Taz gave him a goofy, lopsided grin, and nodded, “Right, boss,” he said, forgetting his promise not to call Ryker that anymore. “I’m going to check out the kitchen and get ready for tonight’s little test.” Ryker nodded to Taz and waited for him to disappear down the back hallway to the kitchen.
“Does he work here too?” Harlow asked. He didn’t like the way she looked at the big guy. He felt almost jealous that she was showing interest in Taz, and that couldn’t happen since he needed to keep his hands to himself if she was going to be his new waitress. Having women working at the Smokey Bandits was going to be harder than he imagined.
He rounded his desk and sat back down in his chair, putting some much-needed distance between himself and pretty, little Harlow. “Kind of,” Ryker admitted. “It’s nothing official yet, but he might be the new cook for this place. He’s trying things out tonight and if I get good feedback on his food, I’ll hire him on.”
Harlow nodded and smiled. “Um, I have references and everything, if you’d like them.” She reached into the backpack that she had on her lap, and pulled out a sheet of paper, handing it to him. Ryker pretended to look it over, but honestly, he was ready to just give her the fucking job. She had the right look, although she seemed to be a little timid and a bit shy, she’d be a perfect fit.
He nodded and put the paper back on his desk. “How would you like to start tonight?” he asked.
“As a trial run, like your new cook?” she asked. She tucked a long strand of her dark hair behind her ear, and he got a better glimpse of her perfect milky skin. God, she was beautiful. She was barely wearing any makeup, but honestly, she didn’t need any.
“No,” he said. “Not as a trial run. I’d like to hire you as the new waitress for the bar. It won’t be easy. You’re the only one who’s applied so far, but I only placed the ad yesterday. I plan on hiring at least two more women, but I’d like for you to be the first. You’ll just have to put up with a bunch of rowdy, handsy bikers while you’re waiting tables. Can you do that, Harlow?” he asked. Ryker felt as though he was holding his breath, waiting for her to answer him.
She smiled and nodded, “I think that I can handle myself,” she promised. “Thank you for this opportunity,” she almost whispered. Harlow stood, “What time should I come back tonight?” she asked.
“About five,” he said. “We close at two in the morning. Will that be a problem?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “I have a two-year-old little girl, but she can stay with my mom on nights that I work. She lives just next door to me, so it’s not a big deal.”
He nodded, “Wear whatever you’d like,” he said.
“Thanks,” Harlow said. “See you tonight at five.” He watched as she disappeared out of his office and sat back in his chair. Ryker blew out his breath, softly cursing to himself.
“You hire her?” Taz asked, scaring the shit out of him when he reappeared in his doorway.
“Jesus, Taz,” he growled. “I’m going to put a fucking bell around your neck.” The big guy laughed. “And yeah—I hired her. She starts tonight.”
“Why don’t you sound very happy about your new employee?” Taz asked.
“Because she’s a single mom, from what I gather, and that makes her hands off,” he said. Hell, her being his new employee should have made her hands off, but he was actually considering breaking that rule until she mentioned a kid. He knew from experience not to mess around with single mothers. His own mom was one and he’d never do that to any woman. He remembered the countless men who she thought were “The one,” only to be let down when they found out his mom had a kid and dumped her. Single moms didn’t date to just have some fun or to blow off some steam. They were in it for the long haul and Ryker was sure that he didn’t have that in him. He wasn’t a settle down and raise a family kind of guy.