Page 18 of My Boyfriend's Protective Daddy

“I think we’re going to need to keep practicing. Like, a lot,” I say. “You know, to work us up to that grand finale and all.”

She looks up at me, her eyes glittering in the dim light of the apartment. “I like the way you think, mister. I like it a lot.”

“So do I.”

10

CASSIE

“Goodnight, Georgie,” I call.

“You know, hiring you is the smartest thing that crusty old son of a bitch has ever done,” George the Navy man says. “You’re a hell of a lot easier on the eyes than him and that old battle ax Gloria who’s been here about a hundred years.”

“Hey,” Cash calls from behind the bar. “I’m plenty easy on the eyes, you salty old drunk. And I’m going to tell Gloria you said that.”

“No need to tell Gloria nothin’. She’s a hell of a lot meaner than you,” George calls back.

“That’s what I thought,” Cash says and grins.

I laugh. “Get home safe, Georgie.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, gorgeous,” he says and tips me a wink.

Once he leaves, I pull the door closed and lock it up, turn off the neon “Open” sign, and close all the shutters. That done, I lean my back against the door and let out a long, satisfied but exhausted breath.

“And we are done for the night,” I say.

Lacuna Coil begins to play, bringing a smile to my face. “Hey, I have that on my playlist.”

“That’s because this is your playlist,” Cash says. “I connected your phone to the Bluetooth. You have some pretty good music.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You know, it’s been busier since you started working here. I probably should have hired you a long time ago. The guys like to see a pretty face. Some of the gals do too, I’d imagine.”

“Gloria—”

“Is not a pretty face,” Cash cuts me off. “But she does know how to handle a bunch of rowdy veterans.”

I laugh. “Gloria is lovely.”

“She is. But the guys are afraid of her—and for good reason.”

“You saying they aren’t afraid of me?”

“Not a bit.”

“That’s because they don’t know you’ve been training me how to fight.”

“That’s true too.”

I laugh and clear a few tables, setting the glasses and plates into the plastic tub on my hip. The guys who frequent the place are harmless. They’re nice guys, but they’re definitely perverts who seem to get hornier the more they drink, but they’re harmless. For the most part, I think they just like flirting with a younger girl. And I have to say, they tip pretty well. I’ve been making a pile of cash, so they can flirt with me all they want.

“How’d you do tonight?” Cash asks.

“Not sure yet. But I think it was a good night,” I reply as I pat the pocket on my apron.

“That’s good. You work hard and deserve it. If any of them ever try to stiff you, you just let me know and I’ll set them straight.”

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