“Man, I was hoping you were secretly a tech whiz and were going to tell me some simple solution and make me feel dumb.”
“Sorry to bust your fantasy.”
“Yeah, well, thanks anyway.” I finished the rolling and moved on to the schedule when I felt his presence over me. I peeked over my shoulder, finding him closer.
“Can I help you?”
He opened his mouth, stopping before he said anything. His face was close to mine, and I watched as his eyes dropped down to my lips, licking his own. Damon glanced back up, his pupils more blown this time. He started to say something again when Buck walked in.
“Darcie, can we do the Cowboy Hustle tonight? I’m dressed to impress.” We both looked over, finding Buck in a full cowboy getup. When he turned, I caught the assless chaps, and he shook his butt at us. Buck was the perfect counterpart to my crazy. I tried to swallow the sadness at the mention of Cowboy.
“Um, sure, but you’re gonna have to put something on. You know the rules.”
“Fine. I only did it to see you laugh anyway. You’ve been down lately.”
“I’m good.” I forced a smile and realized I needed to get out of this funk. I couldn’t let it affect things.
“Your cute friend coming tonight? LJ?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
“Get in line, lover boy.” I turned back to the schedule and realized that Damon had moved away, his body heat no longer along my back. Had I envisioned that, or had he been about to kiss me?
When he called in sick the next night, he was officially back on my hate list, making me have to pull a double. I was going to need the world’s largest coffee to make it to breakfast to meet Lennox.
* * *
A couple months later
Hanging up the phone, I was glad that Lennox and her guys were safe. I couldn’t believe that Thane had turned out to be a psycho stalker. I guess it showed people could pretend to be whoever they wanted.
Lennox told me she was staying in Bowling Green, KY to be closer to her family and help Slade with the opening of the new shop. Despite the crazy stalker, she’d gotten her happily ever after with her three guys. I was happy for my best friend, and thankful she was close, so I could visit her whenever I needed to get away.
But I missed her. We’d become soul sisters in such a short time, and now I felt lonely without her.
After the fallout with Cam Girls, Candi had shacked up with her sugar daddy and rarely went out anymore. I wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed or just not interested in that lifestyle since she was all loved up.
In a way, I couldn’t blame her, but I missed her friendship, too.
With both of them gone, I only had my job, which was becoming less and less fun.
“Damon, can I speak with you, please?” I asked, already hating this conversation. He looked at me, gritting his teeth, but followed.
Once he walked into the office, I closed the door and stayed standing. He glared at me, not saying a word. I sighed, not moving. He wasn’t going to use his height to intimidate me.
“Do you know why I asked you back here?”
“Because you drew the short straw?” he asked.
“Sort of. I’m also the only one not scared of you. You’ve been here longer than any of us and we let you take the most leeway with everything. You call in at least once a week. You pass off your closing duties and never pick up extra shifts. You’re grumpy most of the time, and if you weren’t hot, I doubt you’d get any tips. You’re a good bartender, but you have horrible customer service skills. Quite frankly, I’m not sure why you stay at this job that you clearly hate.” I stared at him, my breathing heavy as I laid it all out. I found it was always better to be slightly angry with Damon, so he couldn’t catch you off guard with his own.
He took a step forward, and I realized my mistake of staying against the door. I’d blocked his exit, but it also allowed him to trap me against it. Damon towered over me, bracing his hands against the door, glaring daggers at me.
“You know why I stay.”
“No, I don’t.” I crossed my arms, pushing him a little away from me.
“Do you know why I call in? Why I can barely stand to be here some days but can’t seem to stay away?”
“No, but I’d like to know. Maybe then we can find a solution.”