Relinquished by K.A. Hunter Page A

And since nobody was really managing tonight, I’d have to keep my guard up around belligerent customers.
    Goody-fucking-gumdrops.
    At least Tuesday nights weren’t usually too busy. Sam tended to be a bit of a prick to me, but I wanted to remain on friendly terms.
    “Hey, Sam. How’s it going?” I tried to make eye contact, but he seemed distracted as he looked toward the front entrance. When I turned, I caught his wife, April, coming through the door, smiling as she swayed her curvy hips back and forth past Trudy’s glare.
    “What are you doing here?” Sam barked in an accusing tone when April approached the bar and took a seat next to where I was standing.
    The limp, flat strands of her haircut framed her round face that now held a scowl. “Can’t a wife come and see her husband at work? Besides, I do own the place ya know.” There was something in her eyes that said she had ulterior motives.  She smiled and pulled me into a quick hug. “Hi, Jules. How’re you doing, sweetie?”
    April had the final say when I was hired six months ago, and she’d always been nothing but kind. Which made me feel like shit for not telling her what her husband was doing behind her back.
    From what she’d said, when her uncle retired, she’d inherited A Shot Above.  At my final interview, she’d explained that, while her husband did run the bar, she preferred taking care of the job offers. When I learned Sam had hired Trudy two weeks before me, I knew exactly why April wanted a hand in that part of the business.
    I smiled back, pretending like I didn’t notice the discomfort in the air. “I’m great. How are you?”
    “Fantastic, actually.” She tucked her short brown hair behind her ears and gave Trudy a sideways glance. “I figured it would be pretty slow tonight, so my husband won't be too distracted to give me a little attention.”
    Shit. Does she know?
    Now I hated myself even more for not telling her. It wasn’t my place, though, and I needed to stay out of it to keep my job. I wasn’t here to make friends, this job was my only means of staying off the street. “I’d better clean up my tables before the rush. Feel free to come sit in my section if Sam gets busy.”  I wasn’t sure why I added that, but I did get a slight nod from Sam. A silent thank you? Yeah, probably not.
    April reached over and pulled Sam’s hand to her full lips. “Oh, I’m sure my husband won’t get too busy for me, but thanks anyway, Jules.”
    With that, I grabbed a wet cloth and spun around to catch Trudy staring daggers at me. Tonight was going to be fucking great.
     

     
    It turned out to be a lot busier than I expected, which I was thankful for. It helped the time pass quicker. I’d just finished my dinner in the back, washed my dish and hands, and made my way out to the main floor. As I scanned the room, I felt eyes on me before I saw them.
    Holden was sitting at a table in my section without a drink. How long had he been there?  My chest tightened seeing him there, but I wasn’t all that surprised.  I just wished he hadn’t wasted a trip.
    I made my rounds to the few people still in my section before peeking at him.
    His questioning eyes tracked my movements as he waited patiently. I wasn’t sure what was worse: the anticipation of him knowing I had to push him away, or the throbbing pain I was sure to have in my chest once all was said and done.
    Swallowing the lump in my throat, I fought the urge to reach out and touch him one last time as I stepped closer. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” My eyes darted around the room, afraid I wouldn’t be able to do this now that he was in front of me.
    His eyebrows knitted together while his fingertips grazed the arm I’d rested on his table, sending a million jolts of energy to my fast beating heart. “Really?  We talked about how I was going to drive you to work then hang out until you got off.” He looked back and forth between my eyes, searching