The First Time is the Hardest: An Austin Brothers Novella (Austin Brothers Series Book 1) by L A Cotton

Author:L A Cotton [Cotton, L A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Delesty Books
Published: 2016-07-05T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“HOW YOU HOLDING up, darlin’?” Betty barreled into the kitchen, hands full of dirty plates.

“I’m okay.” My feet hurt like a bitch, and my black tee stuck to me like a second skin, but I was okay.

“It’s crazy out there.” She leaned around me and dumped the plates into the sink, causing suds to splash my shirt. “We could really use a spare pair of hands out front.”

“I- I don’t know, Betty. You said I could stay back here.”

“And you can. It’d just make my life a darn sight easier if I had someone out front who actually knew what the hell they were doing.”

Rubbing the back of my hand across my damp forehead, I squeezed my eyes shut. It wasn’t Betty’s intention to guilt me into it; it was just her way. She spoke first then thought about it later.

“Hmm, sure, I guess I can. For a little while.”

“Atta girl. Anyone even looks at you wrong, you come straight to me, got it? Now grab a clean shirt from the locker and take the back section.”

Betty disappeared through the swinging door, and I rinsed my hands and went in search of a shirt. For the next two hours, all I had to do was take orders, smile, and serve tables. As long as no one asked me any questions about Lucas or threw me too many pity glances, I could get through one shift.

~

An hour into service, things started to quiet down. Booths emptied and were replaced with the odd guy or couple out for a drink. Old men sat propped at the bar watching ESPN on the flat screen above the bar. I carried out my duties and kept my head down, but as I headed toward the back of the bar, the hairs along my neck electrified.

My eyes found him immediately, sitting in the booth in the darkest corner of the bar. His stormy eyes burned into me, anger swirling in their depths. The intensity caused me to suck in a sharp breath. Ryan didn't move or flinch or make any effort to beckon me over. He just stared.

And then I noticed her.

The petite blonde curled into his side.

I hadn't seen her before, too entranced by him and the darkness surrounding him. He wore it like a cloak, shielding him, keeping me out. Pain twisted on his face, and I wanted to go to him and wrap him in my arms the way I had at the motel.

But then she curled her arm around his and leaned in close to his ear.

He didn't look away from me.

The blonde continued to whisper something—I didn't need to take two guesses at what—but he remained, eyes locked on mine, unmoving.

“Mila.” Stephanie, the other waitress, penetrated my trance, and I blinked twice before turning to her. “Yes?”

“Are you okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”

No, not a ghost.

Ryan was all too real, and he was leaving with the blonde.

My heart plummeted, and I barged past Stephanie to get out of here.

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