Page 10 of Ajax

I’ll nurse my beer and ogle Ivy’s arse a while longer as she makes her way around.

Life isn’t too bad after all.

A couple of hours later,I’m yet to finish my beer, sitting barely paying attention to the rugby game on the screen. I’m the last customer left.

Ivy approaches as I drain my glass.

“Did you want anything else?”

I shake my head. “No, I might head home.”

She clears the table and heads toward the bar.

Mitchell appears from out the back. “I’m closing up early. You go on home, Ivy. I’ll pay you for the rest of the night.”

“Are you okay?” she asks.

Mitchell nods. “Business is slow and I have a headache. Reckon I’ll have an early night.” He looks over toward me. “You good, Ajax?”

I nod, then stand. “Yep. See you later.”

“Don’t worry about your tab. It’s got one drink on it. I’ll take care of it,” Ivy says.

“I can’t let you do that.”

She shrugs. “I don’t mind. It’s been a shitty night.”

“Then, thank you.”

For a moment, I hold her gaze. She really is pretty with full lips and brown eyes you can lose yourself in. And she has the cutest blush in her cheeks as she looks at me.

“Goodnight, Mitchell,” I say.

His chin lifts. “Night.”

I make my way out to my truck and sigh as I climb in.

While I didn’t expect this evening to change my life, I didn’t think it would go as badly as it did. I’m worth more than that.

The lights go out inside the pub, and the door opens.

Ivy fiddles with something in her bag—maybe her car keys, and my stomach twists watching her. It’s pretty safe around here, but it’s dark, and she’s not paying attention to her surroundings.

I’ve done enough security work for Shane to understand the dangers.

I’ll stay until she’s in her car, safe and sound.

She looks up and gives me a little wave as she pulls something out of her bag.

Wait. That’s her car?

It’s a miracle it’s still on the road, it’s so old.

I want to help her, but it’s not really my business.

Ivy unlocks the door and opens it, throwing her bag inside before she gets into the driver’s side of the car.

Once she’s got the door closed, I start my engine.

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