Page 37 of You're All I Need

She flashes me a grin. “That’s because he likes you. He still tries to make the new employees cry. He’s succeeded a few times over the years.”

“You just have to give it right back to him,” I insist, remembering a few times after I started where he’d try to trip me up on orders or duties behind the bar.

“Exactly! That’s the reason he likes you,” Marla agrees. “Anyway, holler if you guys need anything else.”

After she walks away to check on another table, I hear Caden ask, “You have to work tonight?”

“Yep,” I reply, popping a French fry into my mouth. “At four, so I’ll head out by three so I can run home and change into my work clothes.”

Caden’s gaze drops down to my chest, where there’s no missing my cleavage. I’m not wearing a low-cut top, but my boobs just spill out of about anything I wear. He finally looks up and meets my gaze, so I fire off a questioning smirk, letting him know he was busted. Of course, he doesn’t care, just shoots me a knowing grin back.

“How do you like working here, Adrienne?” Glenn asks when Marla moves to the next table.

“I like it,” I reply, grabbing another fry and pushing my basket forward. “I’m a people person, so talking is sort of my thing. Plus, I like slinging beers and mixing drinks, so it just fits.”

“I’ve heard great things about the boys,” Glenn states, and I assume he’s referring to the four owners. “Good kids. They really grew the place from an empty warehouse to this.”

I smile, feeling like one of those little kids sitting in front of their grandpa, waiting for them to tell them more stories about the good ol’ days.

“Even that Jameson turned out to be a pretty good fella. He was ornery when he was younger, him and that Walker boy, but they grew into upstanding young men. I remember one time when they were in school, they lit a bag of dog shit on fire and left it on the principal’s front porch.”

Our table busts out laughing, and even though I don’t know Jameson well, I’ve spent a lot of time with Walker in the bar, and I can totally see him doing that. “I’m going to have to ask him about that when I see him next,” I insist with a giggle.

He points at me. “You do that. He won’t deny it. I think I heard he had detention for a week for that stunt.”

“Did they all go to school together?” I wonder aloud, realizing I don’t think I’ve heard the story.

“Nope. Walker and Jameson grew up here, but only Walker went to college. Jameson used to visit though, and that’s where they met the chef. So they were all friends, hangin’ out like college boys do, and while at some dive bar, they went to the restroom and lit a smoke. That’s where they ran into Isaac, who was just in there using the john. Well, their smoke ended up setting off the sprinkler system, and then the next thing you know, they were all running out together, soaking wet. They’ve been friends ever since.”

Shaking my head, I revel in the story of friendship and how they all met. “Wow, I love that.”

“Rumor has it, Isaac pissed on himself when the sprinkler system went off,” Glenn adds with a mischievous grin.

“Oh, I’m definitely asking about that too.”

“All right, we should probably head back to the office,” Jack interrupts, pulling out his wallet.

When I do the same, he gives me a quick smile. “My treat. First day lunch.”

“Oh, well, okay. I’ll buy next time,” I insist, tossing some cash onto the table to cover the tip.

“Doubt that,” Glenn replies. When I give him a questioning look, he adds, “I’ve been trying to buy ‘next time’ for two years.”

Caden stands up and claps Glenn on the shoulder. “You snooze, you lose, ol’ timer.”

“I’ll show you ol’ timer,” he retorts, standing up and narrowing his eyes at Caden.

“You know I’m teasin’ ya. You can buy next time,” Caden states with a wolfish grin.

Glenn snorts and shakes his head. “I won’t hold my breath. Okay, I’m headin’ out to my last service call. See you back at the shop,” he says, tossing a few extra bills on the table for Marla’s tip.

“Ready?” Jack asks, turning his attention to me.

“Yes.”

“See you back at the shop,” Caden says, following us out of the restaurant. Even as I move to Jack’s truck, I can feel his eyes on me every step of the way. Like a caress, he’s with me when I climb into the truck and shut the passenger door. Even then, I can still sense his gaze on me.

The wild part is, I don’t hate it.

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