"Hey, Boss," Eric grins. "Looks like you gotta pay the piper."
As if I didn't know Caroline was here. The moment she walked through the door, she caught my attention. My gaze was on her as she waited for Delilah to lead her to a table. And when she sat down at a table close to the bar. Her group of friends isn't with her. That's a small relief. If I make my move, at least I won't make an ass of myself in front of all of them.
I wave my hand over the bar. "In case you haven't noticed, we have a full bar. I can't exactly go over there and leaving all our customers hanging."
"Sure, you can." He pours a glass of wine. "You ask one of us lowly bartenders to cover for you. Then you walk over there and ask her on a damn date."
I'm not responding to that. I grab another glass as one of our regulars approaches the bar and holds up a finger. He doesn't even have to say what he wants before I hand over his whiskey and coke.
This is the service I want all of my staff to have. We have new people come in frequently, but most of our clientele are folks that live here in town. If we keep them happy, they have nothing to complain about. It's one of the reasons we don't have too many issues about keeping the bar open. At least, not since Angie took over and Stella helped with rebranding.
Speaking of, Angie pushes her way past the crowd and leans against the bar. She's not even supposed to be here. "What are you doing here? I didn't think you were on the schedule."
She shrugs. "Dylan has poker night with the guys and I had nothing better to do."
"So, you come to work?"
"It looks like it's a good thing I did. We're slammed tonight."
"No more than usual." And it's not. Wednesday is for our wine drinkers. Discount wine always brings people in. "We have it covered."
"How about you take a break and I cover your end of the bar?" She glances over my shoulder and I turn to see Eric grinning.
They are ganging up on me. Did this fool text her? "I don't need a break."
She walks off. Hopefully going to her office to do something that doesn't concern me. A tap on my shoulder a few moments later proves otherwise. "I said I don't need a break. The longer you interrupt me, the longer it will take me to pour these drinks."
"Why are you such an ass?" Angie puts her hands on her hips and glares at me. I swear one day she's going to terrify her own kids with that look. "I'm trying to help you, but no. You'd rather work."
"I didn't ask for your help, Ang." I grunt. "And I know you giving me a break isn't for anything other than ulterior motives."
"I don't know what you mean." She crosses her arms over her chest.
"You know exactly what I mean." I point toward Eric, who has been watching our interaction. He turns when he sees me looking at him. "Eric texted you with his little scheme and you came running to aid him because you can't help yourself."
Hiring him may have been a bad decision. The two of them are like partners in crime. If something is awry, it usually has their names written all over it. It was bad enough when Lisa was here playing matchmaker. Now it's even worse. If it isn't my bar crew putting pressure on me to make a move, it's Angie.
As much as I'd like to ask Caroline on a date, I can't. I'm Angie's partner in this business. She did it on her own for so long, and I agreed to pick up the slack. How is that going to be possible if there is someone taking my attention away from the bar? Not to mention the days I go see my family. There are only so many ways I can divide and compartmentalize myself.
"Look," Angie finally speaks up. "I know it's not ideal with the way the bar is growing. But you deserve some happiness. It's not like she has a ton of spare time, either."
"What do you mean?"
"She has a kid, and he takes up most of her time." She eyes me. "How did you not know that?"
"It never came up when she ordered her beer."
"Yeah, but her brother is in here all the time. I'm almost certain he's mentioned his nephew a few times."
If she thinks I listen in on conversations, she's crazy. I barely have room for the thoughts in my own head. I don't need to hear anyone else's. "I must have missed it."
"Gee, don't sound too excited."
I know she probably thinks I'm an asshole. Caroline having a kid changes nothing about my interest in her. It just makes a complicated situation more complicated. "I'm working. What do you want me to do?"
"We want you to ask her out already."
"And if she shoots me down?" How am I not going to let that affect me? "She's here every week, and I'm usually the bartender working. It'll be awkward."