Free Last Call for Love by Maggie Marr Page B

smile on her face. “I don’t know anyone powerful anymore. At least not well enough to flex their muscles for me. Nor do I know the new owner of Mesquale. Orso is a sick bastard. He thought I’d done something unseemly with the new owner to get him sacked.” She leaned forward, her hands pressed against the mahogany bar. She tilted her head, and her hair framed her face. “Really it was just the newest bartender I was unseemly with.”
    Unseemly wasn’t the right word, but if it were, he wanted to be unseemly with Charla again. And again. And again. Would he get that chance? How angry would Charla be once she discovered that she’d been with the new owner of Mesquale? Would she hate him? Would she lump him into the same mix as Orso? A powerful man taking advantage of a woman? 
    Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn.
    He had to tell her. Ryan scrubbed the bar surface with a towel. She deserved the truth. But not now. Not here. 
    “Poppy and I are going to Parpetai tonight to celebrate. Want to go?”
    “I’d love to. What time you heading over?
    “We’re thinking eight-ish. That work for you?”
    “Works for me.”
    “Trevor’s coming too. It’ll be fun. Us four out on the town with something to celebrate.”
    “Most definitely something to celebrate.” He placed the towel in the hamper. “You’re glad that you’re back, right?”
    She paused. Her eyes scanned his face. “I am.” She tilted her head as though a question flitted through her brain, but she couldn’t quite ask it.
    “You’re back!” Therese, another server, popped up beside Charla. “I’m so happy they got rid of that letch. Nice job, you.” Therese pulled Charla into a hug. “Can I get two Maker’s Marks neat?” she called to Ryan.
    He nodded. Therese moved to the computer screen and punched in her order. “How did you score that reprieve plus get the a-hole sacked?” Therese finished keying in the drinks and turned to Charla.
    “Wasn’t me,” Charla nodded toward Ryan. “Was the new guy.”
    Therese whipped around, her braids flying. “This dude? The guy started two weeks ago?”
    Charla nodded.
    “Way to go!” Therese held her palm out for a high-five. “I guess being here with the past owners made us all scared. This guy was braver then all the other men who work in this place.” Therese put the two drinks on her tray and scurried off to deliver the order to her guests.
    Nope. Not braver. Wealthier and perhaps a much bigger fool.
     
    *
     
    “You’re really into this guy.” Poppy pulled a navy-blue halter dress over her head and fluffed her curly hair out of the back.
    “Why do you say that?”
    “Because you don’t have to work tonight, but you’re putting on makeup. Plus it’s like you’re floating. Buzzing.”
    Charla smiled. A floaty sensation tingled through her body. Along with the desire to go to bed with Ryan again. “I mean, he protected me. Twice. I haven’t had anyone like that in my life in forever.” Charla stroked the gloss onto her lips. “And I kind of like it.”
    “Not all you like,” Poppy teased.
    Charla bit her bottom lip. “Noooo, there are other things that I thought were pretty amazing.”
    “Things, eh? I can only imagine what kind of other things , since I do believe he slept in this room last night.”
    “Which helped you, I might add. He’s been cramping your and Trevor’s overnights since he became Trevor’s roommate. This thing with Trevor going on five months? That’s long for you.”
    “Never more than six months, my love. Can’t be.” Poppy folded a skirt and put it into her bureau drawer. “I’ve booked my flight to Hong Kong—leaves the morning after my last day.”
    “But you really like Trevor, don’t you? The two of you seem to fit each other so well … you finish each other’s sentences. You both love books—”
    “I hate commitments and so does he. Try to spin that matchmaking magic all you like, but neither one of us wants a relationship. Just good times