Read Online For Love of Charley by Katherine Allred - Free Book Online

in place, her face was even more
flushed than it had been, and her lips were slightly parted. His gaze moved to
her eyes and held there. He’d never wanted to kiss anyone so badly in his whole
life. He forced himself back to the business at hand, and pushed a mug under
the beer spigot. “I see you hired someone to replace Frannie.” In spite of his
effort, his voice came out husky.
    She cleared her throat. “Yes. As a matter
of fact, I hired both of the women I talked to today. The other one has
experience tending bar. She starts Monday. I thought she could take my place
here so I’d be able to help with the restaurant when we start building it.”
    “Good idea.” He put the first two mugs on
the tray and filled the third. Charley added the mixed drinks and the waitress whisked
them away. For the next thirty minutes, Cole spent almost as much time figuring
out where everything was as he did helping. There was a rhythm and an art to
serving drinks, he decided. So far, the art had escaped him, but he was
beginning to pick up the rhythm when a pair of blue eyes, framed by red hair
confronted him very directly from across the bar.
    “Hi there.” Her voice was throaty, and her
jeans looked as though they had been painted on. The middy blouse she wore
barely covered her breasts as she draped herself across the bar.
    “Hello, yourself.” Cole smiled at her, and
saw her eyes light with even more interest. “What can I get you?”
    “A light beer. Don’t want to add any more
pounds than I have to, you know.”
    His gaze skimmed over her as he slid the
beer across the bar. “Doesn’t look to me like you’ve got anything to worry
about.”
    “You’re sweet. I don’t remember seeing you
here before. Are you new?”
    “Just started tonight.” From the corner of
his eye, he saw Charley pause to listen.
    “What’s your name, sweetie?”
    “Cole.”
    She stuck her hand across the bar. “Hi
Cole. I’m Marcie.”
    Cole shook her hand briefly. “Nice to meet
you, Marcie.”
    She took a sip of her beer. “So, do they
give you a dinner break in this place, Cole? I wouldn’t mind a little company.”
    He flashed her his sexiest grin and
motioned her forward, leaning across the bar to meet her. “Sorry,” he
whispered. “The boss is a real bear about fraternizing with the customers. I
don’t want to lose the job after one night.”
    Marcie laughed. “I know what you mean,” she
whispered back. “When you get a night off, call me. Everyone here knows me.
Just ask and they can give you my number.”
    “I’ll think about it.” He winked at her,
and watched as she turned and wiggled away into the crowd.
    He almost jumped when Charley slammed an
order down next to him. “If you’re done socializing,” she snapped, “I need four
drafts.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said mildly. “Coming right
up.” As soon as her back was turned, he grinned.
    * * * * *
    At two in the morning, as the last of the
staff straggled out the door, Charley was totally disgusted with herself but
still fuming. Cole, now whistling cheerfully as he helped her clean up, had
apparently felt no qualms about flirting with every female in sight. Every
female except her, she amended. All she got was that cool indifference. And why
did she even care? It certainly wasn’t as if she had any plans where he was
concerned. He was perfectly free to see anyone he wanted. Savagely, she rubbed
the countertop down.
    “You know, tending bar isn’t what I
expected it to be,” Cole mused. “I actually had fun tonight. If Frank can’t
make it tomorrow night, call me. I’ll be glad to help again.”
    “Thanks, but no thanks.” She practically
spit the words. “If I need any more help I’ll call the new bartender and see if
she can start early.” Doing her best to ignore him, she stomped to the front
doors and locked them, then grabbed her purse. “Goodnight.”
    “I’ll walk out with you.”
    “That’s not necessary.”
    “It is unless you