Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
I rested my forehead on the table, panting as his hold on me eased, and he slowly pulled out of me.
He ran his palms over my bottom and squeezed gently. “You drive me crazy, Tink.”
It wasn’t love. But it was something.
31
Dolly
I finished wiping down a table at Paradise Brew and headed for the kitchen.
After her opening weekend, Pepper had underestimated how busy she would be during the week and called me today after I got home from my classes to see if I could come in and help. Micah hadn’t taken me or picked me up today. He had club stuff to handle, and Liam had called him to Ocala this morning for something going on there.
Happy to help my friend and not have to go home alone, I dropped off my books, stopped by to take Jeremy leftovers from last night that he could heat up, then headed to the bar. Pepper handed me a pair of black shorts and a cropped red T-shirt that had A drink in Paradise on the front and Paradise Brew’s logo on the back. Once I had changed, she had given me a quick rundown of things and introduced me to her staff.
So far, things had been going smoothly. Several of The Judgment guys came in, and I took their tables. A few college kids were at the pool tables, and some men that worked at a local power plant were at the bar. We stayed busy enough that there had been no time for her to ask me about Micah and what had happened on Friday night. I knew he hadn’t spoken to her since then, but I had texted with her a few times, assuring her that things were fine.
Momma, on the other hand, had surprised me by stopping by yesterday, and Micah’s laundry that I had washed was still folded on the coffee table. That hadn’t gone over well. She had the church prayer chain praying for my soul, and I expected a visit from the reverend any day now. Wouldn’t that be a sight if he came by when Micah was there?
“Hey, Dolly,” Tex greeted me as he sat down at the bar just as I walked back out of the kitchen to bring out some fresh lime wedges.
“Hey, you,” I replied.
“Pep got you working, huh?” His eyes traveled down my body, and a crooked grin tugged at his mouth. “Micah seen you in that outfit yet?”
I shook my head. “He’s in Ocala. This was a last-minute thing. Pepper’s been busier than she thought she’d be, and I needed something to do anyway.”
Tex nodded. “I sure hope I’m here when he gets a look at it. Might stick around longer than I planned in case he shows up.”
“Stop stirring the pot,” Pepper scolded him and slid a beverage napkin across the bar in his direction. “Miller draft?” she asked.
He nodded, then cut his eyes back to me. “Heard about what happened with Calista. You doing okay?”
I nodded. “Sure. Just fine,” I replied, wanting to get away from him before he asked me any more questions I didn’t want to answer. Talking about Calista was something I’d rather not do.
The sound of chair legs scraping the floor caught my attention, and I turned to see Grinder moving away from the table he’d been at toward the entrance.
“What the fuck are they doing in here?” Tex asked, standing up from his stool and following Grinder.
“Shit,” Pepper muttered, throwing down her bar towel and hurrying around the bar to go toward the entrance.
Two men had just walked in the door, and one of them I recognized. Bolt was a member of the Crowns MC. He’d been nice to me, but then that had been when I was with Canyon. I hadn’t known him really. Just like I hadn’t really known Canyon.
“Tex! Grinder! Step back. This is my bar, and I can serve who I want to serve,” Pepper called out before the two of them made it to the Crowns members.
“You gonna serve that Acree piece of shit if he walks in here too?” Grinder asked her, looking pissed.
Pepper put a hand on her hip. “No, but if he does, I’ll handle it. These two I haven’t got a problem with, so go on back to your drinks and let them be.” She swung her gaze back to them. “You two here to cause a problem?” she demanded.
Bolt held up his hands and shook his head. “No, ma’am. We came for a drink. We can leave if need be.”
She waved a hand at the empty tables. “Have a seat. Tonight’s menu is seafood gumbo or shrimp and grits,” she told them, then turned to shoot a warning glare at Tex and Grinder before making her way back to the bar.
When she got back to the bar, she looked at me. “You got a problem waiting on them, or do I need to go see if Jimmy can leave the kitchen to come do it?”