Several pairs of eyes looked up when I came in, but almost immediately lost interest in me. Except one pair. The bartender stared at me and used his knuckle to lift his hat a bit. His lips curled in a friendly smile after a few seconds so I made my way over to him.
“New in town?” He was older, probably in his mid-fifties, and had a surprisingly gentle voice. I kinda liked him already. He looked the part of a rough and tumble bartender in a Texas border town, but his demeanor instantly put me at ease.
“Yeah. I was driving through to Big Bend and ran out of gas. Luckily, this place was close.”
He narrowed his eyes and looked at me thoughtfully. “Most people don’t drive this way ‘round for Big Bend. Hell, most people don’t have the time to. You always pick the longest way ‘round to somethin’?”
I laughed through my nose, thinking not just of my entire trip, but my entire life. “I guess so.”
“So, you just needin’ some gas?”
A lanky kid in a chef’s coat shuffled past carrying a giant steak. I tried hard not to stare. I put a hand to my stomach to muffle the grumblings and had to focus my eyes on the surface of the bar top to get my thoughts together again.
“Actually, I need some kind of temp job. Do you know anywhere around here that could use some help?”
“Thought you was just driving through?”
I shrugged. “I was. Until I ran out of gas... and out of money for gas.”
He gave me a questioning look. “Not many folks get in their car and travel the long way around places without knowing they got enough gas to get where they’re going.”
“Yeah. Umm… I didn’t really have a destination in mind when I got in the car. It was just one of those last-minute things.”
He shifted his weight, leaned against the bar, and studied me through narrowed eyes.
“You got a boyfriend chasing you down?”
My stomach clenched. “Doubt it.”
“The law after you?”
I grinned then and shook my head. “Not even a little bit.”
“You on any kind of drugs that make you crazy enough to get in your car and drive without gas money to get where you’re goin’?”
“Nope. It’s all natural.”
“Then you’re hired. Had a waitress quit on me last night and I could use the help.”
The feeling of familiarity crept back over me, and something else, belonging.
“You’re serious?”
He nodded and held his hand out to me. “I’m Abram. Assistant manager. You ever waitressed or bartended before?”
“Yes sir, a time or two,” I slid my hand into his, “Allie.”
Join our group
Please join our Facebook group.
Receive ARCs, notifications of new releases, giveaways and hang with friends.
Click to join Lovestruck Insiders on Facebook.
Other books from Candace Ayers…
BEARS OF BURDEN
In the southwestern town of Burden, Texas, good ol’ bears Hawthorne, Wyatt, Hutch, Sterling, and Sam, and Matt are livin’ easy. Beer flows freely, and pretty women are abundant. The last thing the shifters of Burden are thinking about is finding a mate or settling down. But, fate has its own plan…
Thorn
Wyatt
Hutch
Sterling
Sam
Matt
SHE-SHIFTERS OF HELL’S CORNER
In the late 1800’s, on a homestead in New Mexico, a female shifter named Helen Cartwright, widowed under mysterious circumstances, knew there was power in the feminine bonds of sisterhood. She provided an oasis for those like herself, women who had been dealt the short end of the stick. Like magic, women have flocked to the tiny town of Helen’s Corner ever since. Although, nowadays, some call the town by another name, Hell’s Crazy Corner.
Wolf Boss
Wolf Detective
Wolf Soldier
Bear Outlaw
Wolf Purebred
DRAGONS OF THE BAYOU
Something’s lurking in the swamplands of the Deep South. Massive creatures exiled from their home. For each, his only salvation is to find his one true mate.
Fire Breathing Beast
Fire Breathing Cezar
Fire Breathing Blaise
Fire Breathing Remy
Fire Breathing Armand
Fire Breathing Ovide
RANCHER BEARS
When the patriarch of the Long family dies, he leaves a will that has each of his five son’s scrambling to find a mate. Underneath it all, they find that family is what matters most.
Rancher Bear’s Baby
Rancher Bear’s Mail Order Mate
Rancher Bear’s Surprise Package
Rancher Bear’s Secret
Rancher Bear’s Desire
Rancher Bears’ Merry Christmas
Rancher Bears Complete Box Set
KODIAK ISLAND SHIFTERS
On Port Ursa in Kodiak Island Alaska, the Sterling brothers are kind of a big deal.
They own a nationwide chain of outfitter retail stores that they grew from their father’s little backwoods camping supply shop.
The only thing missing from the hot bear shifters’ lives are mates! But, not for long…
Billionaire Bear’s Bride (COLTON)
The Bear’s Flamingo Bride (WYATT)
Military Bear’s Mate (TUCKER)
SHIFTERS OF DENVER
Nathan: Billionaire Bear- A matchmaker meets her match.
Byron: Heartbreaker Bear- A sexy heartbreaker with eyes for just one woman.
Xavier: Bad Bear - She’s a good girl. He’s a bad bear.
Nathan: Billionaire Bear
Byron: Heartbreaker Bear
Xavier: Bad Bear
Shifters of Denver Complete Box Set
Country Star Werebear Page 12