Page 7 of With His Ring

My eyebrows shot up. “Tonight?” I gestured down at my getup. I was in jean shorts, purple running shoes, and a white crop top with a black apron thrown over top.

His eyes followed my gesture, but his smile only got wider. “Tonight.”

My heart was beating so fast, I could barely believe my voice stayed strong. “Fine, but you’ll have to wait.” I pointed at his mug. “And that’s the last freebie, sir. I’ve got tips to make.”

He picked up his pint glass.

“I’m content to wait for what I want. Or pay for it, for that matter.” He winked at me before moseying slowly across the bar area to park at one of the small tables that faced directly into the bar area.

He set down his glass, shifted his bulk across the barstool, and saluted me.

Cocky bastard.

I must’ve said something out loud, because Betty buzzed up beside me.

“You know what they say about that kind of confidence?”

“No, what do they say?”

She blinked at me, grinning. “That they can usually back it up with whatever they are packing.”

I elbowed her with a chuckle, pushing back to where I’d been prepping for our rush. The cosmopolitan crew would be here any moment. I wanted to be ready. I picked up my knife, instantly feeling Jamie’s gaze on my back once more.

This time it was different though, and the knowledge that he was there, watching me, waiting for me, sent butterflies launching through my chest and straight to where my pitiful heart still pounded.

As I had imagined, the late-night happy hour group came through like a thunderstorm. Loud, messy, and entirely unreliable. As they began to filter out, the regulars seemed to huddle close to the bar. One in particular, a frat boy–looking man named Kenny, lingered near my side of the bar.

“Margot…my love. Can you get me one more?”

I tilted my head at him, smiling indulgently as he attempted to focus his eyes on my boobs. Barely resisting the urge to cover up, snap at him, or force his attention to my face, I moved away. “I’m pretty sure Betty said you’re done for tonight. Right, Betty?”

She had said no such thing, but we always backed each other up in these instances.

Kenny crowed about my cruelty as he dipped into the final swallows of his beer. I ignored him, straightening up my station while the remained of the regulars began to settle up and leave. It was getting late. When I glanced up, I looked straight into the curious blue eyes of Jamie, still perched on his barstool, still with his now-empty Guinness.

I couldn’t stop myself. I gave him a little half smile. He looked ridiculously cute just waiting there. I kind of couldn’t believe he had bothered.

“That your boyfriend, Margot?”

“No, he’s not.”

“Then go out with me.”

“Kenny, you’re drunk. Why don’t you head out? Otherwise I’ll have to call your roommate again.”

“Fuck that. He was pissed for a whole month.”

“Then it’s probably time to go, Kenny.” I moved around the bar to grab the broom from where it was tucked into a nook. To my surprise, Kenny followed me, his steps heavy. He wasn’t nearly the size of Jamie, but there was something predatory in the way he moved my way. It was enough for me to turn around, planting a hand on his chest.

“You need to go.”

“I don’t want to.”

To my surprise, instinct to call Jamie roared through my mind “Jam—” My voice cut off as the man in front of me vanished.

***

Chapter 4

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