“We need to hire a bartender,” Jesse said. “We’re overworked as it is, and if we can get this place busy again, we’re not going to be able to handle it totally on our own.”
“We’re never going to get it busy again if it’s just us,” Tyler said. “All of us are scrambling just to handle the basic stuff around here. We can’t do anything to bring in more crowds.”
I nodded in agreement. “Having a dedicated bartender certainly would help things. I’ve been looking over the books the last few days, and it seems like we have just enough cash to do it.”
“Then let’s do it,” Jesse said. “The longer we wait, the more nights like this we’re going to have.”
The door opened and a small group walked in. I nodded toward them. “Jesse, you take care of them. Do we still have anything left from dinner service?”
“Some,” he said. “But I can make it work if they want any of it. And the bar menu is available.”
“Perfect. Tyler, hop behind the bar. Be ready for drink orders.”
I made my way into the office at the back of the space and woke my computer screen up. The idea of adding a bartender had been floating around for a couple weeks now. After the last conversation I had with Jesse about the possibility, I put together a draft of a job advertisement. Now I pulled it up and went over it. When it was polished and ready, I went to a local job site to post it.
As I was putting up the post, the door to the office opened and Matt came in. He had the same sagging look on his face and leaned back against the wall.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked.
“I have no social life,” he said. “I see the three of you more than I see anyone else. Do you know when my last date was?”
“No,” I said.
“Neither do I. That’s the problem.”
“It will be fine. We’ll get someone soon, and then all of us can relax a little. I’m sure plenty of people are looking for a job,” I said.
“But will they want to work here?”
“Sure they will. Locals know the value of this place. And there are new people showing up all the time.”
There was a brief pause, and I noticed Matt shifting around. “I think I saw Ava earlier.”
The statement hit me like a punch in the gut. “What do you mean think you saw Ava?”
“At the post office. I went to mail the care package to Afghanistan for Jordan, and she was there,” Matt said.
“Are you sure it was her?” I asked.
“I mean, I’m not one hundred percent positive. I didn’t talk to her or anything. But it looked exactly like her. She was pulling out as I was pulling in, so we were right there next to each other.” He hesitated again. “Have you talked to her recently?”
I shook my head. “Not since before she left.”
The conversation dropped, and Matt walked out of the office. I finished posting the job, and just as I was getting ready to walk out of the office, my phone rang. I immediately recognized the number. It was Jordan. He didn’t get to call often, so I snatched it up. We chatted for a few minutes, and I did what I always did, trying to stay as perky and positive as I could for him. I figured no matter what we were going through here, it was nothing compared to what he was dealing with over there. He didn’t need the added stress of worrying about us.
“It’s mostly quiet,” he said. “Not a lot going on recently. Which is a good thing. But it’s hot. And stressful.”
“I’m sure. But, hey, you get out soon!”
Jordan gave a short laugh. “Yes, I do. And I can’t wait to be home.”
“We can’t wait to have you home.”
I was glad to hear from my brother. We didn’t hear from him nearly as much as we would like to. There was always that lingering feeling of worry and fear about him. Even when he wasn’t in active combat and nothing serious had happened around his area, we worried. Service was extremely important to him, and he was devoted to it, but we all couldn’t wait for him to finally get out and come home.
As if talking about adding extra help had somehow summoned more customers, the bar picked up as the night went on. It got a little busier than average, which was good. But it still wasn’t the crowds we were hoping for. The busy phase of the bar was short-lived when we very first opened, and now we were trying to find ways to get back to that point. It would mean more work, but that would be worth it. Besides, the busier we were, the more money we were bringing in, and the bigger staff we could hire. It would all work out.
“Any responses to that job posting yet?” Matt asked a few hours into the shift as he carried a bus bucket full of dirty dishes and glasses into the kitchen.
I laughed. “Not yet. Are you already complaining about actually having business?”
“Just keeping up with the news.”
“If we can get up to these crowds and bigger, we’ll definitely need the help,” Tyler said from the grill. “I wish Tom would come back and help.”
I let out a sigh and nodded. “Maybe he will one day.”
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A Note from the Author
Thank for you taking the time to read my latest release.
I hope you loved reading my story, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
It would mean the world to me if you could take some time to leave a quick review for this book. Reviews allow me to understand how my readers truly feel, and they keep me improving to be better.
I appreciate you supporting me, thank you so much.
- Natasha L. Black
Books by Natasha L. Black
Freeman Brother Series
Millionaire Boss
Millionaire Daddy
Millionaire Crush
Millionaire Hero
Forbidden Lovers Series:
Billionaire Boss
Date Your Brother’s Best Friend
Falling for my Enemy
Forbidden Crush
Damaged
Complete box set below:
Forbidden Lovers: A Contemporary Romance Collection
Secret Daddies Series
His Secret Baby
CEO’s Secret Baby
Boss's Secret Baby for Christmas
Daddy’s Secret Baby
My Ex’s Secret Baby
Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Complete box set below:
Secret Daddies: A Contemporary Romance Box Set
Alpha Male Collection:
Forbidden Daddy
Redemption
Protecting Her
Saving Sky
Protecting Sasha
Complete box set here: Men in Charge
Reverse Harem/Ménage Collection:
Double Dirty
The Cabin
Double Trouble
Training the Rookie
Cuffed to my Roomies
Complete box set here: One Lucky Girl
Fake Marriage Collection:
Pretend You’re Mine
Pretend I’m Yours