Rebel's Cupid by Niki Mitchell

Author:Niki Mitchell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Niki Mitchell Publications LLC
Published: 2019-03-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Lucky’s new waitress called in sick, and the Rebel Rouser Tavern hopped. Shorthanded on a Friday night. Shit. Not again.

Folks were generally mellow but might get agitated if they waited too long for a drink. Unpredictable drunks sometimes got crazy. He broke up a brawl last Saturday. Two bull-headed men argued over who won at pool. His jaw still smarted from the left hook.

He served the first half of the ten-foot bar closest to the door, his partner handled the other end. With most tables filled, customers kept him busy shagging drinks. The two empty seats in front of him at the bar gave him access to scan the area. So far, nobody seemed rowdy. Four couples danced to “Leader of the Pack” in an area about as big as a patchwork quilt. More folks trickled in through the front door.

Lucky removed empty glasses, wiped off the top of the bar, and glanced toward the door to his left. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” came on. The song reminded him of that night Belle sauntered up to him with a drink order. “Have you ever been crazy in love?” she’d asked. Her violet eyes shone with curiosity. He hadn’t bothered answering.

Love never lasted.

Dating his share of beautiful women, no one captured his complete attention until Belle charged into his life. A temporary diversion. If only his thoughts would quit swinging back to her.

A baseball game played on the giant flat-screen TV directly across from the bar. He watched a player hit one over the fence past center field. “Yes! That’s it,” he said to his friend, Havoc, sitting on the barstool in front of Lucky. Others in the bar cheered.

“It’s Griswald’s tenth grand slam for the season.” Ace held up his mug to tribute the player.

At a table not far from the restrooms toward the back of the saloon, two burly men arm wrestled. “You cheated,” one of the men shouted. The other cocked his fist back.

Instinct had Lucky ready to jump over the bar, but Geezer was a few feet closer, and shouted, “Knock it off.”

The men glared at each other. One got up and left in a huff.

Yep, this was gonna be one of those nights.

A chick in a red dress walked in. He thought it might be Belle, but as the woman stepped closer, he noticed blonde hair.

“You okay,” Havoc asked.

“Yep.” Why couldn’t he quit thinking about Belle? Whenever he picked up a wrench in his garage, he imagined her next to him. Yesterday, a friend came to the house to figure out why his taillight didn’t work. Using a manual, he tracked down a short. Belle would’ve liked solving this problem.

Havoc held up his hand for another beer.

“Where’s Thorny tonight?” Lucky slid a new draft in front of his friend.

“His grandfather died.”

That comment punched at Lucky’s gut, reminding him of his own grandfather’s passing.

A bearded guy ordered four longnecks and brought them to friends at a table. Others came up. He poured more drafts, a couple of mixed drinks, and filled bowls with peanuts.

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