But he still hesitated. “It’s not Dad I’m worried about. It’s Connor.”
Seriously? “Connor is not your boss. Just because he owns most of the town doesn’t mean he can rule everyone in it. There’s still such a thing as free will.”
Luca looked down, a small smile tweaking his mouth. “You want to let go of me? Your nails are going to leave marks and Krista will get the wrong idea.”
“Sorry.” She snatched her hand off him. Then she sighed, swallowed her pride and dropped the act. “Luca, I don’t want to sit home alone tonight. I’d rather be busy. Please.”
He hesitated a moment longer. Then nodded. “But you feel even slightly unwell, or threatened or—”
She turned to fetch a clean apron from the linen cupboard, waving a hand at him. She didn’t need his kind concern. She was okay. She was always okay.
She freshened up and walked out to the bar, taking a moment to check over the stock and mentally run through the bar’s cocktail list. The current crop of party-girls in town were really into the mixes. All the more reason to make sure she was on form and she had less than half an hour before those doors opened—except they swung wide now.
“What are you doing here?” How had the words left her mouth before she’d thought them?
But thinking when first confronted with Connor in jeans and black tee was impossible. He was infuriatingly handsome. And in a pissy mood.
“I was about to ask you the same question.” He glared at her, stalking across the empty bar space.
She glared right back. Not gonna bother answering.
“Come on, I’ll give you a lift to your apartment.”
What, like he was her minder? She lifted her chin but then saw him mirror the aggressive movement, saw the flicker in his eyes.
He was spoiling for a fight and she got the vibe the guy would do anything to win.
So she drew a steadying breath. Stay cool. She always stayed cool.
“Thanks anyway, but I’m not leaving yet.” She smiled at him.
The arrogant man leaned right over the bar and tugged at the string of her apron. “You’re not working. You’re taking sick leave.”
“I’m not sick.” She batted his hand away. And if he had a clue he’d know she didn’t have any sick leave to take. People in her position didn’t.
“You still have that poison in your system.”
“It’s really none of your business.”
Connor looked past her. “Luca. She’s not working.”
“Connor, man…” Luca raised his hands helplessly as he walked towards them. “You know what she’s like. There’s no arguing with her.”
“Sure there is.”
“No. There isn’t.” Luca said. “Not for me.” He frowned at Connor meaningfully. “It’s what she wants.”
“I take it you’ve improved your security?” Connor growled.
“Of course.” Luca answered. “Extra on the door and I’ll control numbers inside better too.”
“About time.”
“I am working.” Savannah interrupted before things grew edgier between the two, fully irritated with their paternalistic attitudes towards her. “Neither of you have the right to stop me.”
“No.” Connor looked at her and suddenly, unnervingly, he smiled. “But I’ll do the shift with you.”
“What?”
“I’ll be an extra bartender for the night.”
“What?” That from Luca this time.
Savannah had now lost the power of speech.
Luca cleared his throat. “My father—”
“Will never know.” Connor finished smoothly, tearing his blazing gaze from Savannah to look coolly at Luca. “And even if he does find out, he’ll be appreciative of my support at this difficult time. If there’s trouble in Summerhill, it affects all of us.”
Luca’s mouth hung wide. Then he moved. “Fuck it. You’re both used to being in charge. Both used to giving the orders and being obeyed.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m gonna leave you to duke it out.”
“Thanks.” Connor nodded. “It’s a friendly gesture, you understand.”
Luca glanced from Connor to Savannah and back again. “I think I get it. Real friendly.” He walked towards the restaurant, suddenly bursting into laughter.
Savannah stared after her him. That was it? The guy wasn’t going to say no to Connor? Didn’t anyone say no to Connor?
“Don’t you have your exclusive little empire to run?” Savannah turned to glare at him.
“I have a good team in place,” he answered idly, walking round to her side of the bar. “I’m capable of delegating.”
She bet he was. Figureheads, that’s all the Hughes family were. No doubt there were a zillion minions up at the Lodge doing all the real work.
“Isn’t pouring drinks beneath you?” She watched him tap out a text and then pocket his phone, before looking about to familiarize himself with the bar set up.
“Not at all. I’ve worked every job there is at the resort. Still do, on occasion.”
Oh as if. She’d done every job in her father’s small hotel, she’d worked round the clock trying to get it all finished and right. And she’d failed. Connor here had no clue if he thought a half hour here and there watching the minions counted as anything. “Like operating the ski lifts?”
He nodded.
Because it was fun eyeing up the snow bunnies. She bet he only did an hour or so on shift before collaring some babe to help him use those extra special items he kept in his First Aid kit. “What about the beds?” she asked acidly. “You make those too?”
“If I’m the one who’s made a bed messy. Sure, I’ll fix it up.”
She met his pointed stare, refusing to absorb any hidden meaning. Refusing to be impressed. “Can you make a screwdriver?”
“Screaming orgasm, sex on the beach, wallbanger… I can do them all.” He turned to face her, standing too damn close in the process.
In his black jeans and that form-skimming tee, he looked so sharp her eyes watered. And she knew he’d come here determined to do this. He’d dressed specially. But she liked that vee at the top of his tee. It offered just enough of a glimpse. Sensations stole her concentration—memory of his sculpted, solid chest and the heat of his skin…
Enough.
“Prove it,” she said sharply.
“I just knew you were going to make me.” He stepped to the small sink and scrubbed his hands like a medic. “Like to set a challenge, don’t you?”
Savannah leaned back against the bar, trying to remain cool in the face of extreme
provocation. The look of concentration on his face? The damn ruthless efficiency with which he worked? He clearly had spent some hours behind the bar, because he knew what he was doing.
“Thing is, a screwdriver isn’t so much of a challenge really.” He set the drink on the counter and turned to provoke her. “Do I pass?”
“You added slightly too much vodka.”
“How do you know, you haven’t tasted it.”
“I don’t need to taste it, I saw.” She straightened and turned to wipe down the bar. The wood was already gleaming, but she needed the displacement activity. “Use your measures.”
“Yes, boss.”
She tossed down the cloth. “I don’t need you to do this.”
“Too bad, I’m gonna be right alongside you every minute of this shift.”
“Oh joy,” she cooed sarcastically.
“I know. I get off on the idea too.” He suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her hard so she stumbled, then he hauled her against him. “You get at all tired, or dizzy. You tell me.”
She sent him a withering glance, trying to hide how fast her pulse was suddenly skipping, how stupidly excited she suddenly was. He felt so good pressed up close to her. Her body craved more. Skin. Her lashes lowered as she absorbed the sensations, relived heated memories.
“You tell me.” He shook her gently, making her look back up at him. “Or I’ll find out for myself.”
“How exactly? Manhandle me some more?” And she so hadn’t meant that as the breathless challenge it had come out as.
“I wouldn’t need to. You’ll let me feel how hot you are.”
“Dream on.”
“I do. Every time I close my eyes, you’re there riding me.”
Savannah gasped and he swept his hand down her back, sending a delicious ripple of delight down her spine. His cock dug into her belly.
Hard. Big. Hers.
If she wanted it.
Savannah fought to hold herself rigid and not rub against him. Or worse, rest against him.
You’re stronger than this. You don’t need anyone. Never need anyone.
“You and Luca’s father don’t get on?” she asked. Anything to distract herself from the crazy urge to rise onto tip toe and press her hungry mouth to his. The guy was her enemy.