Chapter 2

Lenny watched her move through the crowd and frowned. She actually did know what he was going to ask. Maybe she got asked that often. If he thought he had a chance with Elaina, he’d try. In fact every man in here has at least once.

Ever since he hired her last year, she must’ve been asked out by every single male patron and at least two women. He chuckled at that last thought. However Elaina was adamant that she didn’t want a relationship or a man even though Colt seemed to always sit in her section. It was odd that she didn’t seem affected by it. Every other female within sight was, even Leslie who he heard begging her a moment ago for that table and who hasn’t come back from it yet. She was bending over, with elbows on the table and face in her hands as she stared dreamily at Colt.

His eyes guided there and narrowed. She knows the policy on flirting. He’d have to enforce that. With Elaina he never had the need, but all the other women he’d had over the years seemed to require it. He watched Elaina again as she politely conversed with the customers while setting the drinks on the table. Normally he would insist she wear tighter clothes to bring in patrons, but she seemed to attract them without that extra effort. She also didn’t get pawed as much as the other women he had on staff. It took him some time to figure out why. She gave off an aura that drew respect from the opposite sex and normally even the most drunken customer actually listened to her. That included an ornery man like Colton Hartley. Come to think of it, when Elaina worked Colton never got out of hand.

Colt’s table erupted in laughter again and Leslie’s laughter followed. He shifted his gaze back and saw her hand Colt a piece of paper before leaving.

When she finally came back to the bar he spoke, “Leslie, I don’t pay you to flirt.”

She sighed as if his tone was annoying, “Yes I know boss, but come on. Look at that guy.” She said with a toss of her head in the direction she just came from.

“That guy has a different gal every week and he’s not secretive about it, so don’t get your hopes up.”

She gave him a look of mock shock, “Why boss, what makes you think I want a relationship?” she finished with a grin, “Thanks for the warning Lenny, but Elaina already told me.” She waved a dismissive hand and walked away.

Of course she did, he thought seeing Elaina make her way back to them, because she was sweet. Maybe she was a little naïve too because he was sure that Elaina hadn’t noticed that Colt always sat in her section even if she didn’t have the same one every shift. Also, his eyes were on her a lot more than they were on someone like Leslie. Maybe it was because Elaina was oblivious, or didn’t fall for him that made him watch her. Who knew? Of course it didn’t help that she was beautiful. He’d never seen hair that looked so soft and with her bright grey eyes, it was a stunning contrast to ebony hair. Her skin was flawless and fair, but her body, even under the moderate clothes she wore, was nicely proportioned.

Oblivious to the two men’s scrutiny Elaina was tired, and her feet were sore. Usually a Friday night was busy, but it was crazy tonight. Probably because it was on a double payday; month end and on a Friday. Not only that, she was up with her mother a few times the night before and it was getting more and more exhausting. She wouldn’t trade the time she had left with her for anything in the world but sometimes she wished she had a few days to herself. She wished that Lenny would let her go early tonight but from the look of the place that would be a lost cause. There was a good band playing too so the dance floor was packed, and people got thirsty when they danced.

She set her tray on the counter and bent down to run her finger along the inside heel of her shoe. A blister was starting to form. She should have worn these shoes around for a few days before wearing them to work.

“A beer Len.” Came a deep masculine voice beside her.

She knew exactly who it belonged to and the quick glace sideways to see expensive handmade cowboy boots was a dead giveaway. She took her time straightening up as if somehow she hoped he would disappear before she stood straight. Even if she didn’t take her time Colton was a long way up there compared to her five foot four height so she still had to crane her neck to look at him. When her eyes guided up to his, he was looking down at her with an unreadable expression, but his eyes said plenty.

As usual he was very handsome and even if he was dressed as a pauper, there was no mistaking his masculinity. Tonight he was wearing a cream Stetson pulled low over his brow in a way that was completely alarming to the opposite sex. His eyes were honey brown framed with thick lashes to match his dirty blond hair. Right now they were centered directly on her and unwavering.

All three of the Hartley men were gorgeous. The oldest got married last year, but Colt, the youngest and Lance were still single. Lance and Jacob also had the same eyes but unlike Colt’s blonde hair, theirs were closer to her color. She turned her head away. He was leaning his arm on the bar while he hooked a boot on the foot rail at the bottom, looking totally at ease and completely and utterly irresistible. Especially when he topped it off with one of those visceral melting sloppy grins.

“Coward.” He said deeply.

Her eyes glanced off of him, but she still refused to meet his gaze again. Thankfully Lenny finished her order and she took the tray and left without a backward glance.

Colt watched her leave and let out a long appreciative whistle.

“Leave her be Colt.” Lenny said uncapping his beer and handing it to him.

Colt took a long swig from the beer, leaned back against the counter and spoke without taking his eyes off of Elaina, “Too late for that Len.”

“I’ll ban you from here Colt and even that lawyer brother of yours won’t be able to help you get back in. You leave Elaina alone, she’s got enough on her plate as it is.”

“Yeah, I hear you Len.” He said even though he still had no intention of listening.

The evening went by quite quickly and Elaina was thankful for last call. That is until Leslie came up to her and begged her to go tell Colton that he was too drunk to drive.

“He won’t do it.” Elaina said confidently while collecting empties off a vacant table without looking up. Colton may appear irresponsible, but he was one of the most level headed people she knew when it came to things like that even if he was inebriated.

“He said he was going to and some guy named Tom told me that he normally listens to you. And Elaina, I got his number, so I don’t want him to die in a car accident before I get a chance to have him at least once.” She begged in a tone that bordered on an irritating whine.

Elaina paused and stood erect taking a deep breath to calm her temper. She wished that some people would just keep their private lives private, but again, that’s what she got for working in a bar. It was really hard not to wince at Leslie’s confession. It even angered her a little but she quickly squashed it. As for the rest of what she said, Tom was Colt’s lead hand and more than once they got rowdy together, but Colt was only doing this to aggravate her and get her attention. She knew he was. “Fine.” She said straightening up and placing her hand on her hip in annoyance, “Can you finish this?” she gestured toward the messy table strewn with empty glasses and beer bottles.

“No problem.” She grinned as if she didn’t notice her coworker’s irritation.

Elaina walked over to the table with the four loud men and several women and held out her hand, “Keys Colt.”

He looked at her for a moment then that sloppy smile spread across his handsome face again as he reached up and tipped his hat back on his brow so he could see her better. “Frisk me.” Bellows of laughter followed that statement.

Elaina ignored the others. “I’ll get Len to frisk you first.” She warned, “Now hand them over and I’ll call Lance to come and get you and Tom.” She looked around the table, “the rest of you are taking a cab.” She was answered by a few drunken “whatever you say sweetie’s’. She did her best not to let her eyes linger on him, but the short amount of time she did look was enough. She could have drawn a picture with what she took in. His hair was getting long because it was just covering his brows and he had a day’s worth of stubble on that nice square jaw and when he smiled like he did now, those two mouth-watering dimples appeared on either side of that nice firm masculine mouth.

He stood up and looked down at her from his towering height keeping the grin, “Honey, one of these days you’re going to say yes to me.”

She shook her head and kept her hand held out. It was hard holding his gaze knowing that he purposely did it to goad her, but she wasn’t going to give in. She never would. She also refused to embarrass herself in front of his friends by falling for that charm visibly. Even if she blushed a little, it would mean that he affected her and she knew him well enough to know that he’d use it against her.

Taking his time and keeping his eyes on her, he dug in his front jeans pocket and fished out his keys before placing them in her outstretched hand.

They were warm in her palm and she actually stared down when he placed them there, not because they were warm but because he had circled his long fingers around her hand when he did so.

Then he jerked her toward him causing her to release a small gasp of surprise, “My house key is the brass colored one.” He said deeply.

“Let go of me Colt.” She said tossing her head back and meeting his gaze struggling to regain her composure. Her chest was just about touching him and her body was close enough that she could feel the heat off of him. Even if she wasn’t close, he gave off enough heat to melt sand into glass.

He leaned down to move his mouth close to her ear and his other arm slipped around her back, “Honey, you and I both know that this ice queen image you have going is a farce.”

She took a step back and pulled her herself free while glaring at him. “I’ll call Lance.” She said turning and walking away briskly while clutching his keys so tight in her hand she was sure it would leave a mark.

Colt just smiled as his eyes guided down her back side. Maybe he should be a little worried if Lance showed up. His brother may seem like the socially acceptable one, but he could still put a fist through his jaw if he needed to.

“Damn boss, how come that one doesn’t fall at your feet? You’re losing your touch.”

Colton just gave him a look that said more than spoken words could, “I doubt it.”

Tom tried his best to read it, but he was really drunk and even though Colton was, he still acted sober. “What the hell does that mean—“

Just then the waitress that practically threw herself at him earlier appeared.

“I get off in twenty minutes.” She said.