Page 15 of Her Possessive Daddies

"That obvious, huh?" I fumble with a clean glass. "Still fairly new."

"And they've left you alone already?" His eyebrows lift, and the corner of his mouth quirks up. "Awfully brave of them."

"Or desperate." I tuck a wayward curl behind my ear. "Everyone else called out tonight, and our other bartender had an emergency."

"Ah." He drums his fingers on the bar top, the motion drawing my attention to an expensive-looking watch. "And how's that working out for you?"

"Well, I haven't set anything on fire yet." The words slip out before I can stop them. "Sorry, that was?—"

"Refreshingly honest." He chuckles, the sound rich and warm. "I'll have a Bloody Mary. Extra spicy, if you're up for it."

"I’ll do my best." My hands tremble slightly as I unscrew the vodka. "That I think I can handle. Lacey—my trainer—she's got this secret recipe. Taught it to me my first day."

"Lacey has good taste." He watches as I mix the drink, and I'm hyper-aware of every movement. "Though I'm curious to see your interpretation."

My hands hover over the bottles, mind racing through Lacey's recipe. The passion in his gaze makes my skin tingle.

"Let's see..." I grab the vodka, measuring carefully. "She swears by this particular brand."

The celery salt rim has to be perfect. I dampen the glass edge with lime, coating it evenly. No pressure. Just a ridiculously attractive man watching my every move.

"The secret's in the proportions," I say, more to fill the silence than anything else. My hands shake slightly as I add the tomato juice. "And the spice blend."

Worcestershire sauce, three dashes. Hot sauce... Lacey's voice echoes in my head: 'More than you think you need, less than you're afraid of.'

"Interesting technique," he comments, leaning forward slightly. His cologne drifts through the bar – something expensive and subtle that makes my gut flip.

I measure out the horseradish, praying I don't drop it. "The trick is balancing the heat with the other flavors."

The spice mixture is next – Lacey's secret weapon. Black pepper, celery salt, and something else she wouldn't tell me about. I add it carefully, stirring with more concentration than this drink probably deserves.

"Almost done," I murmur, mostly to myself. The garnish has to be right. Celery stalk, obviously, but also a lime wedge and... where did she put those pickled peppers?

I spot them on the top shelf, just out of comfortable reach. Great. Stretching up on my tiptoes, I grab them, very aware of how this must look. My face burns as I add the final touches.

"Here you go." I slide the drink toward him, holding my breath. "Extra spicy, as requested."

He lifts the glass, examining it before taking a sip. My heart thunders inside as I wait for his verdict. Please don't let me have screwed this up. Not sure I could handle being embarrassed by the most attractive man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

8

COREY

The Bloody Mary tastes like watered-down ketchup mixed with cheap vodka. I take another sip, keeping my face neutral as the bartender - Abbie, according to her name tag - watches me with those striking hazel eyes.

"How is it?" Her fingers twist a bar towel nervously.

"Perfect." The lie slides too easily off my tongue.

“Good.” I see her breathe a sigh of relief. “Lacey usually has to help me with the complicated drinks.”

"Nothing complicated about keeping me company." I rest my elbows on the polished wood. "Unless you're too busy?"

She glances around the near-empty bar. "Not at the moment. Though I should warn you, I'm not great at small talk."

"Good thing I prefer honest conversation. So how'd you end up here?"

"Night school, needed flexible hours." She starts polishing already-clean glasses. "Psychology major."

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