“Later,” he whispered.
I could do nothing but nod, knowing that everyone was well and truly watching. I was feeling thoroughly humiliated. I walked away on unsteady feet, smiling tightly at people I passed. Luckily, Luke had moved away from the bar, to… I didn’t know where, but I was secretly hoping he didn’t see that little PDA.
I made it to the bar where unfortunately, Rosie, Lucy, Ashley and Amy were all standing, wearing looks of astonishment and amusement, and Amy smiling at me with flat out pride.
“Girl,” Lucy began when I reached them. “That was hot. I mean first Luke comes in looking like he wants to eat you up, then Cade arrives, looking like he’s going to straight up murder the deputy and then basically drags you out. I don’t have to guess as to what you two were up to, thanks to that intense lip lock just then.” The girls all laughed, I blushed.
“Amy, cosmo. Now,” I ordered.
“All right, all right, keep your panties on, oh wait, did Cade already take them off?” she teased.
I picked up a peanut off the bar and threw it at her. She gracefully dodged it, handing me a drink. “Now, now no need to throw party snacks Gwennie.”
I ignored her, taking a long needed sip of my drink.
“Told you my brother would drag you off,” Rosie told me knowingly. “Shit, half the male population would drag you off if they had the chance,” she giggled.
“Oh and by the way, since Amy was busy with the bar, and you were, well…otherwise engaged,” she snorted, “I just dealt with a few people wanting to buy stuff, don’t worry I know how to work a cash register,” She reassured me.
I welcomed the change of subject then had an idea. “Rosie, you don’t happen to need any work at the moment?” I ventured cautiously, not knowing the protocol in asking Cade’s sister to work for me.
I needn’t have worried, she squealed clapping her hands. “Yes! I’m just doing some hours at the coffee shop, but I’m about to die of boredom.”
“I can’t guarantee a lot of hours yet, I’m not sure how busy we’ll be, but we definitely need a third person,” I replied.
“You are definitely going to be busy,” Rosie declared. “We have needed something like this store since like forever, and don’t worry, I don’t need full time or anything, just whenever you need me. I work part time at the garage for the club, so there’s always something to do there.”
She worked for the club? That was news, maybe I could pick her brain.
“Well, since you’re going to be working here, you’re going to have to wear all the clothes, so go pick out some more stuff,” I ordered with a grin.
Rosie squealed again and jumped into my arms. “I seriously love you Gwen, this is the fucking shit!” She proceeded to pull away, grabbing Lucy and Ashley. “You bitches need to help me choose.”
They both shot me warm smiles before disappearing with Rosie.
I turned towards Amy slightly leaning on the bar. “Well, looks like we have another employee.” I sipped my cosmo. “I hope you don’t mind me just hiring her without asking you.”
“Mind?” she scoffed. “Fuck no, I’m over the moon, that girl is awesome! Stop trying to change the subject anyway,” she demanded, knowing me too well. “What was that with the two hotties, it was like they were fighting over their shiny new toy; that’s a position I wouldn’t mind being in,” she said dreamily.
“Trust me, you wouldn’t want to be in that position, ever,” I told her.
“Whatever, so you’ve finally decided to give in to the sexy biker?” she asked.
“No not really, but fighting him was getting old, and I figure he’ll have sex with me and lose interest, win win. I mean the last thing I want is a repeat of Jimmy.”
Amy glared at me, ready to interrupt but I didn’t let her.
“So I have no danger of getting hurt when he taps and gaps since I definitely don’t want more than that, and you said so yourself, I need to get laid,” I finished, draining my drink.
Amy considered me a beat. “Sweetie, I think that one wants you for much longer than one night. And you can’t be scared to venture into something new, even though I am the first to be cautious over any guy riding a Harley, but from what I’ve seen he’s nowhere near the same as The Prick. By the way Cade is seriously checking you out right now, maybe leaning on the bar wearing that dress isn’t the best idea,” she laughed.
I didn’t bother to move but glanced over my shoulder in Cade’s direction, who was indeed checking my butt out with a hungry look on his face.
I straightened. “Whatever, I need to get back to helping out customers and talking to townspeople.” I turned, then looked back at Amy.
“Oh and by the way, I don’t need a ride, I’m leaving with Cade tonight.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Don’t say a word,” I ordered.
She poked her tongue out at me then spun to help people at the bar.
The rest of the night was a blur and people started to leave around 10:30pm. I had done some seriously good sales, so I was pretty pleased with myself. I found to my dismay Luke hadn’t left. He had cornered me not long after my chat with Amy.
“Look, Gwen, I know this isn’t the place, but Fletcher is bad news. I won’t say anything else, but I’ll stop by the store this week, we can have coffee.” He decided instead of asking. What was with the alpha males in this town?
I felt Cade’s glare at my back so I didn’t protest. “Yeah, sure Luke, sorry about…whatever that was before.” I was genuinely sorry, he seemed like a nice guy.
“No worries sweetheart, see you later.” To my horror he leaned in and kissed my cheek before leaving with a meaningful glare directed at Cade and the boys.
“Crap,” I muttered under my breath, I really didn’t want the town’s first impression of me to be that I was some skank, playing two guys within days of getting here.