Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
“I was just telling Sierra here about that guy who was in here earlier? The one who fell off his stool?” he cackles.
“Yeah. That was funny,” I deadpan, then turn to Sierra. “You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t she be okay?” Stu says indignantly.
Ignoring him, I press her with my eyes. “You all right?”
“I was just talking to her,” Stu huffs. “This is a social place—”
“Enough,” I growl. “Walk away, Stu.”
“Maybe you forgot, but this is my place—”
“And this crowd is in here because of me,” I snap. “Now, unless you want this place to get really empty, really fucking quick—and stay that way—you should shut the fuck up and walk away.”
Stu looks at me like I just slapped him across the face. He glances at Sierra, who looks away. He blinks and walks off without another word.
“Clearly, I should avoid this bar,” Sierra says.
“I should too,” I reply.
“Slater, I don’t want to affect you doing your job.”
“I don’t do this for the money. I do it because it gives me a break from fixing toilets. I do it because it’s fun,” I say. “This stopped being fun.”
“Slater—”
“Listen, finish up your drink and head on home. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Are you sure?”
I flash her a smile. “Very.”
Sierra doesn’t even finish her drink. She simply slides off her stool and heads out of the bar, my eyes fixed on that divinely perfect ass as she goes. It makes me anxious to get home and put my hands all over it. Stu sidles up next to me, a look of displeasure on his face.
“I don’t know what your problem is, but I was just chattin’ that girl up like I do with everybody else who comes through those doors—”
“Let me just stop you right there. You don’t leer at everybody who comes through those doors like you were leering at her. You were making her uncomfortable.”
“Like hell I was.”
“You should learn to read your audience, Stu.”
“I don’t appreciate the way you’re talking to me right now.”
I shrug. “I tell it like it is.”
“Yeah, well, in case you forgot, this is my place,” he says. “And I’m not going to have you treating me like an asshole in my own place.”
“Don’t act like an asshole, I won’t treat you like an asshole.”
“Who in the hell do you think you are?”
“Me? I’m the guy that filled your bar tonight.”
Stu glares at me, his jaw clenched. He looks like he wants to take a swing at me, but I know he won’t. He doesn’t have it in him.
“You know what? I’m done,” I say.
“What?”
I take off the apron around my waist and throw it down on the bar. “I’m done.”
“You can’t—”
“I can. And I am.”
He growls at me. “You walk out that door, don’t you ever come back.”
“Don’t worry. Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Slater, don’t you dare—”
Before he can finish that sentence, I head for the door and shout a loud goodbye to everybody in the bar. Immediately, I hear the disgruntled groans from the patrons and Stu offering a free round to everyone who stays. I laugh as I push through the door and step out into the night. I’ve got far better things to do with my time than dealing with an asshole like Stu.
10
SIERRA
Iwalk around his place, listening to the shower running. I scope out his book collection and am impressed by the diversity of reading material on his shelves. He’s got current fiction, classic fiction, historical biographies, and non-fiction on various topics, and all the books look to have been well broken in. They aren’t there just for show. He really has changed a lot since the last time I saw him. The old Slater considered Playboy and Penthouse fine literature. This new Slater seems to be well-read and perhaps even, dare I say, cultured?
It makes me wonder what prompted this shift in him. We’ve talked about everything under the sun and got each other caught up on our lives, but the one thing I haven’t asked him yet is why he’s gone from being an extroverted party boy to something of an introverted bookworm. I can’t say I don’t like the change in him. I like it a lot. But I am curious why he’s changed and seems to have drawn inward as he’s gotten older. As I hear the shower shut off, I make a mental note to ask him about it later. Right now, I’ve got better things to think about.
I turn just as he walks into the living room with nothing but a towel around his waist. He looks at me with surprise on his face as I take in the sight before me. His hair is wet, and beads of water cling to his beautifully sculpted body. Just seeing him standing there, half-naked, glistening in the dim light of the living room, makes me quiver and ignites a fire between my legs.