Page 7 of Heartbreak Hero

She could run into the pharmacy on her way to work. No, that wouldn’t give her enough time if she needed to be there and on the clock in ten minutes.

“Can you do me a favor?” Sara asked.

“Sure thing.”

“Stop by the pharmacy and grab me a Plan B on your way into work?”

“What!” Mandy gasped and then giggled. “Oh my god! Did you and Kevin finally…”

“No, it wasn’t Kevin.”

“Oh shit. Well, I’m glad you got laid,” Mandy said with a cackle.

“Hush!” Sara snorted and then laughed.

“At least tell me if it was good!”

“Ooooh yeah.” Sara stifled her laughter.

“Okay, I’ll get you one.”

“Thank you and donottell a soul,” Sara said, but she was smiling.

“Mums the word.” Mandy was still giggling when she hung up.

Some people might think it odd that she ended up managing the bar at an exclusive lounge instead of cutting hair. She just couldn’t bring herself to go back to anything that reminded her of Seattle or the life and beauty business she’d built there.

“Hey Jim,” Sara said, spotting one of the Velvet Room’s waiters.

“Hey, Boss,” Jim said. “I thought you worked this afternoon?”

“I did. I do, but I’m covering for Mandy until she can find a backup sitter.” Sara tied a short black waist apron around her hips.

“Hey sexy.”

Sara pasted on a bright smile before she turned to Kevin.

“Hey there…”

His eyes were glued to her chest. It was his go-to. Her red blouse was her standard uniform with the small VL logo on the right upper portion, but she might as well have been naked in his eyes. His gaze lingered several more moments before he winked and headed off to the office in the back.

Ugh. Although Kevin was handsome, he was kind of a dick.

But he was a dick she knew. She knew what to expect from him. And knowing that was what kept her around. And Kevin kept other guys from asking her out. Oh, she still got hit on while working and going to other places, but those she could deal with.

The lounge got busy and Sara didn’t take a breath until the landline rang two hours later.

“Velvet Lounge, how can I help you?” Sara said.

“Sara, I can’t get a sitter,” Mandy said, her voice a wail.

“Don’t worry, I can handle a double, but you owe me,” Sara said over the music. Someone had turned it up louder.

“You got it,” Mandy promised.

“Boss? Table six needs those drinks,” Jim called from his spot at the other end of the busy bar.

“I’ll talk to you later,” Sara promised Mandy, hung up the phone, and hurried over to fill the drink order.

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