Page 13 of Late Nights

It was apparent I only had two options here. One, I had to hope she didn’t want to work at a bar. Or two, I’d have to spend every night she worked at The Bridger. I had a feeling it was going to be the latter. I’d single handedly gotten myself into a situation that would have me spending more time with Demi.

I wanted to say it had been random. I wanted to say I hadn’t thought before I’d spoken. I wanted to say I had only been wanting to help. And I really wanted to say I hadn’t done it on purpose.

But I didn’t know if that was the truth.

5

Demi

Cannon held the door open for me as I walked into The Bridger, which I was told got its name from being semi-near the Golden Gate Bridge, and if you stood in just the right spot on the street and tilted your head with your eyes squinted, you could make out a sliver of the orange metal.

A dimly lit room greeted me, the air already thick with the smell of smoke and alcohol even though it was only eight o’clock and the bar was probably only half full. People milled around close to the bar, others sat at the round tables scattered around, and music played loudly enough that I couldn’t quite say it was playing in the background.

Cannon placed his hand lightly on the small of my back, his fingers gently pushing me forward. I hadn’t realized I had stopped in the doorway as I took in where I might possibly be working. Shuffling my feet toward the bar where Cannon was guiding me, I couldn’t help wondering if I’d made a horrible mistake. I rarely came to bars as a recreational activity, let alone to work. I’d been more of a let’s go hang out at a nice restaurant with champagne kind of girl. I wasn’t sure I was cut out for a job like this.

A beefy guy in a black t-shirt came up to greet us from behind the counter. His dark beard made up for the hair he was lacking on his head, and the tattoos that covered both of his arms were done in bold, bright colors. His scowl looked like it might be permanent, but then he smiled with perfectly white teeth, and I involuntarily sighed in relief, not realizing I’d been holding myself rigid.

“Cannon,” his voice boomed, his smile softening his rough features. “Aren’t you sick of seeing me yet?”

“You? Yes,” Cannon said with that smile he used to schmooze people. “Your drinks? Never.”

The bartender chuckled. “You barely even drink when you’re here.”

For a split-second, Cannon’s smile started to drop, but he was quick to replace it. “What can I say? The atmosphere at The Bridger is unbeatable.”

If Cannon wasn’t coming here to drink, then why was he spending so much time here? Looking around the room, I saw several beautiful women staring at us.

Oh. Maybe I didn’t want to think about the other reason he’d be going to a bar. I was sure it wouldn’t take long for the women to run at him like a stampede.

Bar Guy, who I was assuming was Robby, gave Cannon a look, like he knew he was full of it. “Okay, what do you want?”

“Can’t a guy compliment his friend’s business?”

Robby crossed his large arms over his chest. “No.”

Now I could see how a guy like him could run a bar. He wasn’t someone you wanted to mess with.

“I don’t want anything,” Cannon assured him. “I’m actually here to help you out.” He gestured to me standing next to him. “This is my best friend’s little sister, Demi. She’s looking for a job, and I noticed your help wanted sign.”

I tried not to stare at him in annoyance. I’m his best friend’s little sister? He couldn’t just call me a friend? Or did he not think we were?

I snapped my attention to Robby, not wanting to start the interview off on the wrong foot by focusing more on Cannon’s words.

I offered Robby my hand. “Hi, nice to meet you.” His hand swallowed mine up with a firm shake.

“Nice to meet you.” He looked me up and down. “Are you sure she wants to work here?” he said to Cannon while his eyes were still examining me. “She looks too sweet and pure to work at a place like this.”

“She’s not as sweet as she looks,” he informed him. “She threatened to kill me this morning.”

Robby’s laugh rumbled through the bar, and patrons looked our way. “Cannon the Charmer had a woman threaten his life? Now that, I would have liked to see.”

Cannon rolled his eyes.

Robby uncrossed his arms, letting them fall by his sides. “Have you ever worked at a bar before?” he asked me.

“No,” I answered slowly, watching as his look turned skeptical. “But I’m a fast learner.” I actually didn’t know if that was true, but a job bartending was better than no job at all. If I hated it, I could try to look for something else, but I needed money now.

Robby stroked his beard, continuing to look at me. “I don’t know. I’d have to train you myself. Which means a lot of added work for me.”

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