“Your section is gonna be twice as large as the one you worked last night,” he warned.
“The tips should be good.” Jewel nodded at Jolene as she edged past, balancing a heavy tray full of schooners of beer.
“Yep. As long as you work ’em.” Al wiggled his eyebrows.
“I plan to.” Jewel grinned back. She liked the big man.
“Then you’d better get a move on.” He clapped three times. “Chop, chop,” he said, winking at her before hurrying away.
Smile fading, Jewel tied on her change pouch, grabbed a pad and pencil and headed out into the crowded room.
Instinctively, she looked for Colton. There he was, in Jolene’s section, at his usual corner table near the back of the room.
“Honey, bring me some liquor!” one of her customers hollered. She hurried over to a boisterous table full of older men, scribbling down their orders as fast as she could.
With a crash of drums and echoing guitar, the band launched into their first song, a spirited rendition of an old Buddy Holly tune. The noise level grew past a roar and Jewel’s head began to ache.
Scurrying to keep her customers supplied with alcohol and food, she lost sight of Colton in the crush of orders and drinks and dodging an occasional attempt to pinch or squeeze.
Concluding their first song to cheers, the band began a second. They were loud, raucous and played classic rock on request. The tiny dance floor quickly filled.
Jewel sneezed from the smoke. And her nose wasn’t the only thing affected—her sensitive hearing would be sorely abused before the night was over. Even now, each beat of the drum reverberated inside her head.
Head down, she barreled for the kitchen—and right into a woman customer.
“I’m so sorry.” She had to shout to be heard. Raising her head, she realized the woman was Reba, dressed in a black leather miniskirt and teal silk halter top. She’d completed her daring outfit with huge teardrop earrings and enough eyeliner to make her look five years older.
“Hey!” Reba shouted. “This is a happening place.”
Readjusting her tray, Jewel jerked her head in a nod. “It is. What are you doing here? I didn’t know you liked this kind of thing.”
Reba didn’t smile. “We’ve got to talk.” Grabbing Jewel’s arm, she pulled her toward the ladies’ room.
“I’m working,” Jewel protested. “Can’t it wait until later?”
“Not hardly, hon.” Grim-faced, she steered Jewel down the hall.
Once they pushed through the door into the restroom, it felt as though they’d entered a sanctuary.
“Much better.” A hard look from Jewel had Reba dropping her hand. “I’m sorry to bother you here, but this couldn’t wait.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Colton, that’s what’s wrong.”
“Not this again.” This time, Jewel didn’t bother hiding her annoyance. “He’s helping me out. Doing me a favor. He’s asked for nothing in return. Get it?”
“You heard about his wife, right? You said he told you.”
“I know his daughter died of an overdose and his wife went to jail.” Glancing at her watch, Jewel shook her head. “Why? What does any of this have to do with me?”
“Because, now that I know who you are, I know you have to be careful.”
The words stopped Jewel cold. Had she finally located her enemy?
Not good. They were alone and Jewel wasn’t armed.
“What do you mean?” she asked carefully.
