Read Online Gage, Ronna - The Search is Over (Siren Publishing Classic) by Ronna Gage - Free Book Online Page B

shit if he thinks you would even consider going for him for even a second.” Minerva cackled, shaking her head. “What is he thinking? Hell, even I’m too young for him.”
    Both women sat at the table snickering as they cut up the omelet fixings for breakfast.

Chapter Ten
     
    Candi usually liked working the weekend shifts, but today the bar was quiet, too quiet, for a Saturday. A slow afternoon wasn’t good for business. Sunday afternoons were her favorite times to work.
    Out of boredom, she became a nuisance to her patrons. A couple sat in the back corner sharing a private whispered conversation. They would almost cringe at the sight of her coming. The two men playing pool in the back opted to get their own drinks. The crowd usually didn’t start picking up until five o’clock, but the usual customers from the air base didn’t stop in for the usual mid-afternoon beer. Without their arrival, time passed by even slower. What a waste of time.
    Minerva and Candi sat at the bar drinking iced tea from the restaurant next door, working out the final details for the theme for the next day and the preliminary plans for the next week’s event.
    “Do you want to work tomorrow?” Minerva asked, looking at the schedule.
    “Yes, I can make great money on Sundays.”
    “You know the theme is NASCAR.”
    “Yep, I plan to wear a NASCAR shirt, cutoff denim shorts, and sneakers.”
    Minerva nodded. “Okay, so about one o’clock or two?”
    “One. I can stay till six or even seven. The post-race party is the best time to make tips.”
    “Six should do…”
    The slamming of the door against the wall interrupted the quiet and stillness of the bar.
    Candi quickly rushed to the counter to greet the arriving customers.
    “Goddamn, it’s hot outside,” Jesse bellowed as he and Roy slammed the door and came inside.
    The couple in the back stopped talking at the disruption.
    Candi felt a pang of disappointment, but she didn’t let it show. “Hey, guys, how’s it going?”
    “How in hell can you people in Texas handle the humidity?” Jesse asked as he sat on top of the barstool just inside the barroom.
    Candi shrugged. “I was born and raised in Texas . It helps to wear clothing that isn’t thick.” She looked at what he wore. “Like jeans, and your shirts should be a light color.” She waited for Jesse to comment further about the weather. “How was your day?”
    “Fine. I bought a new pair of jeans,” he answered and then looked past Candi to Minerva at the other end of the bar. “Minerva, can I get a beer?” He lifted his thin blue T-shirt from his body and fanned himself. A line of sweat stained the back of his shirt, giving a good indication of the humidity outside. “How can you stand this heat?”
    Candi laughed. He didn’t hear a word I said . At least the pouting stage is over . She didn’t want to fight with Jesse. She wanted to go on with her life…no bad feelings and no strings. This was, after all, his doing. He wanted to be with someone else. She wasn’t going to stand in his way.
    Roy, on the other hand, still found it difficult to be civil to her. He scowled at her when he came into the room, and he would probably have a scowl on his face when he left. He walked straight to Minerva, sat down on the stool next to her, and kept his distance.
    Just ignore his bad mood. One fight a day is all you can handle. She turned to Jesse. “Did you talk to Stephanie?”
    He gave her a keen look. “Yes, I talked to her this morning.” Jesse’s shoulders seemed to relax a little bit. He took a sip of his beer as he looked at her skeptically. “I’m surprised you asked.”
    “You shouldn’t be. I don’t have any ill feelings toward you, Jesse.” Candi gently laid a hand on his forearm. “It didn’t work out for us. I’m not as crushed by our breakup as your father wishes, but I would be crushed if we didn’t end this as friends.”
    “I would like that.” Jesse gave Candi a once-over. “I hear