Page 59 of Miss Understanding

I turned only to have my breath catch.

Liam.

What the hell was he doing here? And why did he have to look so handsome in a white button-down shirt with a charcoal gray sport jacket? He was without a tie, his shirt unbuttoned enough to show the barest hint of skin at his neck.

“I, um, I got him.”

I walked over to where Liam had positioned himself at the last stool. Unlike the other men waiting on drinks, who were staring up at the stages where beautiful women in very little clothing danced to the music, his gaze was completely transfixed on me.

“What are you doing here?” I had to shout over the loud music.

“I wanted to see what this place was about.”

Oh. I scanned the place, trying to guess what he was thinking. Currently, it was nuts. And totally not his scene. At least I wouldn’t think so. “Do you want something to drink?”

He hesitated. “Yeah. I’ll do a beer.”

“What kind?”

“Amber lager or something.”

I poured our amber on draft and handed it to him. “It’s ten dollars,” I said, rattling off the price as I normally would.

He handed me a twenty. “Keep the change.”

“Thanks.” His intense eyes were still on mine, but I had a full bar of customers. I couldn’t linger.

I worked the bar the next half an hour, but every time I glanced at the end of the bar, Liam was still there. Still watching me.

Noticing he was getting low on his beer, I used it as an excuse to go back down there. “You want another?”

“No. But when do you get a break?”

My heart beat harder. “Why?”

“Because I want to talk to you.”

“I don’t get breaks where I can talk to customers.” I’d have to go to the private employee area, and there was no way I could take him back there. “I’m off at two thirty. We could talk then?”

He glanced at his watch, frowning and probably realizing that was four hours away.

“I’ve gotta get back. Sorry.”

I stepped away to help two college guys ordering Flaming Doctor Peppers, and when I turned back, Liam was gone. I fought my disappointment. What did I expect? Him to sit there and watch me all night?

Jose sidled up next to me. “The suit is talking to the floor manager.”

My gaze tracked to where my boss was, in fact, talking to my boss before heading upstairs to the VIP rooms.

“You two a thing?” Jose asked.

“Nope.” The p popped on the response as if it would hurt less.

“Then, why do you look like someone kicked your puppy, beautiful?”

I didn’t bother to try to mask my disappointment with a smile, knowing all too well some of the upstairs activities included strippers for paying guests. “Because I’m a stupid girl.” I took a deep breath. “Who needs to get back to work.”

I shook martinis, I poured whiskey, I fixed shots. I was trying to get back into my groove, so when the floor manager came behind the bar to tap me on the shoulder five minutes later, I startled.