Is he as desperate for stolen touches as I am?
In a second, he releases my arm and I suck in the cold, staggered breath of reality before I swipe my salty dog from the bar.
“I’ll be more cognizant of my actions, sir.” I try not to look at him again when I talk, but it’s impossible. He’s massive… solid… a titan.
“Actually,” he says, brushing my arm again as I walk past him, “I was hoping you’d help me with something.”
Help him with something? What would I ever help him with?He’s got money dripping off of him. If he wants help, I’m sure he could hire just about anyone, or he could ask any of the twenty thirsty women staring at him tonight. I don’t say any of that, though. Instead, I ignore him and carry my drinks to the waiting table, then turn back, tucking my tray under my arm.
“Sorry, my boss is a real asshole.”
He rolls his eyes up and shakes his head. “Is this a country girl thing, too? That you always having to be right?”
“I’m glad you’ve noticed,” I grin. “I do like to be right. So, what do you need my help with?”
His dark eyes flicker to mine again. “Getting the word out about the party here next week. I figure you’re still at the diner all day, right?”
I nod, my stomach turning at what I guess is coming next.
“You can tell everyone about thehoedown I’m throwing.” He winks. “Tell them their favorite waitress will be serving all the drinks they can handle. I’m sure that will get them over.”
My body is desperate to take the flattery, but my brain goes to panic. “My family doesn’t know I work here.”
His forehead wrinkles. “So tell them.”
I shake my head. “No way! My father, for one, hates that you’re open to begin with and everyone else in my family would die if they saw me in a short skirt serving drinks like this.”
He stays quiet for a long while, then stands straight. “You’re a Baxter.Fuck. What’s your father’s name? Why didn’t I put this together sooner?”
A lump grows in my throat where there hadn’t been one before and my fantasy of locking myself away with my big sexy boss grows less and less likely in my head.
“It doesn’t matter who my father is. I’m twenty-three. I can serve drinks—”
“Your dad is Maddox, isn’t he? I should’ve figured as much when I hired you. There’s just so many of you Baxter’s on this mountain.”
“We’re notonthis mountain. Weownthis mountain.”
“Yet you’re working for me,” Declan says, standing taller. “You need to tell your father what’s going on, or we’ll have to cut this off.”
“Cut what off?” I balk. “My employment?You can’t do that! I haven’t done anything wrong.”
He looks down at me, grazing his hand across my lower back as he walks away. “Your father is the one person in town opposed to this bar. And you said it yourself, he owns most of this mountain. He needs to know you’re here, Addie.” His gaze tracks back to me with heat, and I swear a bit of pent-up desire. “For both our benefit.”
My clit throbs again, though I don’t know why. Well, I do kind of know why. Declan Myers, the tyrant of The Barnyard just stole enough glances and soft touches to leave my panties soaked and my heart racing. And for the life of me, I can’t figure why mydadneeds to know.
Chapter Two
Declan
I’ll buy Addie a longer skirt if that means she stays. I hate the way men stare at her, anyway. She’s curved and shapely, with an ass that rounds out, breasts that bounce, and a waist that sturdies the two. Most men don’t get to admire her face. They get stuck on her ass, or the six inches of cleavage that gets her those big tips. While I enjoy her body, my fixation is with her face. She’s gorgeous. Perfection. Flawless. Long dark hair, pixie nose, a tiny freckle next to her big blue eyes, and full lips that don’t stop running. Not only that, but she challenges me.No one else does.
A knock on my office door interrupts my thoughts. I look up to see Violet in the doorway, cowering.
“Can I help you?”
She nods. “Sort of. I’m worried I got Addie in trouble yesterday. It was my fault she was talking, and I—”
“She’s not in trouble,” I say. “Get back to your station.”