Cole set his hand on her hip. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. Have you not been getting my messages?”
“Um, yes.”
“Why haven’t you called?”
Through her eyelashes, Jade stared at the men around the table. Then she started biting her thumbnail.
“Stop doing that,” Cole said as he pulled her hand from her mouth.
“Sorry.”
“Now, answer my question, baby.”
“We talked about this,” she whispered.
“I didn’t agree.”
“Well, I have two jobs now, and they take most of my time. Any downtime I get, I sleep.”
“Why are you working two jobs, baby?”
“Why do you have to know?”
One of his eyebrows rose. “Because I’m interested.”
She scowled at him. “To pay rent. It went up. Are you happy now?” she said.
His brows snapped together. “Watch your tone of voice, baby girl.”
She deflated and looked down at her shoes. “I’m sorry.”
Cole stroked her hip and thigh. “We’ll get to know each other better.”
“I already told you—”
“Jade, table three needs you,” Micky yelled.
“I’ve got to go.” She pulled away.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Okay. Just not now.” Jade turned and walked off. It seemed like she could feel the heat from his stare as it followed her until bodies got in the way.
Jade stayed on her side of the bar. She was doing a good job of staying out of Cole’s eyesight.
“Hey, girl. The man at seven wants to talk to you. I’ll take these to your table. I wouldn’t keep him waiting. He looks impatient.”
Jade exhaled and nodded. She made her way over to Cole’s table, holding a tray in front of her as a shield.
He grabbed her arm to pull her closer. She didn’t like the way he frowned at her.
“I’m not going to bother you anymore tonight. But I’ll be at the center tomorrow at one. That’s when you take your break.”
Her mouth dropped open. “How did you kno—”
“The girl I talked to.”
“Oh.”