Page 5 of A Little Christmas 4: Teller
“Daddy, did you tell Mr. York about the party at the club? Telly’s going to make me special pajamas for it,” Maizie asked.
It was sweet, the way she looked at him. I was yearning to have the same thing for myself. What I was trying to do with York Properties would hopefully free up some time to pursue some private interests. With Barrett on my team, the possibilities were endless.
“No, baby girl, I didn’t mention it because I forgot. Thank you for reminding me. I’ll explain other things to you when we get home. You’re still coming home with me, right?” Barrett asked her. Something was up there that I wasn’t sure about, but I knew it wasn’t my place to ask.
“Daddy, I’m scheduled to work tomorrow. My apartment is on a convenient bus line, and it’s close to school. I have one more year of college, and then I can move. Right now, I need to be at Shitty Arms,” she responded.
I chuckled at her turn of phrase. “What’sShittyArms?”
Barrett turned to me and gritted his teeth. “She lives in the worst fucking apartment building in Hillsdale. Shelton Arms. I’ve been begging her to move in with me for six months, but she refuses because she’s in her final year of college. I said I’d buy her a car, but she insists on staying in that rundown building because her best friend, Telly, lives there. The fucking plumbing leaks, and the landlord refuses to do anything about it.”
“Where do you work, Maizie, if I can ask?”
She had big brown eyes and a great smile. “Bloomfield’s Department Store. I work in the women’s department.”
That was interesting. Would theTellerI’d met the other day be theTellyshe knew? “I was just there the other day to pick up a gag gift for my office’s holiday grab bag. A nice young man in the men’s department waited on me. Uh, Trent?”
I pretended I didn’t know his name to see what answer she’d give me. His face had been floating through my mind over and over since I’d met him, and I might have done some very dirty things with his beautiful features behind my eyes.
“Oh! Men’s department? That’s my best friend, Teller Buchanan. He lives on the floor above me at the Shelton Arms.”
That piqued my interest. “Where’s this building?”
“Hillsdale Heights,” Maizie responded.
I didn’t feel as if I should go any further into it, but ideas were popping up in my mind like shooting stars. “Okay. Barrett, think about my offer and call me, please. Maizie, it was a pleasure meeting you. I’d love to go to the party at your club. Have your Daddy send me details.”
I stood, popping a kiss on Maizie’s cheek and giving Barrett a hug before I paid the bill and left. I had a lot to think about, but I knew I’d made the best decision to offer the job to Barrett. I hoped to fuck he seriously considered it.
Chapter Three
Teller
“Here’s your order ofDon’t Ghost Mehot wings. Can I get you anything else?”
I placed the plate on the table and smiled at the two gentlemen in my section who had ordered the hot wings that were made with ghost peppers. I wished them luck. I’d licked some of the sauce off my finger once when the kitchen had us taste the wings, and I thought I’d died and gone to hell.
The bar was packed, which wasn’t unusual for a Friday night. Lots of bros were there to play darts—the league was ending just before Christmas, and tonight was the first round of the championship tournament. I didn’t understand the game at all, but I loved collecting the tips for delivering their beers.
Greta, the hostess, tapped my shoulder. “A guy at the door is asking to be seated in your section. You don’t have any empty tables, so what do you want me to do?”
“Uh, okay, ask if I can have one of Maggie’s tables. Her section is nearly empty. I’ll share the tip.” Maggie wasn’t the most pleasant server in O’Malley’s Pub, but we got along okay.
Greta walked over to Maggie and tapped her shoulder, speaking quickly. They both turned toward me, and Maggie nodded. I gave her a thumbs-up.
When Greta led the customer to the table Maggie had surrendered, I was stunned. “Oh, uh, hi. Can I…? What can I get you?”
It was the man who’d bought the ugly ties and the gorgeous jacket. He didn’t seem surprised to see me at all. Was this a happy coincidence?
Silver Bear grinned and opened the gorgeous bomber jacket to show me he was wearing the ugly tie with an ivory button-down. He was absolutely stunning. “Hello, Teller.”
“Hi. Uh, I don’t believe we were introduced when you were at Bloomfield’s.”
He grinned. “I’m Briggs York. It’s a pleasure to officially meet you, Teller.”
“You too, Mr. York. What can I bring you?”
“I’ll have a Macallan’s 15, neat, please. What do you recommend as far as food?” He pointed to the menu in front of him, so I stepped closer so I wouldn’t be overheard.
