Free Ahead of the Darkness by Simone Nicole

they picked cocktails.” I shrugged.
    “Aye, nae challenge there.”
    “Except for finding the right ingredients. You do need a blender, by the way.”
    “Aye, so it would seem.”
    “You’re not seriously going to get a blender because the new girl wants to make some fancy cocktails no one is going to drink? That’s crazy, Drew.” HA. I’d seen that coming.
    “Oh we’ll drink them!”
    “Yes! Oh please, Drew?”
    “What else can you make?” all three said simultaneously.
    “That settles it. Mia gets whatever she needs to make the bonne lasses what they want to drink.” He winked at them, and they cheered loudly. The smile Drew gave me said a great deal.
    “You planned this?” I said quietly to Drew.
    “I dinnae know what ye’re talking about.” But his dimple said otherwise.
    More bodies started to file in. Drew nodded to Jules to get on it, and stopped Mac in her tacks.
    “Did ye get the bathroom sorted?”
    “But—”
    “It’ll take ye five. Go on, before it gets busy.”
    “Do you not have a cleaner come in?” I asked.
    “Aye but only every other day. It just needs a quick spray of disinfectant and refill.”
    “And it's normally not done by me,” Mac muttered.
    “Alex quit. Get over it, princess, it's not like you never get your hands dirty.” I wasn’t sure what Jules was insinuating, but Mac got the hint.
    “Sod off!” Mac stormed off to the bathroom with a scowl on her face. Drew just shook his head at the pair of them.
    “I saw yer performance, by the way.”
    “My what? Oh, the drinks.”
    “Aye.” He pointed up at the camera above us and I nodded my head in understanding. Of course he had cameras on his tills. It was the only way to run a successful business. It protected him and the staff. I tried not to breathe him in again as he moved a little closer, and lowered his voice.
    “I thought ye were quick before, but that was somethin’.”
    “I’m quick with my hands and have a strong memory.” I shrugged off the compliment.
    “How many drinks can ye make off the top of ye head?”
    “You mean from memory?” Umm ... four ... nine ... thirteen ...
    “Aye?”
    “A few ...”
    “Enough to make a menu?”
    “You want to make a cocktail menu?”
    “Aye, I’ve been thinking about having a cocktail night.”
    “But if I’m the only one who can make them?”
    “Ye not, but ye could teach the others.”
    “Oh yes, teach me your wicked ways Mia.” Jules waggled his eyebrows at me. The men he was serving all chuckled while eyeing their eyes travelled my body.
    “Knock it off, ye dirty bastard.”
    “What about a cocktail hour instead?”
    “Aye, that could work. What did ye charge them?”
    “Oh, ten?” Oops .
    “Aye, that’s good. Cocktail hour it is and if it takes off, we can have a night of it.” Baiser . Mac will love it ...
    “Okay, you’re going to need to go shopping then.”
    “Make me a list and it’s done.”
    “Mia, was it?” One of the girls interrupted.
    “Yeah, that’s me.”
    “Can, we get another?”
    “Oh yeah, sure. Do you all want the same?” It was making me uncomfortable the way Drew was watching me.
    “What else can you make? We don’t really know a lot of cocktails,” Becki said.
    “Ah ... hmm, let’s see.” I did a quick inventory. “Well, with what we have here I can make most martini’s, or a Manhattan, a Screwdriver, a Margarita ...”
    “Yes!” They all said in unison.
    “Margarita? Do you have salt, Drew?”
    “Aye.” He handed me the salt with what I could only describe as a cocky grin on his face. I needed to knock it off.
    “I have an idea, girls.” Their faces lit up. “I think Drew here is holding out on us, and we should see what he’s made of.” Drew’s eyes went wide as the girls squealed with delight.
    “Oh yes!”
    “He’s always holding out on us.” Becky pouted playfully.
    “Do it!”
    “What are ye planning?” He squinted at me good-humouredly.
    “Drink-off.” I smiled gleefully at