Page 23 of Firecracker

“How’s everything?” Liam returned when she’d made good progress on her lunch.

“It’s excellent.”

He winked. “Told you so.”

“Yes, you did.”

“So what do you do for a living, Arden Hughes?”

She made a face, setting down her fork and picking up her beer. “Nothing at the moment.”

“Ah. We’re hiring, if you didn’t know. Though you’re probably not looking for a waitressing job.”

She stared at him. She was looking foranykind of job. “Actually,” she said slowly. “I might be.”

His russet eyebrows lifted. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” She gave a firm nod. “I need a job. This seems like a nice place.”

“Well, sure, I’m biased, but yeah, it’s a nice place. We have a pretty regular clientele. Things can get a bit rowdy in the evenings, but it’s rare that we have to eject anyone for being bollocksed.”

She laughed. “Good to know.”

“You’d likely do well with tips.” He gave her an appreciative look.

Her cheeks heated. “Um. Thanks?”

He grinned. “Any waitressing experience, darling?”

“In high school.” She pasted a bright, confident smile on. That had been ten years ago, but so what?

He nodded, eyes narrowed. “Well, we do need help…how soon could you start?”

“Tomorrow?”

He laughed. “You’re hired. Sorcha!”

The young waitress called back, “What?”

“I just hired another waitress.”

Sorcha appeared, green eyes big. “Seriously?”

“This is Arden. She starts tomorrow.” He nodded. “My sister, Sorcha.”

“Pleased to meet you, Sorcha.” Arden stuck out her hand.

The girl took it, studying her. “Likewise.” She didn’t have an accent like Liam did.

“Easiest job interview I ever did,” Liam said.

“Liam.” Sorcha set her hips on her hands. “You didn’t even interview her, did you? Did she fill out an application form? Did you get references? No, you didn’t.”

Arden bit her lip. It had been her easiest job interview ever too. Was her newfound job going to be nixed by Sorcha?

Liam made a face. “I’ll deal with that stuff. Don’t worry.”

Sorcha sighed. “That’s what you said last time, when the girl you hired cleaned out the cash register and disappeared after her first day on the job. And the one before that helped herself to the Jameson and passed out in the ladies’ room.”

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