by Dawn, Tara
She's right. Most strangers would watch as they walk away quickly not wanting to get involved in someone else's conflict. It makes me wonder if the fuckwad hurt her before and no one helped her then.
"We don't have to be strangers, Hazel," I whisper back before thinking, but it works. Her eyes widen and she sucks in a quick breath making her breasts raise and my eyes drop. I quickly avert them and reach out my hand to her. "Cash. Cash Miller." I give her my full panty melting smile, as one of my previous lays called it, and her gaze searches my face latching onto mouth.
She smiles back and I think I see her blushing a bit. "Hazel Watson," she says as she slides her hand into mine. I give it a light squeeze and she squeezes mine back, trembling a bit. My smile gets a little wider and she drops her head, biting her lip as she pulls out of my grasp.
"See ya, Hazel Watson." I give her a wink and turn to leave, but not before hearing her whisper, "Later, Cash Miller." I shouldn't, but I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as I exit the tavern. I've got her exactly where I want her. And that may include my bed before all of this is over.
Hazel
"You in town?" I ask Cady, calling her from my cell when I get off work.
"Actually, I am. They let you off work early?" She jokes with me knowing I never leave on time.
"Nope. I didn't have to stay over tonight. I have something for you."
"Oooh, what is it?" she asks quickly.
"I'm not telling. Come over and find out. I'll be home in a couple of minutes," I tell her, turning onto my street.
"Alright. Be there shortly."
I toss my phone into my cup holder as I pass by the lit up houses. There are a few kids lingering out in their yards trying to soak up as much time outside as they can before school starts next week. Get as much time as you can kids, I think to myself, it'll be gone in the flash of an eye and you will have to be an adult. The thought makes me sigh.
I'd give anything to rewind time and not have responsibilities. My father made me do chores, but he wanted me to be a kid for as long as possible. He shouldered all the responsibilities, hiding things from me because he didn't want me to worry. He always told me to quit rushing to be an adult. "If you're lucky you'll have half a century to be an adult. Enjoy these years, Hazel, you don't get a lot of them." So I did and my childhood was amazing. Dad was right, those years don't last long. I wish he was still here sharing his wisdom with me.
I pull into my parking spot and shut my car off. I sit there for a moment and let my head fall against the headrest.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I jerk to the side and grab my chest. Cady is standing outside my window giggling. I open my car door and get out locking it before I close it back.
"Don't do that shit to me. I almost jumped out of my skin." I playfully swat at her and she jumps out of the way laughing.
"I wasn't meaning to scare you; that was just a plus." She comes to a stop leaning against the brick of my apartment.
I let us in and she runs to the bathroom as I kick my shoes off. I lock the door and sigh. It's becoming routine. A person should be able to sit safely in their home without locking themselves inside. Locking it to keep people out when you're not there is one thing, but I feel like I'm trapping myself in a jail cell when I'm home. And it's all out of fear.
Grabbing the application from my bag, I lay it on the cluttered coffee table and sit down on the couch. It feels so good to be off my feet after my ten hour shift. I reach in my purse and grab my cigarettes lighting one and melt into the worn out cushions as I try to relax my body one area at a time. When I close my eyes, Cash's smiling face appears. His head slightly tilted, dark brows over chocolate eyes, straight nose, and full bottom lip. The shadow on his jaw along with his mussed hair makes me bite my lip thinking of how I'd like to run my fingers through it and grasp it while doing all kinds of things to him.
Who am I and where did the real Hazel go?
"Who are you thinking about?" Cady whispers next to me making me scream and jump.
"What is wrong with you today?" I yell at her trying to slow my erratic heartbeat as she cackles away.
"Nothing. I didn't sneak in here. You were off in your own little world, and by the look on your face, I'd say it was nice. So, who were you thinking about?"
"No one and nothing." There's nothing going on there anyway. I don't even know the guy, I have no idea why he is filling my thoughts. Couldn't be that he is sexy as fuck and has a voice that could melt your vagina. I pick up the application and hold it up for Cady hoping to change the subject.
"Where is this for?" she asks grabbing the app and looking over it.
"Maggie's." I smile at her shock.
"Does Roger know you are bringing me this?"
"Yes. We had a long talk today and he is letting me hire a few people." Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "You are the first person I'd like to hire."
Cady throws her arms around my shoulders and squeals in delight. "This is going to be epic, the two of us working together."
I hug her back. "We will see. Roger wants to interview you himself. He saw your tickets from Saturday." She bites her lip and sets the app down. "He wants you in there at nine tomorrow morning to fill out paperwork, but this needs filled out before you go."
"I'll be there with bells on. I need this job and it's even better I'll be working with you." She smiles and puts the app in her purse.
I put my cigarette out in the ashtray and lean back against the couch. Cady leans back and turns her head toward me searching my face.
"Any sign of the Phil today?"
"No, thank God." Any remaining thoughts of Cash are erased with the mention of Phil. My body tenses up at just the thought of that freak. "I'm hoping he stays away from Maggie's. I don't want to have the talk with Roger, but I know it's going to happen. We don't need trouble there. The tavern is one place the cops don't get called too often. Roger wants to keep it that way. I don't want to bring my drama to work and cause problems."
"It won't be you causing the problems, it'll be Phil. I'm sure Roger will understand, but you have to go to him first before Phil shows up again."
"I know, but I dread having this conversation with him. I've always been business only at work. I don't talk about my personal life there. It's why Roger and I get along so well and why he's promoting me." I rub my knees as I work it all out in my head. My job is everything to me. I love where I work, and I don't want people talking behind my back and knowing my business making issues.
Cady reaches over and grabs my hand. When I look up, I'm met with understanding eyes and a small smile. "I'll do it with you. You don't have to be alone, but you need to say something. Roger will help protect you. He won't let that bastard in there."
Her words are encouraging and I know if I want her there, she will be. I squeeze her hand and smile back at her.
"You never know, he could hire that hotty as a bouncer and he could be your body guard." She wags her brows and chuckles.
"Cash." My face heats at the admission. I have to turn away as the sly smile crosses my face.
"Cash?" she asks, confused.
"That's his name. Cash." I turn back to her as her lips spread into a smile.
"Strange name, but I like it. Now, tell me how you learned it."
"He told me. Today."
"So Mister Mysterious has a name and he's still in town. Do tell."
I recall the story for Cady and she hangs on my every word. As I tell her about how he introduced himself to me, she sighs and fans herself.
"Tell me about it." I sigh in return and we laugh.
"I told you he has the hots for you," she says nudging me with her elbow.
"You never know, we may never see him again. It would probably be for the best after what he did to Phil."
"Screw Phil. Don't let him dictate your life. If Cash asks you out, you say yes. If Cash wants to get naked, you scream hell yes and get naked." We start laughing uncontrollably.
"If Cash wants me naked, that won't be a problem. I'll get naked for him." I shock myself with that little bit of truth. I wasn't sure if I'd want anyone to touch me for a while after what Phil did, but the attraction between Cash and I has my body on fire. A fire only he can extinguish. An image of Cash as a firefighter pops into my mind. Oh lord, the man would look good in anything he wore.
"Slut," Cady says seriously, making us laugh even harder.
Hazel
Cady strolls into the tavern five minutes before her interview dressed very conservatively in a sundress and a pair of flats with her fiery red hair pulled up in a ponytail. She's holding her application in her hand as she waits behind the customer picking up their takeout order. She steps up as they walk away with a grin on her face.
"Good morning, sunshine," I sing to her as I brace myself against the counter. "You ready?"
"Absolutely. Is he ready for me?"
"Let me go check. Be right back."
I go tell Roger that Cady is here for her interview and he tells me to send her back. I show her through the kitchen to the small office that sits to the side.
"Be good," I whisper as I open the door.
"I'm always good," she whispers back with the most innocent face.
Roger snorts overhearing us and I laugh. "I'll be up front if you need me, Roger." He nods and I shut the door. I check on everyone as I make my way back to the front to help the servers.
For an hour I run back and forth between the kitchen and the dining area before the breakfast rush slows. I grab a bite to eat along with the daily paperwork and sit in the dining room in case anyone needs anything while Roger conducts Cady's interview. Several people have inquired about the open positions. Seven applications rest in front of me on the table. As I look over everyone's job history, a body slides into the booth seat across from me. I glance up and freeze.
"Good Morning," Cash says and smirks at me.
"Good Morning." It almost comes out as a question. His surprise visit has me looking around to see if anyone else notices his presence, but there are only a couple of customers in the tavern and Mary is busy with them. Turning my head back, he's staring at me. I nervously slide all the papers up into a neat pile and scoot them to the side. Grabbing my cup of coffee, I take a sip trying to ease my nerves. He watches, not saying a word. Setting my cup down, I point to it and ask, "Would you like some?"
"Yes." He crosses his arms and rests them against the tabletop, not breaking eye contact.
"Okay," I say in confusion. "Want anything else?" I make to stand up as he answers.
"Yes."
That one word is spoken a million different ways at once. I turn to him and his eyes jerk back up to mine. Hmmm, what kind of game is he playing? "What do you want?"
"I'll start with coffee and a breakfast platter." He points to the picture stand on the table.
Start with? The look in his eyes seems like he wants me for breakfast. It makes my stomach flip as I nervously fumble around to put his order in at the window and pour his coffee. I walk back to the table and set his cup in front of him. He nods his head and rips open two sugar packets pouring it into his cup before stirring it. Eyes closed, he smells the coffee before taking a sip and making a satisfied sound. The deep hum coming from his chest makes my thighs rub together wishing his head was between them.
His eyes open and briefly catches the desire written all over my face before I place my attention back on my food. We sit in silence as he waits for his meal. Uncomfortable silence. I don't think I've ever been on edge as much as I am now. I take another sip of my coffee then clear my throat. Cash, who's looking out the window, tilts his head and glances at me out of the corner of his eye. I don't even know what the hell to say him. I'm extremely confused by this meeting of sorts. Instead of talking, I get up and go check on his order taking my dirty dishes with me. Mary wags her brows at me as she passes and mine go wide silently screaming at her to stop it.
A couple of minutes later, I deliver Cash his meal. Mary must have refilled his coffee while I was gone.
"Here ya go." I set it down and reach for my papers and coffee cup.
"Are you leaving?" he curiously asks.
"I'm going to the bar to smoke and then I have to get back to work."
A look of disgust crosses his face when I mention smoking. Guess he doesn't like it. Oh well, I do. Keeps me sane and leveled, especially working this job. I give him a little wave and turn to walk to the bar.
It's so quiet in here during the day. This is the place I escape to do paperwork and have smoke breaks. I love the stale stench of cigarettes and booze. It makes me feel at home. My nerves start to calm as I enter my element. I sit far enough down from the door so I can focus and won't be tempted to watch Cash. The pull of smoke into my lungs when I light my cigarette makes me sigh. It's a moment of release and relief.
The applications keep me busy as I make notes of who would be a great asset for Maggie's, whose work history is decent and won't be a waste of our time training, and who are absolute no's. I narrow it down to four people to call to set up interviews. There will be more applications over the next few days. Might as well get a jump on them now. I call the first few applicants and set up times for later in the week. As I'm speaking to the last one, Cash walks up and pulls out a bar stool sitting right in front of me. My voice begins to waver as he watches me work. He reaches over and picks up my notes of all the applicants and raises an eyebrow reading what I've written. I snag it back and write down the time for the last interview on it.
Hanging up the phone, I look back at Cash as I light a cigarette. He makes a face as I take a hit and blow it out. I flip on the fan behind me and turn it around to suck the smoke away from us.
"Those are some pretty descriptive notes just to hire people for tavern duty," he says, grabbing the paper again and reading it.
"Not that it's any of your concern, but we are running a business here. Doesn't matter if we were hot dog vendors on the street, it's about making money. Some people have no work ethic."
Cash looks at me as if he's trying to discern something before chuckling and laying the paper down. "I'm not disagreeing with you on that. I'm just impressed is all."
I purse my lips and use this moment to take him in. Relaxed against the bar, his clean shaven face is wearing a cocky smirk as his eyes twinkle with laughter. He knows I'm trying to figure out his game, hell I'm not trying to hide it. After a moment, he leans forward and retrieves his wallet from his back pocket. Pulling out a twenty, he lays it on the bar and stands.
"See ya, Hazel." He smiles and turns to walk back into the diner.
As he struts away, he pulls up the edge of his shirt to tuck his wallet back into his pocket. I couldn't pull my eyes away from his perfect jean-clad ass if I wanted to. Before he rounds the corner, he looks over at me and catches where my gaze is lingering. He pauses for a moment locking eyes with me. There are all kinds of lovely, dirty promises in them. He turns away and leaves, making me realize I was holding my breath.
I reach over grabbing the money and my paperwork then walk to the diner. Cash is walking out the door as Cady comes out of the kitchen. She stops and checks him out before seeing me coming near her.
"Mm mm mmm, that is one fine man," she says under her breath as Roger appears behind us. I jab her with my elbow and she jumps. Roger just rolls his eyes and keeps on moving.
"We'll talk later," I tell her then follow Roger to tell him about the interviews I scheduled.
***
The next couple of days go like clockwork. I received several more applications to review Wednesday and Thursday. I found myself checking the diner for an appearance from Cash, and he didn't let me down. He always showed up during our down hours and had me wait on him. Angela and Mary started asking questions when he showed up yesterday and I was in the back. Cash asked for me specifically and when I got to him all he did was order his food. He never really talked to me other than that. Just watched me flit arou
nd the diner while he ate. I'm becoming a little more comfortable with eyes on me as I work, but it still leaves me hot and bothered in other ways.
I've been trying to keep an eye on Jimmy, as well, but he's not been as talkative. He's been avoiding eye contact. I assume he's figured out what his eyes look like when he's using and that others notice it also. If he's using, it makes me wonder if anyone else in the kitchen is using too. Jimmy hangs out with a couple of the guys back there outside of work. I wouldn't put it past some of them. They were probably the ones to introduce him to the drug in first the place. Jimmy is a good, clean cut kid. Well, he was. I'm not so sure anymore.
The night terrors haven't stopped either. In fact, they've gotten worse since Phil attacked me in the parking lot. Going to sleep scares me. I try to calm myself at night and think of other things as I drift off to sleep, but I'm always awaken by the same thing. The feel of fingers around my throat and evil eyes staring into mine. I'm beginning to think I will never get a good night's rest again. The lack of sleep is affecting my mood and making me angry a lot. My coworkers are taking notice and Cady is watching me more than she did before.
As I take down the Help Wanted sign, I think of the few people I interviewed yesterday and all the new applicants, mentally making a note to call a few of them to set up a time to talk. I have to have people hired by next week so we can start training. If I thought it was crazy around here now, it's only going to get worse trying to train people short staffed. Don't know how I'm going to make it through without falling over dead in the floor. I walk to Roger's office and put the sign in his drawer before heading to the bar for my evening shift. Standing in the doorway, I see all of the regulars sitting at the bar. Paul waves at me and I smile and wave back. He pats the stool next to him and I sit down to smoke a cigarette before I start my shift. It's Friday night, which means we are going to be busy. I already told Roger that I told Cady to come in and work it with me since he can't stay. After the amount of money we made last week, he didn't question me.