Like A Boss (5 page)

Yeah, I’d ride her ass hard.
Ok, thoughts like these weren’t helping. They got me in this mess. What could I do to get rid of her? Maybe a list of what to do to stop thinking about her would help.

New New List How to Stop Thinking About Penny

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Make her wear a long sleeve shirt.

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No makeup at work

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Freckleectomy

Did they have a surgery to remove freckles? I could always add it to the list to find out. Either way Operation Forget Freckles was now underway.

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Focus on anything else

What could I do to stop thinking about her? She was slowly creeping in. I clutched the pen tighter in my hand as I freed my mind and started writing.

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Read more

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Search high and low for the Boba Fett action figure (priority)

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Watch Star Wars over and over until you have every line memorized

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Buy a new video game (GTA is coming out)

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Play the video game until my fingers break

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Stop staring at her

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Tell her she’s no longer allowed to talk at work

Fuck, this list was pointless. I yanked the paper from the spiral notebook and crushed it into my fists. Throwing it into the air, I cursed again.

I rubbed my eyes as I threw the notebook and pen across the room.

Flicking off the lamp, I tossed a while until sleep finally pulled me under.

When I entered the bar, bright and early, I found Penny behind the bar, leaning over into the beer cooler with her ass in the air. Rooted to the spot, my eyes lingered longer than they should have.

Her heart-shaped ass begged to be smacked by my flat palm. Yes, exactly what she needed, a good ass spanking. Unable to look away, I watched as she stretched her tight body upright before she turned and saw me gaping at her.

“Oh, Theo. I didn’t see you there.”

“Right,” I clipped. “How could you with your ass in my face?”

She took in a sharp gasp of air before a scarlet stain spread across her chest.

“Why don’t you bend at the knees from now on, Penny.” Fuck. A vision of her kneeling in front of me raced through my mind.

Her pouty lips pressed into a thin line before she turned, setting the Samuel Adams bottles on the glossy, oak bar. “Maybe you should post a sign,” she muttered.

“And where should I post this sign? On your ass that’s always in my face?”

“Well, you’d be the only one reading it since you seem to always be staring at it.”

“Me, stare at your ass? No, not likely. It’s common knowledge you bend from the knees to pick something up.”

“Like this?” She lowered to the ground, bending her knees in a sexy squat before me and I couldn’t think straight as she slowly rose up from it.

We were standing inches apart, and my body buzzed with excitement. “I’m sure that’s not what they intended when they made that rule.”

She propped a hip against the wash sink and crossed her arms. “No? And just what did they intend?”

“To not stick your ass in people’s faces, I presume.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want that.” Her eyes grew wide in mock horror. “Call the back police, there’s an ass in my face. Hey, look officer, there’s an ass right there,” she said, pointing directly at me.

I leaned in closer. “You think you’re so fucking smart, don’t you?”

“Maybe a little.”

“We’ll see how smart you are when your back’s broken.”

She laughed and the sound was like nails on a chalkboard. A really fucking sexy chalkboard. “Thanks, Theo, for always watching out for my backside.”

“Ok, enough sass from you. Let’s get to work.”

“Sure thing, boss.” She saluted me.

A fucking salute. My frustration with her grew as she smiled sweetly which was in complete contrast to her sour attitude.

“Today you’ll be showing me exactly what it is you do here.”

My plan was to watch her closely and find a reason to get rid of her.

After an hour of her showing me all the liquors and how to pour a beer from the tap, I realized there was more to bartending than I previously believed.

A group of women entered the bar and seated themselves right before me. Confidence coursed through my veins. I felt more in my element. Maybe I didn’t know how to pour a drink, but I sure knew how to take care of the ladies. I made my way over to the group of twenty-something year olds dressed in their beach wear and leaned an arm against the bar.

“Can I help you ladies?” I gave them a lazy grin and they giggled. There were five women in all, and each one ordered a Cosmopolitan.

“Penny, five Cosmos,” I called over my shoulder.

A moment later, Penny slammed a shaker, a bottle of vodka, triple sec, and some cranberry juice in front of me. “Here you go. Have fun.” She gave me a slight smile, which didn’t reach her eyes, and stalked off to the opposite end of the bar

Fuck. I can fake this shit.

I scooped some ice into the stainless steel shaker and poured the vodka in first. I poured for a while then, added the triple sec and cranberry juice. Easy. I topped the shaker and shook like I’d seen in the movies.

Grabbing a few martini glasses, the ones I always saw women in the clubs drink their cosmos from, I lined them on the bar and poured away. Two drinks down. I repeated the process until all five glasses were filled.

Owned that shit.

The ladies laughed as I slid over their drinks, winking to each one.

The brunette took a sip and turned her nose up as she tried to swallow it down.

“Is this a Cosmo?” she asked as she set the drink along the bar.

The other girls all took a sip with the same reaction as I tugged at the back of my neck with my hand. “What’s wrong, ladies?”

“Sorry, it doesn’t taste right.”

I examined the drinks and they were fucking pink. What did I do wrong? “Penny,” I said over my shoulder. “Can you come make the Cosmos for these lovely women?”

I emptied the five drinks into the sink as Penny stomped over.

“Fine,
Boss
,” she said through clamped teeth and a fake smile. She made the drinks like a pro, all while trying to show me the process.

When the new drinks were finished, I slid them over to the group of chicks.

“Thank you. What’s your name? Are you new here?” one of the girls asked.

“Yep, and you can come back to see me anytime.” I glanced at Penny as I said the next line. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

After telling them all my name, I joked and laughed with them, trying my best to keep them entertained while I left Penny to handle the rest of the bar.

For a Tuesday afternoon we weren’t slammed, but Penny appeared busy as she shot me her evil glare every so often. I laughed to myself—yeah suck it up.

PENNY

I was livid. Lord of The Assholes is what he was.

Here I thought maybe Theo took this whole learning the ropes thing seriously, but no, he wanted an excuse to flirt with the locals.

The ladies at the bar who hung on his every word were annoying me to no end. I couldn’t even glance in his direction.

Calm down. Why are you so mad?

I ran my hand across the bar and thought about Dex. It’d been another day of radio silence and worry about his whereabouts started to creep in. Why didn’t he call?

Everyone and everything annoyed me today. Rage lurked below the surface of my smile, threatening to surge out, but I knew I should keep it together through this shift.

Once I got home, I would blow Dex’s phone up until he answered. Or maybe I’d take a nap and forget about them both: Dex and Theo.

A Jason Mraz song played in the bar as everyone clapped and laughed along. I looked out at the guests we had this afternoon, so happy, carefree, and loving life. The complete opposite of me. Against my better judgement, I snuck a glance over at Theo. He was gorgeous with his dark, piercing eyes and chiseled jaw. His forearms rested on the bar and he was transfixed by something a redhead said to him. As she spoke, her arm waved wildly in the air, her fruity drink sloshing out, and he threw his head back and laughed.

I guess I was lucky he didn’t remember me. He probably picked up women every night, and I wasn’t any different to the many faceless one-nighters he had previously. It pissed me off thinking about how shallow he was. I didn’t normally do those things—one night stands weren’t
my
thing.

I wished I could turn off the sector of my brain that found him sexy and made me want to touch him in places the sun didn’t shine. I could never go there again, not if I wanted to keep my job. I shook my head and grabbed a towel to wipe down the bar. I didn’t want to give him any more reasons to find fault with me. Ugh.

Why did I have to go and stick my foot in my big mouth?

I decided right then and there, I would not let the past dictate my future. So what, I called him a few names. Get over it.

While he flirted with the five bimbos, I’d make myself useful and run this whole bar alone, and do an excellent job. I would prove myself worthy of this job and the promotion I deserved. Theo would see I could run this bar and be an asset doing so.

I threw the towel under the counter and grabbed a few tickets as they shot out of the printer. One more glance from me slid his way before I made the drinks for the cocktail waitresses.

Glancing up, I noticed Margo bouncing her way to the bar, and a huge smile spread across my lips. She pushed past people to make her way over, wearing a red sundress with her bikini straps peeking out from the top.

“Hey, Penny,” she said, leaning over the bar to kiss my cheek. “I had to come in and see you...” She stopped and I followed her line of vision directly to Theo.

“Hey,” I said, trying to get her attention. I waved a hand in front of her face as she leaned back trying to catch a better glimpse of the new boss.

“Is that him?” she whispered. “Mr. Hoity-Toity?”

“Yeah, he’s the new owner.”

Her face turned to mine and her eyes were wide with disbelief. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Are you kidding? He’s hot. You’re so lucky.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Sure,” I huffed as I turned to pour her usual drink of Malibu Rum and pineapple.

She stared a bit longer at Theo and then returned her attention back to me as she slid her shapely body onto a bar stool. I passed her drink to her and she took a sip before speaking. “I came to see you to tell you a story. Remember the guy I told you about?”

“The one from your gym?” I snuck a quick glance over to Theo who was still engrossed in a conversation with one of the floozies.

“Yes, the fighter. Well, today when I left the gym he said goodbye.” She beamed as she stirred the black straw in her yellow drink.

I smiled at her, indulgently. “What are you in seventh grade? Maybe you can pass him a note during third period,” I teased.

“Shut up. This is a big deal.” She giggled. “You know I’ve been trying to get his attention for weeks.”

She tried many different things to gain the awareness of a certain MMA fighter who worked out at the same gym she did. Ripped with muscles in places I didn’t know muscles existed, he never gave poor Margo the time of day—well until today.

“You’re right. It
is
a big deal. What did you say?”

She twisted on the stool trying desperately to contain her excitement. “I said goodbye back.”

I shook my head and laughed. “Oh god, Margo. You rushed down here to tell me this?”

“Of course not. I rushed down here to get a drink and soak up the sun. It’s my day off, but I also wanted to tell you about sexy fighter guy.”

We didn’t have a name for the unknown muscled man, but we were currently working on the small detail. And by working on it, Margo asked everyone at the gym for the mystery man’s name.

As I laughed I felt body heat radiate behind me, and then Theo’s koi fish tattooed arm reached around me as he extended it out to Margo for a handshake. “And who is this lovely lady here?” he asked with a hint of playfulness in his voice.

“This lovely lady is Margo, Penny’s roommate and best friend,” Margo said, extending her hand out. “You’re the boss, huh?”

They shook hands and my body stiffened as his chest pressed against my back. I side-stepped out of his way so they could continue the conversation I no longer cared to hear.

Theo was ‘the boss’ and he sure liked everyone to know it. I moved over to a lone man standing at the bar and offered him a drink.

“I’ll take a blow job,” the blond-haired man said, winking.

“One blow job shot, coming up.” As I turned away, he reached across the bar and grabbed my arm.

He leered at me. “No, I’ll just take a blow job.”

I lowered my glare to where he still held my elbow, his stubby fingers digging into my skin, and tried to yank my arm away.

“Let go of me,
now
,” I said through clenched, tight lips.

His beady eyes swept over my body. “You’re a pretty little thing.”

“And you’re about to be a dead little thing,” Theo’s forceful voice sounded from behind me. “Let go of the lady and let me walk you to the door.”

“I’m not done talking to her yet,” blond guy said.

“The fuck you are,” Theo said.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” blond guy questioned.

Theo, in one fell swoop, leapt across the bar. It was sexy as hell. He slammed the man’s face down and leaned down to his ear. “I’m the owner, and I’m throwing you the fuck out.” Still gripping the man by the back of his neck, Theo led him to the door.

Margo rushed over to where I stood.

“Did that really happen?” She took a seat, all of her attention focused on Theo and the raucous ensuing.

Theo was in a heated discussion with the blond guy, and by the time Seth made his way over to offer back up, Theo had the jerk out of the door.

“Yeah, that guy’s an asshole.” I rubbed my elbow, my eyes glued to the action at the entrance as well.

“He’s like some hot as hell superhero,” she said, turning to me.

“It’s him,” I leaned in and whispered, “The Lord of my O’s.”

Her brows shot up. “Are you serious?” She looked over at Theo and then back to me. “Penny, what are the chances of The Lord of your O’s buying this bar?”

I lifted my brows at her. “Apparently excellent.”

After kicking the guy out, Theo rushed over, taking my elbow in his hands, glancing it over. “Are you ok?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m used to it.” I shrugged.

He locked eyes with me. “No one will touch you again while I’m around. I won’t have anyone manhandling
my
employees.”

“Thanks for helping, but I can take care of myself, just so you know.” I held his stare as he dropped my arm.

“It’s my job to protect my workers.”

His sincerity caught me off guard and a current of want flowed through my body, settling in my core.

“Thanks,” I muttered as he walked away.

“Oh, damn. I can’t believe he’s the guy from the beach. It must be fate,” Margo said in an all too self-assured voice. She walked back over to her previous spot at the bar and grabbed her drink. “I’ll be over on a lounger wishing I was you.”

“He doesn’t even remember who I am,” I whispered to myself as she walked away.

***

A few days later, Dex called before I left for work. When I mentioned Theo Sullivan he sat silent for a moment and then told me to stay away from him. When I questioned why, he abruptly cut the conversation short. This behavior was odd and out of character for Dex. When we first met he was so charming, and lately he’d turned into something different.

Chaos greeted me when I walked into work. It was a later shift, and the afternoon rush destroyed the bar. The liquor order wasn’t put away, and I didn’t see anyone manning the bar.

I let out a sigh and threw my handbag into its usual spot. “Who worked today?” I asked Fiona
.
“This place is a disaster.”

“Theo worked the bar himself to cut labor costs.”

“And now he’ll pay someone else to clean up after him.” I threw my hair into a messy bun and glanced at the floors covered in trash. Theo stepped around the corner of the bar and our eyes met.

“Hey, Penny, the liquor order needs to be put away,” he called out to me. “Can you get to it?” He brushed past me with a case of Amstel Light in his hands and set it down along the bar to refill the cooler. “Also, the bar could use a little cleaning before the dinner rush.”

I rolled my eyes to Fiona as she laughed. “Normally, the person working the day shift takes care of the liquor order,” I said as he removed bottles. “You would know this, if you knew anything about a bar." Frustrated with how he always left the bar in complete disarray, I huffed out an agitated breath.

His arm stilled and he turned his head slowly my way. A muscle ticked in his jaw. Hard flints in his eyes followed my movement as I slowly bent down into a squat and flourished my arm to grab the receiving order clipboard from the lower shelf. “Wouldn’t want to hurt my back.” I smiled and stalked off toward the kitchen to take care of the order after he rolled his eyes.

As I put away a few bottles of Tanqueray in the liquor cabinet, I realized Theo would never take me seriously.

I’d never be moved from a lowly worker into a position of power. Maybe my father was right. Maybe bartending was a dead end job.

But, right now it was a means to an end. A stepping stone to a bigger dream.

I worked diligently to put away the cases of liquor. As each bottle hit the shelves, my hatred built like a full force hurricane.

When I finally finished, I ventured behind the bar to find every liquor bottle in the wrong place. Dirty bar glasses lined the wash sink, and it appeared as if Theo didn’t clean a thing.

“This bar is trashed,” I said, glancing at the fruit tray with no freshly cut fruit for the cocktails.

“Yeah.” Bottles clinked as he filled the cooler.

“Why didn’t you cut any fruit for the night shift?” He leaned up, finally giving me his attention, and I pointed to the tray as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Can’t you do it?”

I didn’t like his tone and I grew frustrated with his lack of teamwork. “I guess I’ll have to,” I said, snatching up the empty tray. “Usually the bartender for the day shift does it though.”

“Well, I’m not a bartender, I’m the boss.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed you’re not a very good bartender. Fiona,” I called out, “could you get me a pen and paper? We may need another sign. Theo here is the boss.” The words slid out before I could stop them.

I moved to go past him and he reached out an arm blocking me. “Are you kidding? I’m not here to do your busy work, Penny.” He leveled me with a patronizing stare. “That’s what I pay you for.”

My face turned hot as I thought about what he said. Busy work? My workload had doubled because of him and I fought down my anger not to blow up. I wanted to mouth off more to him but didn’t want to risk pushing him too far.

I went to the kitchen and slammed down the tray. Grabbing a cutting board and knife, I got to work, chopping out my frustration. While slaving away, I sliced into the tip of my middle finger and dropped the knife.

This was all Theo’s fault. Lord of the Signs.

I ran my finger under the faucet and again my thoughts flew to Theo and his forehead I wanted so badly to flick.

After bandaging myself up and finishing off the fruit, I returned to the bar. Theo waited with his arms crossed over his chest.

“What took you so long? I need to get out of here for the night.”