She laughed, and the two women hustled out leaving Tyree shaking his head, amused.

Since he'd managed to scare his computer into cooperating, Tyree worked a bit more on the accounts, and found that his mood had improved. Probably a little bit because of Jenna and Megan's company, but also because the books were showing a consistent increase in revenue over the past few weeks. And that was a hell of a thing.

He shut the machine down before it had the chance to get cranky again, then headed into the kitchen to make sure things were running smoothly, and the team wasn't getting backed up with the lunchtime rush.

During the first four years that The Fix had been open, Tyree himself had run the kitchen, experimenting as he finalized what he now considered to be a damn perfect menu. But with the increasing competition on Sixth Street, the heart of Austin's tourist-and-college scene, he'd made the decision to be a front-of-the-bar owner, getting to know the customers and having a presence in the place. That was something a corporate bar could never replicate. That true down-home feel of a genuine local bar.

Since Jenna had come on board as the bar's marketing guru, she'd seconded his decision. And although Tyree missed being in the kitchen trying to replicate and expand on the southern flavors of his childhood, he couldn't deny that he liked the sense of being at the center of life at The Fix.

"Easton," Tyree said, clapping the local lawyer on the back as he nodded toward the beer. "I'm guessing no court this afternoon."

"You guessed right. I'm about to head back to my office, let my paralegal load me down with folders, then grab a taxi to the airport. Three days of depositions in Lansing. It's going to be brutal."

"At least you won't have to come up with an excuse for Megan as to why you're not entered in the Mr. April or Mr. May contest."

Easton's eyes widened. "She's on a rampage?"

"Be wary, my friend," Tyree said, chuckling as he moved down the bar to greet some other customers, then say a few words to Eric, the bartender working the lunch shift. He was leaning forward to ask Eric if he could pick up an extra shift when something--or rather, someone--snagged his attention.

It was just a feeling. Just the oddest sense of familiarity. Hell, he hadn't even been looking toward the door, so the girl was only at the edge of his periphery.

It didn't matter. She compelled him. And he stopped what he was doing, then turned toward the entrance.

Eva?

But no, that was absurd, and the ridiculous moment passed as quickly as it had come. Of course it wasn't Eva. How could it be? She was halfway across the country and more than two decades away. Even if she'd walked through that door, they were separated by time and space. By pain and death. By life and dreams and family and loss.

The current of life moved on, and his current had pushed him past Eva a long, long time ago. And that was a good thing, too. Otherwise he never would have met Teiko, the wife he adored. The mother of his son.

And yet the girl by the door had captured his attention...

Not a doppelganger--not identical at all. But damned if there wasn't a striking similarity. The same shade of dark skin, like coffee with just a few drops of cream. The mouth that flashed a wide, easy smile. The close-cropped hair with deliberately placed curls at her forehead and in front of her ears. A sleek, sophisticated style that accentuated those wide eyes and high cheekbones.

Pushed forward by both curiosity and trepidation, Tyree took a step toward her, only to find his path blocked by Tiffany Russell, one of his best waitresses, who was looking both frazzled and uncertain.

"Tiffany? What's the matter?"

"I need--" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Oh, hell. Can I talk to you? Maybe over in the back bar?"

The Fix on Sixth boasted two bar areas. A front area with more seating and a stage that played host to local bands. And a smaller back bar, with just a few tables and a much more intimate feel. Since she was clearly agitated, he followed her to the back, his concern mounting.

"What's going on?" he asked, as soon as they were standing near the windows in the back bar. They were out of earshot of the customers, most of whom were sitting on stools at the polished bar, chatting with Lori, one of The Fix's first shift bartenders.

"I just thought you should know that Steven Kane--you know him, right? The manager at Bodacious?" At Tyree's nod, she continued. "Well, he cornered me at Starbucks the other day and started chatting me up about how it was to work here, and if I got paid enough, and how much is the door on the nights we do the Man of the Month contest."

Tyree said nothing. He was too busy fuming. Not about the fact that Bodacious--one of the corporate bullshit bars that had moved in down the street with watered down dollar drinks--was asking about the competition and earnings. No, what pissed Tyree off was that they were trying to poach his employees.

"I didn't tell him anything," Tiffany said, looking a little taken aback by Tyree's silence. "And honestly I don't care what you pay me. I love working here, and I'm not dressing like a damn hooker just for better tips." He chuckled, and she frowned. "Just don't, you know, knock my wage down by a dollar."

"Wouldn't do that," Tyree said. "And I appreciate the loyalty." Which was true. Even though he suspected that she was more loyal to her not-so-secret crush on Eric than she was to him.

"You've got it in spades. But here's the thing." She bent in closer, as if the patrons at the bar might give a rat's ass about their conversation. "I think they're hitting on Aly, too. And I know she's hard up for cash. I think she might bail on us."

Shit.

Aly was a waitress who Tyree had recently trained and promoted to bartender. And goddamn Steven Kane if he poached her away from him.

"I don't know for sure," Tiffany said. "I just thought you should--"

Tags: J. Kenner Man of the Month Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net