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“You were right about being a fast learner,” he says with a wink. “Now, another important thing is dealing with drunk customers. The key is to stay calm and in control of the situation. Cut them off if they’ve had too much to drink and offer them water or food to sober up.”
“Okay,” I say, feeling hesitant. “But I’m just a girl.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re a burly, bearded guy. I’m sure drunk customers will listen to you, but to me? I’m not so sure.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders, and I almost drown in his blue eyes. “If they don’t listen, call for backup. Always. Your safety comes first.”
“I understand.”
The weight of responsibility of being a bartender suddenly lands on me. What am I thinking, working at a bar after I’ve been forced into hiding thanks to a group of criminals? What if I witness another crime, right here in this bar?
“Meredith, you’re going to do just fine. Nothing serious has ever happened here before,” he says in a soothing voice. “Trust your instincts and know that you can always call on me. Always.”
I offer him a grateful smile. Caleb’s right. There’s nothing to worry about as long as he’s here to protect me.
He goes over a ton of other things with me, like how to work the register and make sure all the glasses get properly rinsed. Time flies by, and before we know it, the bar is near opening time.
“What do you say we get this show on the road?” Caleb flips the sign from closed to open.
“I guess I don’t have a choice but to bite the bullet, huh.”
I wince at my poor choice of words, remembering the grisly murder that got me in this mess in the first place.
He grins at me. “You’re going to rock, Meredith.”
It doesn’t take long before our first customer walks in, a middle-aged man with a weary expression in his eyes. He sidles up to the bar and orders a whiskey on the rocks.
I spring into action, grabbing a glass and filling it with ice before pouring a measured amount of whiskey into the glass. Relief floods through me as I realize this isn’t too hard. I grab a coaster and put the man’s drink on it, offering him a smile.
“Here you go, sir. Enjoy.”
The man takes a sip and I swear I can see his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. “Thanks, sweetheart,” he says.
For a second, I think he’s about to start a conversation with me, but then he focuses his attention on the giant television screen behind the bar where a hockey match is being broadcast.
Caleb walks up to me and leans in, his lips almost touching my ear as he whispers, “Great job.”
The reverberation of his voice sends goosebumps over my body. I can’t help but inhale his manly scent. I can’t fall for him, though. Not just because he’s my boss now, but because he can never know who I really am. My life is more important than my love life. I can’t love anyone if I’m dead.
The rest of the evening goes by fast as I’m pouring drinks left and right. By the time my shift is over, I’m exhausted.
Caleb grabs his leather jacket and turns to me. “Steve is going to hold the fort for the remainder of the night. Do you want to grab some dinner? Or would your boyfriend come after me if you did?”
“My boyfriend?”
He arches an eyebrow. “Yeah, Sheriff Thompson, right?”
“Right, I just meant my boyfriend isn’t the type of man that would come after you.” I clear my throat. “Where are you taking me?”
“Omnivore Tavern.”
“Wait, isn’t that Sebastian Powers’s restaurant? The famous chef? That place must cost a fortune.”
“Don’t worry, I’m paying.”
I shake my head. “Caleb, no, I can’t let you do that.”
