Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
"Just great, Chef. The drinks are flowing freely, well, not free, but flowing like a river." I rolled my eyes at my corny joke. "I made you this. It has no booze in it, but it's refreshing." Suddenly feeling ridiculous and needy, I set the glass on the nearest flat surface and rushed out of the kitchen.
"Rob!" Torey called out to me from the end of the bar where she stood with Nix and Kayla. "Holy shit, girl, what are you doing behind the bar?"
I flashed a cheeky smile at my friends and gave them the abbreviated version of how it all happened. "Levi didn't want to be a liar, so here I am." And it was the most fun I'd had in a long time. "What are you drinking?"
"Somebody on Insta said you were making lavender mojitos. Please tell me that's not internet gossip," Nix pleaded.
"It's not. Three?"
"Four, actually." Nix moved aside, and my gaze landed on a face I hadn't seen since I was fifteen years old.
"Hailey?"
She flashed a shy smile and nodded. "You remembered."
"How could I not? You were the coolest chick to ever walk the halls of Holiday Grove High." A few years older than us, Hailey had worn leather pants and a denim jacket together. She smoked French cigarettes and wore high heels with jeans to school. "What are you doing back?"
"Starting over," she answered and looked away.
There was a story there, but now wasn't the time. "It's so good to see you. We'll catch up soon, I'm sure, but for now...four lavender mojitos?"
They all nodded, and I busied myself making the drinks when I felt a hand on my hip. "Where in the hell did you get ingredients for lavender mojitos?"
I glanced over my shoulder and right into those killer green eyes. "You have two bottles of lavender syrup for some reason, and they're selling for twenty bucks."
His eyes bugged out. "In that case, here's the mint. Sela said we were running low." He pressed a kiss to my cheek and disappeared back into the kitchen.
"We'll definitely have to talk about that at brunch on Monday," Kayla demanded with a smile.
"That rock star is having a negative effect on you," I told her.
She laughed. "I know, right?"
When Levi finally locked the door hours later, I was exhausted. And thrilled. I'd filled an entire evening, and I hadn't once thought about my career. It had been a long few days, but I wasn't ready to call it a night just yet.
"You did good tonight," Sela offered with a hesitant smile. "I wasn't sure."
"Thanks. Making drinks on demand is different than doing it in class, but we all made it." I laid out three stacks of cash and pushed one toward Sela and the other waitress, Dani.
"We don't split tips," Dani said in confusion.
"No? Well, it was busy tonight, and you ladies did all the running around."
"Seriously?" Sela's big brown eyes were wide with shock.
"Yeah, seriously. You earned it."
She smiled and counted her stack. "This is more than I made all night! What's your secret?"
"She's a famous model," Dani groaned.
I ignored her comment and shrugged. "Like I said, the place was packed, which meant a lot of customers ordered from the bar."
"Thank you," Sela said again, giddy with her haul for the night. "See you tomorrow?"
"Have a good night."
Dani followed her out, and I locked the door behind them.
"All done?" Levi's ever-present apron was gone, giving me a long, hard look at his blue-and-white flannel that hugged his pecs and biceps.
"Yeah. The girls are gone, and the bar is clean."
"They're right, you don't have to split your tips with them."
I smiled. "You were eavesdropping?"
"Maybe you just talk really loud."
"Maybe I do," I conceded. "They earned the tips, and it's not like I need the money."
He studied me, then grinned. "You just keep surprising me, Rob. I have to keep up." He produced a large paper bag from behind him. "Dinner?"
My mouth watered as I nodded. "Nothing hotter than a lumberjack chef."
He laughed. "Come on, I'll drive. That drink helped, what was in it?"
"Ginger, citrus juices, and tonic water. Refreshing, right?"
He wrapped an arm around me, and we left the bar together. Without discussing it, we both went to his car and headed to Levi's place.
"Dinner was delicious, thanks."
"My pleasure. What did you think?" His question held a hint of uncertainty, which surprised me.
"It was a clever twist on a pub favorite, and bowls are very trendy right now. They popped up all over social media tonight. How was it being in the kitchen?"
"Great. I forgot how much fun it could be." He hit me with a smile that would've buckled my knees if I wasn't already sitting down.
I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out—just a jaw-cracking yawn. "Oh my god, I guess I'm more tired than I realized. Sorry."