Page 13 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

A bartender approaches and asks us what we want to order. She's cute, and I can see that she's trying to give Max the eye. “What do you want, Liam, an old-fashioned still?”

I nod. “ And maybe some wings, if they’ve got any?”

“What sort?”

“I don’t know, barbecue.”

“Can I get an old-fashioned, a Corona, and a dozen barbecue wings, if you have them?”

“Sure, sir.” The petite blonde smiles at him. “Do you want ranch or blue cheese with that?”

He looks over at me. “Blue cheese all day,” I say, winking at her.

“Did you hear that?” he asks, and she smiles.

She looks over at me and licks her lips. I give her a big grin back. “Blue cheese it is,” she says. “Celery and carrots, too?”

“You got it,” I say, answering louder this time. “I always like chewing on something.” I step forward. “Though, I have to admit, I do like it when a woman is chewing on me instead.”

She blushes slightly, and Max groans. “Really, Liam?”

“What? I have to practice my pick-up lines somewhere. How did I do?” I look over at her, and she grins back at me.

“I’m going to give you an A for effort but an F for the actual pick-up line.”

I laugh. “That’s fair. I guess I won’t be trying that one again.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t if I were you. I also get off at one a.m.” She gives me a small smile. “If you’re really looking for someone to take a couple of nibbles, I’m your girl.”

“I’ll remember that,” I say. I watch as Max hands her his credit card and rolls his eyes at me.

“You are an absolute player, aren’t you, Liam?”

“Hey, don’t tell me you never flirted before you became a…”

“Don’t even say it,” he says, holding up his hands. “I don’t want to have to fire you.”

“You don’t know what I was going to say.”

“You sure weren’t going to say before I became a very happy man.”

“You’re right. I wasn’t.”

“I’ll bring your drinks over to you when they’re ready and the wings,” the bartender says, smiling at me. “You can have a seat if you want.”

“Thanks. What was your name?” I ask her.

“Gina.”

“Nice to meet you, Gina. I’m Liam.”

“It was very nice to meet you, Liam. Hopefully, I’ll get to see a little bit more of you later?”

“Perhaps,” I say, winking at her, and then head over to a booth I see in the corner. Max is walking by my side, and I can see him shaking his head.

“You’ve been in the States for how many days, and you’re already making plans?”

“I’m not making any plans. I was just letting her know that her flirtations didn’t go unheard.”

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