“Anyway, I really have to get to work. Have fun with your sister, and I’ll check on Moose in the morning.”
She nods as I rush toward the elevators, punching the button several times. I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry, and I can’t afford that.
It’s been four days since I faced Mike in his office, and since then, I’ve barely been able to eat or sleep. I’ve tried to think of anything to earn fast money so I can get my mom’s rent paid up to date. Maybe then, I’ll be able to breathe a tiny bit. Heck, Imight even be able to save for a freaking couch. A thrifted one, of course.
Hell, I even considered selling my dirty panties online. I’ve heard girls talk about it at work, and apparently, there’s quite a market for used underwear. Some of those women make more than a thousand dollars per pair. Each time I pull up the website to sign up, though, something makes me stop.
When the elevator doors close, I take a deep breath and smile when a familiar scent hits my nose. Woodsy with a hint of spice.
Xander.
My skin tingles at the very thought of him. Sometimes, I wonder if I imagined him. If it was just a really hot dream. It has been a while since I’ve had sex. Not good sex, I might add. Maybe I made Xander up. It’s silly because I know he was real. I saw the man in the flesh: face tattoos, a nose piercing, and rolled-up sleeves. He was there. And then poof. He’s gone, and I haven’t seen him since. That’s his scent, though. I couldn’t mistake it. I’ve never enjoyed the smell of a man like I did his. Whatever cologne he wears is uniquely him.
My core clenches, and I bite my lip as I squeeze my legs together for just a second, taking whatever friction I can get in the brief ride to the lobby.
“Have a great day, Miss Summers,” Frank, the security guard, calls out as I pass.
I smile at him and wave. “Have a good one, too, Frank! Say hello to your wife for me. I hope she liked the soup.”
The older man nods, his chin wobbling as he does. “She did. She’s feeling much better, all thanks to you. You’re a good kid, Quinn. Too good for this world.”
I grin at him and wave again as I head to my bus stop, feeling a small boost in my mood. Staying up half the night after a double shift to make that soup for Frank’s wife was totally worthit. Frank has always been so kind to me. It was the least I could do.
Thankfully, traffic is on my side today, and I walk through the doors of Luxe with several minutes to spare to get to Velvet Sins, the bar I work at. The casinos I work for are owned by the same company, which is nice. They’re the best employer I’ve ever had. I don’t even know why I worked at The Ace Bar for so long. As much as it sucks that I’m missing out on the extra money, I’m glad to be out of there. Although I do plan on marching my butt back in there to demand the wages owed to me because I didn’t skip out on anything, and they know it. The very thought of causing hell makes me want to throw up, but I can do it if I have to.
At least I was able to cover the missed hours by taking extra shifts at my current three jobs. I guess it’s a win. I’ll take anything right now.
After quickly tossing my purse in my locker, I check the mirror and fluff my hair a little bit, then I adjust the girls, so they look perkier than they are. I swipe my lips with another layer of red lipstick and fix my layered necklaces, making sure they’re not tangled before heading out to the bar that sits smack dab in the center of the casino. It’s my favorite place I work at because it feels so luxurious with crystals dripping from the ceiling around it, creating a sparkling, curtain-like divider that separates all the slot machines from it. The wrap-around bar has gold flakes and crystals in the walls that complement the side tables positioned next to the upmarket black velvet couches. Throughout the space, features make the entire space feel high-class and wealthy. It’s one of the things I love most about Las Vegas. You can find any kind of vibe you’re looking for, whether it’s classy, dirty, or wild. Or all of the above.
“Hey, Quinn! We’ve been slammed all day,” Josh, one of the other bartenders, says as he tosses a Boston shaker over hisshoulder before popping it open and pouring the contents into a martini glass.
Good. I love a busy day. It means more cash in my pocket, even though my feet will definitely pay the price later.
“Awesome! We got this!” I call out over the mixed noise of conversations and music.
I love working with Josh because he’s easy-going and always looks out for me when drunk guys get a little too handsy. Usually, I can deal with it myself, but every once in a while, he’s stepped in and made sure I was okay. Not that my other coworkers aren’t cool, they are. But I have the most fun with Josh.
“Hey there.” I flash a playful smile at my first customers. “What can I get for you?”
Josh is right. The place is crowded with people living their best lives on vacation. One of my favorite things about this job is people watching and getting to know customers from different places.
A group of men, probably around my age, comes up to the bar and smiling at me like cocky assholes. I already know they’re going to be a rowdy bunch. When I glance back at Josh, he’s got his eye on them, and he sends me a wink that tells me he’s watching.
“Gentlemen,” I say sweetly, tipping my head to the side. “What can I get for you?”
The tallest one, who’s definitely the leader of their group, smirks at me, his gaze traveling to my cleavage. He sucks on his lip, and I inwardly gag but keep a smile pasted on.
“It’s my first night in Vegas, and I happened to meet the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I think it’s fate, doll,” the tall guy says, leaning his elbow on the bar.
I giggle and roll my eyes. “Let me know if that works for you at the next bar. What can I get you guys to drink?”
Tall Guy laughs, but he keeps his gaze on me the entire time I take their order. He’s pretty good-looking, but he reminds me of Jason. A total player. No freaking thank you. Been there, done that. And that’s why I’m still single, almost a year later, and not in the market for anything with anyone.
As I start mixing their cocktails, movement catches my eye right outside of the crystal divider. I’m not sure what makes me, but something tells me to look up, and when I do, I swear I see Xander. I can’t tell for sure since it’s only a side profile, and there are so many people between us. But that sharp jaw and those laser-focused eyes are hard to miss. As he moves around the outside of the bar, talking to a man while they walk, I keep my gaze on him for as long as I can. And when he turns to head toward the entrance and sees me, I can’t breathe.
It is, one thousand percent, Xander. I stare at him, unable to tear my eyes away. Then, as quickly as his eyes land on me, he glances at the other man and disappears into the sea of people.
“How’s those drinks going, doll?”
