Page 11 of Waiting for Sunshine

There wasn’t even anything to share, besides the fact that the woman she just hired as a bartender, atmybar, is the only thing I have been able to think about since the moment I met her.

“I smile plenty,” I plaster on a big, fake smile, and reach to ruffle her hair but she pulls back before I can.

“I will literally cut your fingers off, Maxwell. Do not try me.” She threatens, holding up her index finger as a warning. I lift my arms in surrender and back away from the bar. I go back to my office for the rest of the evening, wondering how the hell I am going to keep my head straight with this little ray of sunshine working in my bar.

* * *

THE NEXT DAY

When I got home from work last night, I found myself unable to think of anything other than Shane. Which was annoying as shit. I’m not a relationship guy, never have been, and never planned to be. After losing as much as I have, it just makes sense not to willingly let anyone else become significant in my life. Not feeling anything is better than setting myself up for pain in the future. I had been successful in my mission until quite literally, running into Shane. For the first time in a long time, I felt something…new.

The fire that lit inside of me when I saw her blue eyes, so wild and fierce, had me wanting to know every thought that ran through the mind behind them. Then the radiant smile that beamed across her beautiful face had me wanting to hear every sweet thing that ever came out of her mouth.

Not to mention the way she seemed so unbothered by the disaster happening in her life, left me completely dumbfounded. I was marching into uncharted territory thinking about her the way I was, but I was never one to back away from a challenge. Which is what I fully expected her to be. I’m hoping she stays busy with Ruby training her tonight so I can fucking focus.

I’m in the middle of said thought process when Tucker walks in and takes a seat on his usual barstool. “Barkeep!” he shouts, slamming his fist on the bar top. Bringing my attention to him, and away from Shane, who is watching Ruby show her how to use the terminal behind the bar. He knows I hate when he calls me that, but that will never stop Tucker.

“Don’t call me that.” I raise my brow at him. I grab a glass to make his usual drink, which is the same as mine, whiskey on the rocks.

“Well, maybe you can lighten up a little tonight. We are celebrating.” He grabs his glass and motions for me to pour myself one. I look at him curiously but go ahead with the pour.

“Alright, what are we celebrating?” I hold my drink up next to his, waiting for his response.

“Guess who just signed the contract to build the new youth center downtown?” he wags his eyebrows. I think about fucking with him and saying Greer’s Contracting, the company he is always up against for jobs. But I don’t want to kill whatever high he is riding right now from getting this job so I decided against it.

“You?” I tip my glass toward him.

“Hell, yeah man.” He clinks his glass with mine and downs his drink.

“Congratulations, brother. I know you worked hard to lock that one down.” I follow his lead and tip my drink back.

“Man, I can’t believe it. This one was tough, but they signed today.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I thought for sure they’d go with Greer’s.” He shakes his head and a smile comes across his face. Tucker is one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever met. He’s poured his heart and soul, and every spare minute he has, into building this company from the ground up. No pun intended.

“You deserve it, man. You’ve worked your ass off to get where you are. They made the right choice.” I clap him on the shoulder and grab two beers before walking around the bar. “Rack 'em. Drinks on me tonight man.” I walk over to the pool tables and grab a cue. He sets it up and I let him break.

“That’s the girl from last night, right?” Tucker nods his head toward Shane. I take my shot, sinking balls in 3 different pockets.

“Yeah, Ruby hired her as the new bartender,” I answer, making my way around the table.

“Oh yeah? I sure as shit hope she’s better than the last idiot that y’all had back there.” He jokes and takes a pull from his beer.

“Apparently she has a little bit of experience, but Ruby is gonna train her to make sure she really knows what she’s doing,” I say on a scratch. I stand up and grab my beer, as Tucker walks up to the table for his shot.

“Never seen her around here before last night, you think she’s new in town?” his eyes cut over to me as he aims.

“Not sure, but uh, as it turns out, she’s the girl I walked into yesterday morning,” I look back over at her, noticing she has moved down the bar and is talking to Lenny and a couple of his guys who come in here regularly. She smiles at them and laughs at something they say. Her laugh carries through the loud bar and it is the cutest fucking laugh I’ve ever heard.

For someone who’s spent 36 years completely unconnected when it comes to romantic relationships, this girl has me questioning my decisions in that area, and I’ve only known her for two days. Tucker looks at me, then back over at Shane and laughs before taking another shot.

“What are the fucking chances?” he asks, rhetorically.

And isn’t that the question of the hour?

What are the fucking chances?

CHAPTER6

SHANE

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