Read Online The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella by Suzanne Sweeney - Free Book Online
Authors: Suzanne Sweeney
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get you tonight?” I ask while mentally calculating the number of customers waiting to be served.
“Whatever’s on tap ... and your number.” He looks sweet and hopeful. I have to let him down easy.
“Sorry, it’s really very sweet of you to ask, but I have a boyfriend.” I slip the cash from his hand and he sulks away. I don’t have time to worry about his hurt feelings, and I instead concentrate on making mojitos, cosmos, and martinis.
Derek grins and winks at me. “You know it, babe!” and he smacks me on the ass. I shoot him a look of disapproval and I hope he gets the message. Flirting is one thing, but ass grabbing and slapping crosses a line.
The rest of the night continues with the boys acting like fools and the customers eating it up. The tip jar is overflowing and the time flies by.
It’s close to closing time and the crowd has thinned out considerably. There are a few stray customers sitting at the bar. One guy’s been sitting here a while. I vaguely remember serving him a few beers throughout the night. Marcus busies himself cleaning up the bar and I walk around wiping down the counter, asking everyone for their final drink orders.
When I approach the guy sitting alone, something inside me doesn’t feel right. Call it intuition, but I have this feeling that there’s going to be a problem. It’s the way he’s sitting there, alone, watching my every move. “Last call, what’ll it be?”
He grabs the hand I’m using to wipe down the counter with. “How about we get out of here and grab something to eat at the diner, sweetheart?” He grabs my hand in both of his, petting my knuckles.
“Sorry, I don’t date customers. How about you let go of my hand, and I’ll get you another beer?” I struggle to free my hand, but he’s not letting up.
“Aw, come on. I saw you flirting with those guys all night. You like to have fun, I can tell. Let’s have some fun together. I promise I’ll show you a good time.” He grins at me, but his eyes remain steely.
“How about you give me some cash, and I’ll give you a beer. That sounds like a good time, don’t you think?” I look over to Derek for a little assistance, but it’s Marcus who shows up behind the jackass.
“Let the lady go, sir, NOW!” Marcus is a very intimidating man. If he wasn’t a bartender, he’d make one heck of a bouncer.
The jackass immediately releases me, throws a few dollars on the counter and calls back, “Slut!” as he exits the bar.
Immediately, Marcus joins me behind the bar to check to see if I’m OK. He hold my shoulders and looks me directly in the eyes, “Jette, hon, how ‘ya doin’?”
“Thanks, Marcus. I’m fine, really.” I lie. I’m actually a little shaken up by the whole situation, but no one needs to know that. “Let’s finish cleaning up and go home. It’s been a long night.”
Derek sees Marcus holding me in place, then comes over and asks, “What happened?”
“Jette just got a little manhandled at the bar. I had to step in before things got out of hand,” Marcus explains.
“Guys, I’m fine. Let’s not make a big deal out of this. No harm done.” I turn away and start wiping down the bar with my wet bar rag while my hands are shaking, probably from the adrenaline raging through my veins.
I start to feel better with each minute that passes. By the time we lock up and head to our cars, I’m feeling much better. Marcus and Derek insist on walking me to my car, just in case the jackass hasn’t left. Truth be told, I’m glad to have them hovering.
Once I get home and crawl into bed, exhaustion overtakes me and I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.
Chapter Five
Chasing Rainbows
I skipped my run yesterday, so staying home again today is out of the question. I look out the window to check on the weather, and I’m greeted by gray skies. The skies reflect my mood. I’m still
“Whatever’s on tap ... and your number.” He looks sweet and hopeful. I have to let him down easy.
“Sorry, it’s really very sweet of you to ask, but I have a boyfriend.” I slip the cash from his hand and he sulks away. I don’t have time to worry about his hurt feelings, and I instead concentrate on making mojitos, cosmos, and martinis.
Derek grins and winks at me. “You know it, babe!” and he smacks me on the ass. I shoot him a look of disapproval and I hope he gets the message. Flirting is one thing, but ass grabbing and slapping crosses a line.
The rest of the night continues with the boys acting like fools and the customers eating it up. The tip jar is overflowing and the time flies by.
It’s close to closing time and the crowd has thinned out considerably. There are a few stray customers sitting at the bar. One guy’s been sitting here a while. I vaguely remember serving him a few beers throughout the night. Marcus busies himself cleaning up the bar and I walk around wiping down the counter, asking everyone for their final drink orders.
When I approach the guy sitting alone, something inside me doesn’t feel right. Call it intuition, but I have this feeling that there’s going to be a problem. It’s the way he’s sitting there, alone, watching my every move. “Last call, what’ll it be?”
He grabs the hand I’m using to wipe down the counter with. “How about we get out of here and grab something to eat at the diner, sweetheart?” He grabs my hand in both of his, petting my knuckles.
“Sorry, I don’t date customers. How about you let go of my hand, and I’ll get you another beer?” I struggle to free my hand, but he’s not letting up.
“Aw, come on. I saw you flirting with those guys all night. You like to have fun, I can tell. Let’s have some fun together. I promise I’ll show you a good time.” He grins at me, but his eyes remain steely.
“How about you give me some cash, and I’ll give you a beer. That sounds like a good time, don’t you think?” I look over to Derek for a little assistance, but it’s Marcus who shows up behind the jackass.
“Let the lady go, sir, NOW!” Marcus is a very intimidating man. If he wasn’t a bartender, he’d make one heck of a bouncer.
The jackass immediately releases me, throws a few dollars on the counter and calls back, “Slut!” as he exits the bar.
Immediately, Marcus joins me behind the bar to check to see if I’m OK. He hold my shoulders and looks me directly in the eyes, “Jette, hon, how ‘ya doin’?”
“Thanks, Marcus. I’m fine, really.” I lie. I’m actually a little shaken up by the whole situation, but no one needs to know that. “Let’s finish cleaning up and go home. It’s been a long night.”
Derek sees Marcus holding me in place, then comes over and asks, “What happened?”
“Jette just got a little manhandled at the bar. I had to step in before things got out of hand,” Marcus explains.
“Guys, I’m fine. Let’s not make a big deal out of this. No harm done.” I turn away and start wiping down the bar with my wet bar rag while my hands are shaking, probably from the adrenaline raging through my veins.
I start to feel better with each minute that passes. By the time we lock up and head to our cars, I’m feeling much better. Marcus and Derek insist on walking me to my car, just in case the jackass hasn’t left. Truth be told, I’m glad to have them hovering.
Once I get home and crawl into bed, exhaustion overtakes me and I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.
Chapter Five
Chasing Rainbows
I skipped my run yesterday, so staying home again today is out of the question. I look out the window to check on the weather, and I’m greeted by gray skies. The skies reflect my mood. I’m still
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