fierce had to come first. It was all he had for himself now and he wouldn’t forget it.
This was his place. His legacy. His responsibility. His life.