Page 41 of Endgame

Six.The way Rourke said it now? It was more of a habit than a cutting remark and I had a feeling if he ever did call me by my real name I wouldn’t like it.

Rourke handed me a twenty and I quickly tolled up what he owed in the cash register before returning his change. He didn’t tip me or tell me to keep the change and I was glad. It would have been insulting.

My face was burning and I was furious with myself for displaying any sort of emotion around him. Shaking my head, I ordered myself to calm the heck down. “Take a seat and I’ll bring your drinks down to you,” I told the boys before turning my back on them and quickly getting to work on their orders.

“All good out here, Mercy?” Alec’s voice filled my ears then and I sagged in relief. He was back from his break.

Since starting at Madame Jory’s, between serving customers and wiping down tables, I’d spent a lot of time ogling Alec. He was insanely hot with a deep tan, blonde surfer hair, and amazing brown eyes. He was also twenty-one-years-old.Too old for me. But he was a great distraction from my asshole stepbrother.

I finished pouring two glasses of iced tea and placed them on a round tray before swinging around and handing it to Alec. “Can you drop these down to table…” I scanned the room and found the table Rourke and Daryl had taken up occupancy before saying, “Table four please?”

Alec smiled warmly and took the tray from my shaking hands. “No problem.”

“Thanks,” I squeezed out, relieved. Alec disappeared with their order. The place was dead this morning so I quickly busied myself with returning the jug of iced tea to the under counter fridge before wiping down the three small shelves.

“Mind explaining why that jock over there asked me why my waitress namedSixdidn’t drop off his drinks?” Alec asked when he returned, grinning down at me.

“It’s a long story,” I muttered, embarrassed.

Alec cocked a brow. “A long ex-boyfriend kind of story?” he asked, leaning his hip against the counter.

“Try a long, angry, stepbrother story.” I stood up and exhaled a heavy sigh. “My mom married his father earlier this year.” I shrugged. “He’s still pissed.”

“Ah.” Awareness dawned in Alec’s eyes – amazing brown eyes. “Bad blood?”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“Sounds like you need an ally in this town,” he replied after a moment. “Taking on the Falcon’s star player?” Alec leaned closer. “Can’t be easy.”

Was Alec flirting with me? “I can handle him,” I shot back, feeling a little flutter in my tummy.

“Even so, I think I should take you out sometime.” He grinned down at me. “Give you a few tips on taking on a guy like him.”

“And you’d know about taking on a guy like him?”

“I grew up in this town, too, Mercy,” Alec replied gruffly. “I know all about those rich pricks from the Academy.”

My lips tipped upwards. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Warm brown eyes shone down at me. “And why is that?”

“Because I’m too young for you.”

“I can assure you that I am a perfect gentleman,” he teased.

I laughed “I bet you are.”

“At least think about it?”

“Okay.” I shook my head and smiled, knowing I wouldn’t change my mind, but feeling flattered by his interest. “I’ll think about it.”

Rourke

“LOOKS LIKE SISSY has an admirer.” Daryl’s comment caused my head to snap up. My gaze honed in on Alec Larkin who was sidling up to Six behind the counter.

Immediately, my blood pressure began to rise.

Daryl and I knew all about that piece of shit Larkin. He’d been a few grades above us in school, and had graduated from the Academy three years ago when Daryl and I were up and comers on the football team.

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