showing in his eyes. “Like Jaws-type sharks?”
I laughed, glad to get some kind of rise out of him. “We haven’t had a shark attack in years. You should be okay. This isn’t Amity Island by any means.”
He made a swiping motion with his hand over his forehead and I found myself laughing harder, delighted with his company. He was a breath of fresh air.
Cooper looked away and pointed to the flyer on the mirror over the bar that Chris had put up yesterday in desperation. “You’ve got an opening for a bartender?”
I sighed, thinking about how Marcus had worked one day before quitting for a much more exclusive job downtown. I had spent three weeks showing him the ropes, only to have him up and quit. “Yeah. You know anyone?” I raised an eyebrow and quirked up one side of my mouth, joking with him since I knew he was likely heading back to Atlanta soon.
“I might.” He turned his gaze back to me, his eyes glittering with a little mischief. “Just so happens, I do.”
I glared at him, waiting for the punch line, but there was no joking in his expression. What else could this guy surprise me with? “Seriously?”
“Yeah, I don’t just open beer bottles. I make a mean mojito. Do you think you can get me an interview?” he asked with a wink.
“I’m sure,” I said slowly, looking over at the kitchen. Chris would enjoy interviewing him. “Can I ask why you are looking for a job if you are just visiting?”
“Well,” he started, fidgeting with the napkin before him. “I desperately need something to do. I might as well do something I enjoyed in my hometown. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but if it’s up to my mom, we could be a while. Besides, I might need some spending money while I’m out here.”
“Okay,” I agreed. What was this guy’s deal? Didn’t visitors do all of the touristy things when they were in California? Why would someone want to work if they didn’t have to? Then again, maybe Cooper needed to work. Maybe his life was a bit like mine, living paycheck to paycheck. If that were the case, I certainly couldn’t fault him for that.
“I know it sounds odd,” he supplied, bolstering his interest. “But I am really interested. I can’t promise how long I’ll be here, but you wouldn’t need to do any training. I’d like a shot, at least.”
“Well, I’m not the one you have to talk to,” I said, looking at my watch with a sigh. I had really enjoyed my dinner with him and hated that it was about to end. “And my break is almost over. Shall I escort you to the kitchen then?”
He laughed and stood, no nervousness in his expression whatsoever. Everything about this guy seemed terrific. Almost too good to actually trust him. Plus, I had to worry about the feelings that were starting to surface. I was attracted to him, more than I should be . . . especially if I was going to be working with him.
He followed me to the kitchen where I formally introduced him to Chris before heading out to start the second half of my shift. I just hoped it was less eventful than the first half.
Chapter Ten
Cooper
I whistled as I pulled the car into the drive with a smile on my face, thinking about the last hour and a half of my life. A quick trip to the bar and grille had proven to be one of the best excursions in my life so far, and I had Emma to thank for it. I couldn’t stop thinking about those gorgeous, sparkling eyes and the way those freckles dotted their way across the bridge of her nose, making me think of her in a way I hadn’t thought of a woman in years. And, by the looks of how things ended in the parking lot, she was single. I still couldn’t believe I’d run into her again. I had truly enjoyed her company and it was nice to know that she was hanging out with me because she wanted to. There was no motivation for money driving her interest. Working with her would give me a chance to get to know her just a little bit better.
Cutting off the engine, I opened the door
I laughed, glad to get some kind of rise out of him. “We haven’t had a shark attack in years. You should be okay. This isn’t Amity Island by any means.”
He made a swiping motion with his hand over his forehead and I found myself laughing harder, delighted with his company. He was a breath of fresh air.
Cooper looked away and pointed to the flyer on the mirror over the bar that Chris had put up yesterday in desperation. “You’ve got an opening for a bartender?”
I sighed, thinking about how Marcus had worked one day before quitting for a much more exclusive job downtown. I had spent three weeks showing him the ropes, only to have him up and quit. “Yeah. You know anyone?” I raised an eyebrow and quirked up one side of my mouth, joking with him since I knew he was likely heading back to Atlanta soon.
“I might.” He turned his gaze back to me, his eyes glittering with a little mischief. “Just so happens, I do.”
I glared at him, waiting for the punch line, but there was no joking in his expression. What else could this guy surprise me with? “Seriously?”
“Yeah, I don’t just open beer bottles. I make a mean mojito. Do you think you can get me an interview?” he asked with a wink.
“I’m sure,” I said slowly, looking over at the kitchen. Chris would enjoy interviewing him. “Can I ask why you are looking for a job if you are just visiting?”
“Well,” he started, fidgeting with the napkin before him. “I desperately need something to do. I might as well do something I enjoyed in my hometown. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but if it’s up to my mom, we could be a while. Besides, I might need some spending money while I’m out here.”
“Okay,” I agreed. What was this guy’s deal? Didn’t visitors do all of the touristy things when they were in California? Why would someone want to work if they didn’t have to? Then again, maybe Cooper needed to work. Maybe his life was a bit like mine, living paycheck to paycheck. If that were the case, I certainly couldn’t fault him for that.
“I know it sounds odd,” he supplied, bolstering his interest. “But I am really interested. I can’t promise how long I’ll be here, but you wouldn’t need to do any training. I’d like a shot, at least.”
“Well, I’m not the one you have to talk to,” I said, looking at my watch with a sigh. I had really enjoyed my dinner with him and hated that it was about to end. “And my break is almost over. Shall I escort you to the kitchen then?”
He laughed and stood, no nervousness in his expression whatsoever. Everything about this guy seemed terrific. Almost too good to actually trust him. Plus, I had to worry about the feelings that were starting to surface. I was attracted to him, more than I should be . . . especially if I was going to be working with him.
He followed me to the kitchen where I formally introduced him to Chris before heading out to start the second half of my shift. I just hoped it was less eventful than the first half.
Chapter Ten
Cooper
I whistled as I pulled the car into the drive with a smile on my face, thinking about the last hour and a half of my life. A quick trip to the bar and grille had proven to be one of the best excursions in my life so far, and I had Emma to thank for it. I couldn’t stop thinking about those gorgeous, sparkling eyes and the way those freckles dotted their way across the bridge of her nose, making me think of her in a way I hadn’t thought of a woman in years. And, by the looks of how things ended in the parking lot, she was single. I still couldn’t believe I’d run into her again. I had truly enjoyed her company and it was nice to know that she was hanging out with me because she wanted to. There was no motivation for money driving her interest. Working with her would give me a chance to get to know her just a little bit better.
Cutting off the engine, I opened the door
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