Serve Me Read online

  “Taking it easy tonight, I hope?” I gruffed.

  “Yeah. I am. Oh, I checked the tab. Those cheese fries put us up almost two grand.”

  My eyes widened. I was shocked. “Whoa. Awesome.” I stood up, prepared to go out on the floor. “Who is working the floor?” I asked. We didn’t really have a set wait staff, it was another thing on my list. I just didn’t want to employ too many full-time employees.

  I appreciated the college students, but most want all the university breaks. So that would be an entire summer and winter break with them gone.

  “Tessa. But you know most people go to the bar to order.” He added.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  We walked out and met the crowd. It was always full. Being Monday, it wasn’t as full but there was still a good amount of people. The billiard room was full and the bar was packed.

  Joshua went off, and I leaned on the far wall, watching Alexa. She knew how to work with the customers, always smiling and laughing. Probably at jokes that weren’t funny. She didn’t even appear flustered as she had people calling left and right, barking orders. She just smiled and worked it off easy.

  I stopped noticing her interactions and just focused on her. Her blonde hair was tied up in a loose bun, tendrils falling and framing her soft face. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, beautiful under the bar lights. Her arms were bare in the shirt, and her stomach too. But I noticed the men looking at her too. She had an amazing ass, so I understood, but it made my fists clench in frustration. I thought about changing the shirt now, to something less revealing. Tessa loved the shirt, and even hiked it up higher. Which meant I had to talk to her again. Damn’t.

  “Tessa!” I called out to her as she passed me to pin orders up in the kitchen. That method was old fashioned, but I liked it. And it works fine. The kitchen staff is quick on their feet, Austin makes sure of it.

  “Yeah,” she bounced over after she pinned her orders up. She stood by my side but I didn’t look at her. There have been many instances when she flirts hard, but I know it’s harmless. Her boyfriend is always around, it’s just how she is.

  “I told you about the shirt.” I said. She sighed but pushed it down.

  “Sorry. I get extra tips, I need the money.”

  Then I felt bad. I sighed and shook my head as I looked at her. She was young, first or second year in college I think. Her brown hair and eyes made her look innocent, but I am convinced she is a little crazy. “If I give you a raise, will you stop hiking it up like a bra?”

  Her eyes widened as she nods. “How much?”

  We already don’t pay her the average for a waitress. “Ten an hour?”

  She narrowed her eyes, and I roll mine. “Twelve. And no more tipping out. It isn’t fair, honestly.” She crossed her arms and stands her ground. I chuckled but nod anyway.

  “What are you in school for?” I asked her.

  “Law.” I smiled. Makes total sense.

  “Uh huh. Well keep your shirt down. Get back to work. You’re the world’s most expensive waitress.”

  She giggled but hopped off to work. My eyes went back to Alexa and I watched her as the night went on. I checked in on the kitchen and the tabs with Joshua. We were doing well. Joshua posts the new recipe on all our social media pages, and I think it gets people coming in.

  There are a few tables of people studying while they eat. I don’t see how they can concentrate, but I’m not complaining. I decide to go and check on Alexa when things calm down.

  “How many ID’s did you check tonight?” I smirked at her.

  She pushed hair out of her face and smiled. “A few. Caught a few fakes.” She gestured to the few IDs by the check out and I smile.

  “Anything serious?” The last thing we need is a cop bust.

  “No, just some kids. I gave them virgins.” She giggled.

  “Alexa!” A customer called her and she excused herself.

  The guy had a wandering eye, and he followed after her as she made his drink. He looked like he needed to be cut off.

  “This isn’t my first rodeo, you know. But I agree.”

  “How do you like it?” I asked her. My eyes drifted to her bare skin and the swell of her breasts. I can imagine how she would feel against me. I adjusted myself right in front of her, and her skin flushed as she looked up at me.

  “I like it a lot.” She replied softly.

  “Good. I’ll leave you to it, I just wanted to check on you.” I touched her shoulder softly, it’s all I get for the moment.

  “Thanks.” She smiled, and went to tend to more customers.

  I checked on Austin back in the kitchen, and he was up to his neck in orders. But he took it in stride like always. Joshua lounged on the counter, drinking a beer as they made jokes. I joined in, but it was mostly about Alexa. I learned Austin had his little taste, literally.

  “That woman is a minx, we’re fucked.” Joshua said.

  “Yeah, you say that because you already fucked her.” Austin just about growls.

  “Jealous?” Joshua teased. I rolled my eyes.

  “Nah, I’ll get mine.” Austin turned back to the food but hands it off.

  “This could get messy.” I finally say aloud.

  “She’s smart, I don’t think so.” Joshua said.

  “You think? And what about you two?”

  They look at each other and shrug.

  “We’re best friends, nothing will fuck that up. Same with you. So, if you want her, and she wants you…no laws against it, is all I’m saying.” Austin said, and Joshua agreed.

  I laughed a bit and agreed with them. They were right, the three of us are tight. Whatever happens won’t break us.

  We stayed in the kitchen as the night dragged on. The kitchen closes at midnight on Mondays, so it wasn’t long.

  “I’m going to help her close up the bar.” I announced.

  “Yeah, since you’re so old fashioned.” Joshua said.

  I rolled my eyes and left. Just as I appeared back on the floor, I saw that guy from before grabbing at Alexa as she cleans up the bar. I stand off, not wanting to start something. but when she pulls away again, he grabs at her and smacks her ass. He was a big muscular guy, and I lost it.

  “Hey, hands off!” I stepped forward. Alexa looked up to me and looks relieved immediately.

  “Who the fuck are you?” He stood up, wobbly with his drunkenness.

  I tell Alexa to get behind the bar and she does, but with scared eyes. The guy is about my size, but half lucid so there is nothing to worry about.

  “The fucking owner. I suggest you leave now.” I stepped forward to the door but he shoves back. I tried to keep my cool, but the guy was really starting to get under my skin.

  “Step off mother fucker, the bitch wanted it.”

  And then I lost it. I wailed on him, my fist gliding across his face once, twice, three times until he’s bloody and hits the ground. Still I go on him, annoyed and fucking angry at his audacity. The urge to protect Alexa was that strong.

  I heard screaming in the background, but I’m so mad I barely notice it. I keep going. I feel him go limp and then I stop, but he snarls up at me like he has a fucking secret.

  And then I hear sirens.

  Shit.

  Chapter Six: Alexa

  There are always those times, when you feel on top of the world and then it just comes crashing down on you. It comes with any good thing. And I don’t know why I didn’t expect it. I get my dream job, coupled with mind blowing orgasms and lustful looks from a sexy Irish man that are just as good.

  So, I should have seen it coming. It is just how my life goes. Good happens, and then bad comes right after. When mom finally got a new job, and we moved to a new city and I got to go to a better school, she was hit by a bus the week after. A freak accident. Dad was gone years ago, so that didn’t matter.

  Anyway, I moved on from that. Sort of. Foster care didn’t leave much room for dwelling on the past. Getting this job, to me, was making
it. So of course, it had to all crumble around me in just one night. My first night, and it ended like that.

  “My cell is fucking blowing up. It’s ridiculous.” Joshua paces the bar in anger. I have never seen him so tense, his shoulders hunched and his jaw tight.

  I sat at the edge of the bar, hugging my knees to my chest as I replayed the events. I knew his type even when he first sat down. Tough, but not really. Thought he could have whatever he wanted. I could deal with his wandering eyes, not thinking he was going to touch me or anything.

  But then the bar cleared out…I could still feel his cold grip around my wrist. The sting of his slap on my ass. It made me nauseous, thinking of how it felt when he touched me. It had never happened to me before, handsy people at the bar. But it did and then…Kellan was there. The way he was on that guy so fast, protecting me. I wasn’t used to it, and I definitely didn’t expect it. It made me swell, and made the ill feeling of that man fade.

  But I still heard the sound of his punches. The slap of his skin colliding. It made me flinch at every thought. I realized I was shaking. Joshua was still on the phone, evading questions. Reporters, people on Snapchat had shared the event at the snap of a finger. Now anyone who followed them, and there were thousands; knew what happened.

  Bar owner beats up customer.

  Nothing about the customer cursing, and assaulting me. No, of course they left that out.

  “Baby, you’re shaking.” Austin appeared next to me. His strong arm encased mine, holding my shaking at bay for the moment.

  “Are you okay?” He leaned in closer, crouching next to me. I inhaled his sharp scent, mixed with the smell of the kitchen. He smelled like comfort food, but in a…sexier way.

  “I’m sorry.” I whispered. I turned to him, my eyes glistening.

  “Oh no, don’t be sorry. Why are you sorry? That prick put his hands on you.” He spat the last part. I shook my head and looked away. But he cupped my chin and turned me to face him.

  “Kellan…they arrested him. Because of me.”

  That was the hardest part. I don’t even know why I called the police, I think I was afraid the guy would turn on him. He was big, and drunk, so he had no inhibitions. The cops hauled Kellan off like he was in the wrong, and that asshole demanded charges be pressed. I couldn’t even imagine what Kellan was going through.

  “Don’t think about that. None of this is your fault.” He tucked hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek. “I don’t want you thinking like that, none of us do.” He gripped my shoulders and held me close to him. The hug was a tight embrace, of nothing but comfort. His hard body against mine.

  “Come on, this floor is filthy.” He stood me up and walked me around the bar. I wiped my eyes where a few tears escaped.

  Joshua ended a call and came over to me. His strides filled the room and he was in front of me immediately.

  “Are you okay?” He rubbed my shoulders and looked me over with concerned eyes.

  “I’m…I’m fine. Is everything okay? I’m so sorry…” I said again.

  Joshua shook his head and ticked his jaw. “It’s fine, don’t even worry about that, honey. Come here.” He took me in his arms, wrapping me up in his solidity.

  I exhaled and relaxed a little more. His arms felt so good, I closed my eyes and surrendered for a moment, but then I saw the horrors of the night again. Kellan hauled off in handcuffs, people videotaping it…it was horrible. I began to shake again.

  “Shh, baby.” Austin stood behind me and gripped my shoulder. With both of their hands on me it was like my body was doing something else, flying away from me and letting their comfort win.

  I nodded and pulled away. Joshua’s phone went off again. Shouldn’t people be asleep? He took the call elsewhere. Austin went behind the bar and poured me a glass of water. I hadn’t realized I was so thirsty.

  Joshua reappeared with a serious expression.

  “That was the lawyer. Bail is a hundred Gs.”

  I gasped. That was so much! Austin just shook his head and rolled his eyes.

  “Fuck. I haven’t shut the kitchen down yet.”

  “And I’ve got people up my ass, if I walk in there…” they shared a look and stopped to think.

  Then they both looked at me.

  “What?” I finally said. I hugged my arms around myself, suddenly cold.

  “Alexa, can you go down to the jail and bail Kellan out? I wouldn’t ask if I had any other options, and I trust you to do it.” Joshua explained. I blinked rapidly, a bit confused.

  “I…of course, I’ll do anything to help him. But where are we getting the bail money from?” I asked.

  Joshua looked to Austin and nodded. He gestured for me to follow him. I walked by his side and he took my hand. He led me down a hallway and into the office. I never noticed the false wall they had, but behind it was a thick black safe, just like in the movies. He took out two pieces of paper, but they were a bit bigger than regular bills.

  “Bonds. They know what to do with them.” He handed it to me, and I nodded, still shivering a bit. The shirt didn’t cover much, and not running around the bar made the cold get to me.

  “Here.” He went around the desk and looked in the chest behind him. He handed me a sweat jacket, when I put it on it smelled just like Kellan. I stopped the tears from forming once again.

  “Thank you…which precinct?” I asked him. He rubbed a hand through his hair as he thought.

  “Uh, nineteen.”

  I nodded and he followed me out. I grabbed my stuff from the bar, and said goodbye to them both as I went to the precinct. I wondered if they knew I had been with them both. I wasn’t sure if Joshua would tell Austin, or if Austin would tell him what we had done. I thought enough time had passed for them to tell, but I wasn’t sure.

  The walk wasn’t long, and the buses weren’t too sketchy for me to get on it. But Joshua still insisted I take his car. It was more like a spaceship; a supped-up Jeep Renegade. I didn’t have much time to enjoy it, because my mind was racing. I couldn’t believe that asshole pressed charges, knowing that he was wrong.

  Or perhaps he didn’t know, and was an idiot as well. I parked in an acceptable spot and went inside. I wasn’t new to police stations at all, so I knew exactly where to go. Joshua was right, they took the papers and clicked through the clerical shit.

  I was told to wait by the door, in the waiting room. There were others around, from all walks of life. I wondered who they were bailing out. One of them was so young, I thought she was bailing out one of her parents. I watched the door impatiently, and even stood up to pace.

  I don’t know how long it took, but finally Kellan appeared with two rough officers.

  “Kellan!” I called out. He turned to me, and looked surprised to see me.

  I ran right into his arms, not caring if it was inappropriate or not. His arms slipped around me and held me close. His body was so warm, and so solid. His scent intoxicating, mixed with his musk it invaded my senses and I nearly inhaled him all at one.

  “Thank you…I’m so sorry. I didn’t want any of this to happen.” I mumbled against his chest. He held me at arm’s length and cupped my face, searching my eyes.

  “Sorry? Don’t be sorry. I would do it again.”

  I really looked at his face then. I didn’t even know the other guy got so many hits in. His eye would be swollen shut tomorrow, now it was an ugly purple and black. His lip was split, but not too bad. His nose had dried blood on it too.

  “Let me take you home. I can help with this.” I touched his face gingerly, and he leaned into my touch.

  I felt the natural pull between us, and it was overtaking me fast. He nodded and I led him out to the car. He winced as he got inside, and I felt another pang of guilt as he shifted uncomfortable in the drive. He told me where to go.

  “Don’t feel guilty.” He broke the silence.

  “It’s hard not to. People are blowing up Joshua’s phone. Bloggers are already writing pieces. The bar…”


  “Will probably get more customers now. No such thing as bad publicity.” His accent was a deep drawl now. He must be exhausted.

  “How can you be so relaxed about all this?” I asked him. He shrugged, but then winced again. How much pain is he really in? I don’t think he would tell me honestly if I asked.

  “I’ve experienced worse things in life, Alexa.” He reached over and touched my knee gingerly.

  I nodded. We had arrived, he lived in an old firehouse. I parked in the garage and we took the hanger up. The inside was swank, which surprised me. Modern furniture and finishing’s, and it was all open concept. The bedroom openly visible. He walked ahead of me and went into the kitchen to grab a drink, a bottle of Powerade.

  “Your place is so nice.” I looked around. He had a few photos of him and the guys, but that was it for decorations.

  “It isn’t much.” He shrugged, and then winced again.

  “You must be hungry, I can make something.” I went over to his fridge, he didn’t have much to choose from so I just grabbed the eggs.

  He sat at the counter, drinking his Gatorade as I made scrambled eggs. He ate slowly, and I pretty much just watched him. The hard lines of his face, his chiseled jaw and narrow nose. He is so aesthetically pleasing.

  “Thanks.” He said.

  I washed the dishes quickly. “You should take a hot shower, and I can help with the bruising a bit.” I told him, he gave me a look but agreed. He doesn’t seem to like being taken care of.

  He stood up and sauntered over to his bathroom. He suddenly stopped in the doorway and turned to face me. “You could join me.”

  Chapter Seven: Kellan

  I hadn’t been in that much pain since my school yard days, when I had to fight to keep my lunch. Some days my clothes. But this felt different. And I knew it was because of her. I was fighting for something real.

  It wasn’t even a fight, really. Just an asshole in a bar. But he was wrong for what he did, I wish he knew that. But fuck, my body hurt. He landed awkward punches, bruising anywhere he could. My head pounded, and I felt like my eye was going to fall out.