I turn to see Kelsey standing on my side of the counter, wearing my denim bartender’s apron. The way it’s tied around her waist highlights the dip I wish I could rest my hands in.
“Where do I want you?” My mouth hangs open and I hum awkwardly.
Upstairs, in my fucking bed. On her knees, in front of me.
Jesus, Sutton, get your shit together.
She nods slowly, in a mocking way. “Yeah, you know. So I can work? I don’t think I can get much done just standing here, looking at you.”
Reluctantly I tilt my head toward Rich who’s further down the counter, making drinks. “You’re welcome to shadow Rich. It’s late so the bar’s not too busy.”
She rubs her hands together. “Works for me.”
She steps toward me and stops with only inches between us. She’s close enough that I get the slightest whiff of that honey and coffee scent, making the situation in my jeans even worse.
Her gaze meets mine—those breathtaking gray eyes—and I savor every millisecond.
“Are you going to let me work with Rich or…” Her voice snaps me out of my fog. That’s when I realize that I’m standing right between the counter and the back bar, blocking her path to him.
“Oh. Yeah, my bad.” I step to the side and let her pass.
Part of me wants to tell Rich he can take the rest of the night off so I can teach her the cocktail menu, but I do have work to do in the kitchen and technically, I’m not his boss. He works for Slade—just like me—he runs the bar, I run the kitchen and dining room. So I fight the urge to follow her like a lovesick puppy.
Wait. Puppy.
“Hey,” I call over to her before she reaches Rich. She turns to me but doesn’t say anything. “Where’s Felix?”
That little hint of a smile returns. “I already let him in the apartment upstairs. I took the dog blanket out of the SUV and put it up there for him. I hope that’s OK?”
“Of course, I said make yourselves at home.” I stand there holding the towel in my hand not knowing what to do next. We both look at each other until she finally huffs a laugh. She points one finger down and turns it in a spinning motion.
Right, I actually have work to do because I’m running a restaurant. At least that’s what I’m supposed to be doing instead of fawning over her.
Turning to look into the kitchen, I’m glad it’s the end of the night. My sous-chef has things under control and the chaos from earlier in the night has died down. So I can goback to keeping an eye on things up front, which is definitely where I would rather be.
Finally, I take a deep breath and turn toward the counter where TJ is. As always, this is my favorite spot and I’m glad Slade let me include it in the final design. I can look out over the whole dining room on the other side of the counter or I can turn to watch the kitchen. Normally my favorite thing to do is talk to patrons at the tasting counter right in front of me. That might change though because when I look down the counter and see Kelsey behind the bar, I don’t want to look anywhere else.
“Yeah, I already know watching this is going to be my new favorite thing.” TJ’s annoyingly smooth and deep voice burrows into my ear from his perch on his stool.
This time, I don’t even look at him before I toss the towel in his direction.
“Really mature,” he says dryly. “Do you treat all your best customers like that?”
I look out of the corner of my eye at him just in time see him throw the towel back at me.
“Just you,” I reply before shifting my gaze back down toward the end of the bar.
CHAPTER 15
SUTTON
I finish wipingdown my prep station while Kelsey and Rich put away the mixers from the bar well. We ended up staying open a little later after an unexpected rush right before closing. I was pleased how easily she picked up the drinks from him. It took her less than an hour to master our three most popular drinks. Fittingly, one of them was our version of an espresso martini made with Cowgirl Coffee’s beans. It’s not a simple drink by any means with six different ingredients, but she nailed it.
I’m not surprised though. I think she’d be good at anything.
Her laugh cuts across the empty restaurant and I look up to see Rich making hand gestures while she watches him. I know he’s telling a joke because that’s what he loves to do with anyone with ears. I also know he’s totally harmless because he’s the biggest golden retriever for his wife. It still doesn’t change the fact that he just pulled one of those rare smiles from her and that does get under my skin.
Great. Now I need a new bartender that isn’t funny.