Free Help Wanted by Marie Rochelle Page A

o’clock in the morning.  I don’t see you doing anything like that at all. I think you need to stop being so controlled. Learn to let go a little more.”
    “I told you that I’m not…”
    “Jim, what are you doing insulting such a beautiful woman?  I’ve never known you to do something like that before.”
    Keira stopped talking as a deep rich male voice broke into her conversation with Jim just before a platter of hot wings, two glasses and a pitcher of beer was placed on the table between them. Her stomach started growling at the delicious smell of the hot and greasy food that she almost missed the handsome man standing next to her.
    Eyes that were a startling gray-green were fixed on her, long black hair rested on wide shoulders and a slight smile pulled at the corner of full, firm lips.  If Jim didn’t already have her interest captivated this hunk wouldn’t have had a problem pulling her into him. He was totally the kind of man women would stop in their tracks to look at.
    “I see why Bambi didn’t want to bring your food back out to you. Your date is beautiful.” He winked at Keira.
    “Dante, can you stop flirting long enough to at least acknowledge me?” Jim laughed looking at his friend Dante then back at her.
    “I never miss the opportunity to know a pretty woman,” Dante said still looking at her instead of Jim. “Hello, I’m Dante Braden. Can I get your name?”
    Keira would usually blow someone like Dante off because he was too cocky, but tonight she was enjoying the attention. “Hi, I’m Keira Winters. Nice to meet you.”
    “Nice to meet you too. How did you meet my old friend here?” Dante asked finally glancing away from her over at Jim.
    She noticed how the smile slipped from Jim’s face at Dante’s term of ‘old friend.’
    “Do I have to remind you that you’re older than me by two years? I think Keira would rather date me being forty-one instead of a forty-three year old. Now, why don’t you leave her alone? I brought her here to have a little fun, not to get hit on by you.”
    Keira observed how Jim’s personality changed the second Dante came to the table. There was a hint of tension in the room. She was surprised that he was taking what Dante said to her so seriously. It was just a lot of harmless fun.  Did Jim not just tell her less than five minutes ago that she needed to open up more?
    “Hey, sorry I didn’t know there was something going on between the two of you. I wasn’t trying to get involved with your woman. Please enjoy your meal and it’s on the house.” Dante winked at her before walking away.
    “I wouldn’t take Dante’s flirting too seriously. He’s more of a bachelor than I am,” Jim told her as he poured beer into their glasses and then grabbed a hot wing off the platter.
    She wasn’t positive, but Jim was coming across like he was jealous of the attention Dante had given to her. “Thanks for the warning, but I think Dante is very attractive. I was quite flattered by his compliments.”
    Jim finished off his hot wing and tossed the bone back on the plate. “Would you feel the same way if I gave you the same compliments?”
    “I would have a hard time believing you because of everything that has already happened between us.” Keira picked up a wing and took a bite out of it.
    The spicy tanginess from the hot sauce filled her mouth making her remember how much she loved eating hot wings. They had to be hands down her favorite appetizer in the entire world.
    “Keira, you have to know you’re super hot. I didn’t think I would have to state the obvious to you.” Jim grabbed another wing and took a bite out of it.
    Keira’s heart sped up at the off-handed compliment that Jim gave to her. She couldn’t let herself become attracted to Jim because she had too much going on in her life right now. Too many personal issues had to be dealt with first before she even thought about being in a relationship with anyone.
    “How about we stop talking