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Coop nods noncommittally while eyeing my chest. “We’ll have to get you fitted for a uniform top; I don’t have any extras. Until then, what color is your bra?”
I reel back. “Excuse me?”
He sighs and steps toward me. Without asking permission, he unbuttons my top three buttons and pulls my blouse open, revealing the slightest hint of my red lace bra.
“Perfect,” he says.
Heat creeps up my neck, infusing my cheeks, and I look down—not out of embarrassment, but because the sight of Cooper Allen with his hands on my body is almost too much. This has nothing to do with Cooper himself, but his identical twin. Rhett Allen was my first boyfriend, my first love, and the first boy to break my heart. I can’t look at Coop without thinking about Rhett. No matter how hard I try.
I have to give Cooper credit, because while Sean makes a sound of appreciation at my newly exposed state, he doesn’t flinch. As if I’m a painting he’s studying, his eyes sweep across my chest, down my stomach, and land on my hips.
“Lower,” he says.
Grabbing my jeans, I tug them down until the waistband sits indecently low. I hold my arms out to the side, waiting for his approval.
“You look hot,” Sean says, earning a wink from me.
Cooper shakes his head and mumbles something that sounds an awful lot like I can’t believe I’m doing this and My brother is going to kill me, but I ignore it because I don’t care what anyone thinks. Least of all Rhett. I need this job.
My days are spent running my dad’s non-profit, no-kill animal shelter, Animal Haven, and up until tonight I’ve spent my evenings bartending at Broadway Bar and Grill, a pub two towns over. They paid well, and I made fat tips, but after working a day at the shelter, followed by a thirty-minute drive, a six-hour shift at the tavern, and another thirty-minute drive home, I was exhausted.
Needless to say, when Coop offered me a bartending spot at Dirty Dicks, I couldn’t turn it down. The hourly wage is less, but I’m willing to sacrifice that for a little extra sleep each night.
“We’re laid back here. Have fun, keep up with the pace, and you’ll do great.”
“Thanks, Coop. I appreciate this.”
He smiles and nudges my arm. “Don’t mention it. We’re glad to have you. I have a few phone calls to make, but Sean is going to show you the ropes before we get too busy.”
“Follow me.” Sean nods toward the door, and I follow him to the front bar.
I’ve been inside Dirty Dicks more times than I can count. It isn’t the only bar in town, but it’s the most popular, and during my rare moments of free time, this is where I find myself. Knocking back a few with friends and shooting the shit is about the only way to spend a day off in this town—unless of course you’re into bull riding. In that case, you’ll need to drive a couple miles south of town to find a hoard of people every Friday and Saturday night, anxious to watch a slew of young men try their hand at riding a bull.
That was the thing to do back in the day. I was a buckle bunny for sure, but those days bring back too many memories, so I focus on the here and now.
Sean makes quick work of showing me the basics. I’ve worked behind a bar long enough that it doesn’t take much for me to fall into a groove. When the crowd picks up, another bartender joins our crew.
“Sarah,” she says, holding out her hand. I take it for a quick shake.
“Monroe, but you can call me Mo.”
She grabs a pad of paper and stuffs it in her back pocket. “This your first day?”
I nod. “First day here, but not my first time bartending.”
“I hope you wore comfy shoes, because tonight will be crazy.”
“Most weekends are.”
“Tonight is different. Have you heard of Rhett Allen?”
Have I heard of Rhett Allen? I’ve only spent the last six years trying to forget him. But she doesn’t need to know that. “Yeah, we went to school together.”
Her smile is bright and mischievous. “Lucky you.”
“What does Rhett have to do with tonight being crazy?” As far as I know Rhett hasn’t set foot in this town in well over a year and has no plans of doing so anytime soon. At least that’s what Coop tells me, and he should know.
“Rumor has it Rhett signed up for a bonus ride.” She nods toward the two TVs against the wall. “The entire town is expected to pile in for the occasion.”
