Free WildLoving by N.J. Walters Page B

her focus had been on Rabb.
    Nevar led her down the short hallway, past the office and
into the club. “Welcome to Hatter’s.” He lifted a section of the bar and walked
behind it.
    Eliza meandered around the iron tables, running her fingers
over the backs of the chairs and admiring the thick, red velvet padding on the
seats. Along the far wall, cozy booths waited for people to fill them.
Oversized playing cards were framed and mounted on the walls.
    She wandered into the area at the far end. The dance floor
was bigger than she’d imagined. The floors were rustic wood in a mellow shade
of medium brown. She remembered the area had flashed with red and white lights
last night.
    She turned and made her way back to the long oak bar. A
series of china teapots and cups sat on a glass shelf above the bar. They
looked delicate and had to be vintage. They should have looked out of place in
a bar, but somehow they fit. The light fixtures that hung over the bar were in
the shape of top hats. Brass and glass accents adorned the bar itself, adding a
touch of sophistication.
    It was whimsical and lovely.
    “Well, what do you think?” Nevar asked.
    “It’s wonderful. Magical.”
    He smiled at her and she caught her breath. He reminded her
of Rabb at that moment. “You must be very proud of the place.” Rabb had talked
about it often when they’d worked together. It had been his dream to open this
place and he’d succeeded.
    “We are. We bump heads sometimes, but we work well
together.”
    She admired the rows of sparkling-clean glasses that were
shelved behind the bar, ready and waiting to be filled. All of them were
stamped with the name of the club and a random playing card, always hearts.
    “So you’ve waited tables before?” he asked.
    “Yes. I worked from the time I was old enough. Waitressing
was the job of choice. Flexible hours and tips.”
    Nevar dragged his fingers though his hair. “I’m not sure
what Rabb has in mind for you. We could use an extra waitress, at least until
after the holiday rush. We need a dishwasher too. Our regular one called in
sick. Personally, I think he just wanted to go home for the holidays. I expect
he’ll make a miraculous recovery after the new year.”
    “You’ll hold his job that long?”
    Nevar shook his head. “No, but we don’t exactly have the
time to spend interviewing for it either. This is our busiest time of year.”
    That was certainly true. Holiday parties were always big and
people were just more in the mood to celebrate. “I can wash dishes.” Better if
she wasn’t out among people. She didn’t want to run into someone who knew
Jason.
    Nevar’s eyes narrowed as he studied her. She resisted the
urge to flinch. “You’d rather wash dishes than waitress?”
    “You can always get your staff to work a few extra hours on
the floor. What you don’t have is a dishwasher,” she pointed out. Plus, she’d
just as soon not have to wear the uniforms she’d seen the waitresses wearing
last night. The blue dresses with the tight bodice and the hint of lace peeking
out probably got them a lot of tips from the men. They were tasteful but sexy,
but she didn’t have the figure to fill one out, not with the weight she’d lost.
    She prayed Nevar wouldn’t ask any further questions. Then
she realized she was basically agreeing to take a job, which meant she would be
staying with Rabb, at least until she saved up enough money to rent a room.
    Maybe he’d front her a loan and take so much a week out of
her pay.
    Then her stomach cramped. She couldn’t afford to be on
anyone’s payroll. She had no idea how far Jason’s reach was. The man knew his
way around computers, and if there was something he couldn’t access, he had
friends. She could easily imagine him telling his buddies he wanted to keep an
eye on the crazy lady accusing him of such vile things. They’d believe him and
do whatever they could to help.
    “No time like the present.” Nevar came out from behind