Page 25 of Love That Sass

He knew she was working hard to pay for her Pop’s care. Hell, he wished he could just give her the money, but it was too soon for that. He tried hinting at a loan and she damn near turned to ice. He read between the lines. Gwen would not take any handouts from him.

“Alright. You can take the lead in the back bar. I’ll be checking in on you from time to time, but don’t be afraid to call out if you need something.”

“Okay, but if you come back here, who will handle the front?” she asked.

“Saturday, remember? Me and Cole will both be at the front bar, but I’m manager tonight. If there is an issue, I will deal with it.”

She had her hands on her hips but was listening to everything he said. If he didn’t know any better, he would think she was a Shifter the way she practically growled at him with her normal little voice. She had grit, that one. Grit and sass, and fuck, was it sexy!

“You’ll be keeping tabs on me. Got it,” she said. “I won’t let you down.”

“You couldn’t if you tried,” Weylin whispered and rubbed the back of his neck.

Tonight was going to be a long one. He probably needed to let the Wolf out before the crowd started coming in. Weylin was shifting into his Wolf every night, but he was staying outside her room and that was not the same as running.

The animal needed to let off some steam. Usually, his choices were to shift and run in the woods or find some woman to fuck when he got this antsy. He didn’t want anyone but Gwen, and she was nowhere near ready for physical intimacy, so shifting to his monster won out.

“Oh, my shirt came in,” Gwen told him with a grin that stopped him in his tracks.

She was so damn pretty. Her hair was down, and curls were raining down her back and shoulders, so bouncy and sexy. He was dying to feel them between his fingers. Wondered if they were coarse or silky. He would bet on the latter, but damn, wouldn’t he love to find out for sure?

His attention was snagged by Gwen as she held up the teeny weeny excuse for a t-shirt that Sheila had ordered her. Weylin frowned hard.

Fuck.

There he was, hoping he wouldn’t have to smack anyone upside the head tonight, but it looked like that plan was flying right out the window. The woman was fine as fuck in baggy tees and cotton pants. But he had forgotten all about the Serious Moonlight uniform—if you could call it that.

Thank you very much, Sheila. Fuck.

“Hey, you don’t have to look like that. It will fit me,” Gwen retorted.

Her posture had gone ramrod straight, and the scent coming off her was bitter, like she was angry or hurt. Fuck. She was obviously mistaking his momentary pause for something it wasn’t. But that was all his fault. He should have explained better.

“Hang on a second, Gwen—”

“No need. I understand by your expression what you are thinking, but let me tell you something, people come in all shapes and sizes.”

“Gwen, I think you misunderstood, and I know that’s my fault, but if you just let me—”

The woman was not letting him get a word in edge wise, and fuck, it was difficult for him to stay focused. Her eyes were bright, and her hair was flying as she waved her hands around as she spoke in true New Jersey fashion.

“I know the shirt looks small, but Sheila said it stretches. And yes, I realize I am a big girl, but that is no one’s business, but mine. I have tended bar before, and let me tell you something, Mr. Body Beautiful, my boobs usually detract from my belly, so you don’t have to worry about me. I will do just fine with your customers. The rest of me will be behind the bar. I won’t embarrass you or the business,” she said each word with a hushed fury that both startled and turned him on.

Damn, but she was feisty. Gorgeous in her fury, too, but she had it all wrong.

“Gwen, I gotta tell you, I have no idea what you are talking about,” he growled.

“Listen up, because I will only say this once. Words have power, and I believe in being kind to my body and my mind. Now, I realize I don’t look like you all, but can I help it if I wasn’t blessed with whatever superior physical genes your entire friend circle was blessed with? I mean, I have never seen so many tall, muscular, good-looking people in one place in my life. But that doesn’t mean I will shame you when I put on the uniform—”

“Hang on a second,” he pleaded louder.

His heart was pounding, the Wolf clawing at hm. Fuck! He fucked this all up. Weylin felt like was about to explode, but wait—did she say?

“You think I’m good-looking?”

That little doozy seemed to stop her tirade, and Weylin’s grin grew wider. Her arousal teased his senses, adding even more sweetness to her natural strawberry scent. Weylin’s chest rumbled with his beast as he watched her like the predator he was.

“Oh, like you need me to tell you that you’re hot. Fish for compliments somewhere else, buster. Besides, I heard all about you from the waitstaff. You’re a regular heartbreaker, aren’t you?” she replied, hands on those damn delightful hips of hers.