Page 9 of vKissed By the Bartender

As we talk, I feel more relaxed with him around. But I start dreading being alone once he went to work.

I look at him closely and admire his handsome features. From the scar on his face to his relaxed muscles, he tugs at my feelings in so many ways. Deep down, if the tabloids had been right and I was pregnant, I would want him to be the father.

I shake my head trying to get rid of the thoughts that flooded my mind. Whatever I felt for Joseph in high school has escalated to an all-new level.

I fight myself to not outwardly react to my feelings. I’m an overly flirtatious person, but Joseph deserves so much more than that.

“Well, I suppose I should be getting to work,” he says after a couple of hours. “Are you going to be okay here alone?”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” I say, lying through my teeth.

“Why don’t you come in and hang out,” he suggests, making my heart leap.

“I don’t want to be in the way,” I reply.

“No way you will be in the way,” he says with a smile. “You can sit close to the bar and write or drink…whatever you want to do.”

“Really?” I ask.

“Really,” he says, pulling me up to my feet.

I’m happy for the chance to not be alone and quickly put on some decent clothes and rush behind him.

*****

Less than an hour later, we’re at the bar. Joseph is frantic because Kyndrah’s daughter is sick, and she can’t come in. I watch him as he tried to find someone to fill in.

“Damn it,” he slams his fist on the counter.

I walk over to him from the table I have set up as mine for the night.

“What’s wrong Joe?” I ask, walking over to him.

“I called around to a few of our other girls and they’re all some concert in Newbury,” he growls. “We’re going to have to close for the night,” he says, scribbling a “closed for the day” note to stick on the door.

“Wait,” I find myself saying as I put my hand on his to stop him from finishing the note.

“What?” he asks, his face softening.

“What if I take Kyndrah’s place for the night? I mean how hard can it be?” I found myself asking something I never thought I would.

“I wouldn’t want to put you through all that,” he replies.

“All what? I just have to write orders, take them to the kitchen, bring the food back, and fill drinks,” I say with far more confidence than I actually feel.

“Alright, if you’re sure,” he said with relief.

“I owe you one anyway,” I say.

“How do you figure?” he asks.

“You kept me company after that stupid article came out. This is the least I can do.” I smile at him as I take an apron off the wall and tie it around myself. “Can I put my things behind the bar?”

“I’ll put it in the back,” he says, walking over to my table and packing up my notebook and pen. “It’s Friday, so we’re going to be pretty busy tonight and I don’t want your guitar to be splashed with beer.”

“Good call,” I smile as I pick up an order pad and a menu, trying to familiarize myself with a job I’d never done.

I was nervous with my first few customers, but as the night went by, we were having the time of our lives working together.

---