Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Unfortunately, I can’t do anything else right now without ramping up the incident, instigating a fight…and probably getting fired. Instead, once he leaves, I turn to Bethany. I’m pissed all over again when I see she’s gone tense, as if she’s trying to hold herself together, and sporting a big red handprint around her small wrist.
“You okay?”
She nods. It’s shaky at first, then she drags in a steadying breath. “Yeah. He might be the first to think he can demand something more than a drink. But like Andy said, he won’t be the last. I’ll get used to it. Thanks for stepping in. I’m Beth.”
When she holds out her hand, I have to admit I’m impressed by her backbone. I’ve seen new waitresses shrink, cry, and ultimately quit when confronted with a customer that vile. Bethany simply picked herself up and now looks determined to carry on.
“You’re welcome. I’m Clint. It’s my first day.” I shake her hand.
We touch. Heat flares and rolls through me, instant and scorching. If I wanted to fuck her before, it’s nothing compared to the lust burning me now.
Damn it to hell.
As I stare, her pleasant smile fades. She stares, blinks. Is she feeling the jolt, too?
That thought makes the fire in my body rage even hotter.
She pulls her hand free. “It’s my first week, too. You’ll get the hang of it.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah. Ash will help me. We’ve been bros for a long time.”
Beside me, my buddy waves at her. “Hey.”
She manages a muted smile, crossing one arm around herself as if she’s seemingly uncomfortable.
“You want an ice pack for your wrist?” I ask.
She rolls it gingerly. “It will be fine.”
Maybe but… “That dude needs his ass kicked.”
“It won’t solve anything. Besides, I’m a big girl. He won’t surprise me again. I’ll handle him next time. I’ve dealt with worse.”
Like what? By her own admission, she’s never been hit up waiting tables before this week.
“You don’t have to do it alone. I’m here. Ash is here.”
“Yeah,” my buddy cuts in. “No one will let anything happen to you on the job.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got it. Excuse me.”
Bethany turns away to check on her tables. It feels as much like she’s eager to get away from us as she is conscientious about her customers.
“And…that’s exactly how she behaved yesterday. Polite but not friendly.”
“With everyone?”
“Everyone. Andy, Montana, me, Terry, Samantha…”
Winning her over and earning her trust might be harder than I thought, but I won’t let that deter me. “Well, the evening is young.”
“Yep, but after five o’clock we’ll start getting too busy for chitchat. If you’re going to work on her today, you better do it fast.”
Point taken.
“Anything else that needs to be done before the rush starts?”
Ash shakes his head. “I got it. You go do that.”
When he points Bethany’s way, I nod and look across the room to find her lifting a tray piled with empty glasses and plates above her shoulder, balancing it on one upturned palm. She clutches a folding serving stand in her free hand and heads for the kitchen, determination stamped all over her face.
“Let me.” I stop in front of her and start to pluck the heavy tray from her grasp.
She swivels away from me, bristling. “I’m capable.”
And clearly touchy. Did someone along the way imply that she wasn’t? “Yeah. I just had a spare hand and thought I would help.”
She softens. “It’s unnecessary. You have a job to do, and so do I. I appreciate your help, but you can’t rescue me all the time.”
“How about just when you need it?” I try to joke.
She doesn’t think that’s funny. “I don’t date co-workers.”
I take a step back. “I don’t, either. In no way am I propositioning you. I just don’t know anyone on this island except Ash. Is there something wrong with me trying to be friendly? Did I insult you somehow?”
For a moment, she closes her eyes and hands me the tray with a sigh. “No. I’m sorry. I… Forget it. I won’t let that jerk upset me again. I get what you mean about not knowing anyone on the island. I only know a few people myself.”
“Exactly. Back home, I had a lot of pals and drinking buddies.”
“Where’s home?”
“North Dakota.”
Her mossy eyes flare wide. “Being here must be a huge change for you.”
“I haven’t even been here twenty-four hours yet, but so far that’s an understatement.” I head toward the bar and set the tray down. “Back home, it would be below freezing. Our nights would be in the single digits, if not in negative territory. There would be snow, and the wind would threaten to cut me in half.”
“That sounds horrible. But I grew up in California.” She deposits the stand on a hook in a nearby alcove. “Other than the few years I went to school back East, I’ve lived in warm climates my whole life. What brings you to Maui?”