Glass Hearts by Lisa de Jong Page A

uneasy. “I won’t let you down,” I add, trying to ease the tension in the room.
    “What did you say your last name was again?” he asks, leaning forward with his elbows on his desk.
    “I didn’t,” I reply, fidgeting with my hands.
    “What is it? I don’t have your application in front of me.” “It’s Riley, Alexandra Riley,” I say. His face turns an ashen shade and he looks away from me. For a second, I wonder if he’s met my mother. Anyone who’s met her, but doesn’t need to keep up appearances, would probably have this same reaction.
    He stands, walking toward the window. “When can you start?”
    “You’re hiring me?” I ask. I’m almost shocked right out of my seat. I was bracing for the worst after the reaction I just got.
    “I guess I am. You can start tomorrow night. It’s a Saturday and the place will be packed. I’ll make sure David has a shirt for you.” He keeps his focus out the window, not looking in my direction once.
    “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then,” I say, getting up from my seat. A part of me wants to run out of here as fast as I can, but the way he reacted when I told him my last name has me curious. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I look back to see his forehead resting on the glass. “Is everything okay?” I ask.
    He startles. “Why are you still here? I said you have the job.”
    “It’s just…you don’t look so good, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    He turns around, running his hands over his face. “I’m sorry, you remind me of someone, that’s all,” he sighs. From the light of the window, I can see that he looks even younger than I originally thought. He can’t be older than thirty, but he has frown marks around his mouth that hint he’s been through a lot. “Are you going to go, or are you just going to stare at me all day?”
    “Sorry.” I exit the office and quickly walk toward the bar before Reid changes his mind and calls me back. It seemed too easy, but I, Alexandra Riley, have my first job. I have no idea what I’m getting paid, or exactly how many hours I’ll be working, but I have a job.
    It’s still early, so the place is empty with the exception of two guys sitting at the bar and a few staff mulling around. Jay’s behind the bar, but Dane is nowhere to be found. “Hey Jay, where’s Dane?”
    “He’s in the back getting some more glasses. How was your interview?” he asks, showing off his dimples.
    “Interesting,” I say, jumping up onto a barstool.
    “How about I make you a drink and you can tell me all about it?”
    “No, thanks. I’ll take a water though.” He quirks an eyebrow up at me as he grabs a glass and starts filling it with ice. “I’m not pregnant, Jay. Don’t even go there.”
    I feel big strong arms wrap around me from behind. “Why are you telling Jay you’re not pregnant?” Dane whispers in my ear.
    I wrap my fingers around his tattooed forearms, pulling him closer to me. “Mr. Nosy over there is drawing conclusions because I ordered a water.”
    Dane laughs. “Good, I’m not quite ready for that yet. Let’s try to get out of college first. How did your interview go?” He turns my stool around so that I’m facing him and steps between my parted legs. The smell of his cologne combined with his proximity to my body makes it hard to concentrate. “Earth to Alex.”
    “Yeah, um, sorry. It went really well. I start tomorrow night,” I smile.
    He leans forward, resting his hands on either side of me on the bar. “I don’t like it.”
    “You don’t have to like it. It’s a job, and it’s the only one I can get right now. Plus, I’ll be working with you,” I wink. He doesn’t look amused.
    “I told you, I can take care of you for a little while. You can keep looking until something else comes along,” he whispers between us.
    “Dane, please. I need to do this for myself.”
    “Just be careful, and if anyone gives you a hard time, you come to me,” he says, leaning in to