Page 54 of Legacy (Empire)


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The guys chill out in their favorite dark corner as I go about the bar, quickly cleaning up where I can. I straighten up the bottles and wipe over the bar as Hannah, our other bartender, starts washing up some of the schooner glasses.

A guy approaches the bar, and being the closest, I step up in front of him and give him a beaming smile, knowing damn well he’s been handing out tips like candy all night. “What can I get ya?” I ask, already reaching for a glass.

His eyes sparkle, roaming over my face as he braces himself against the bar, and I can’t help but notice how attractive he is. He’s almost a clone of Dalton with his messy dark hair and blazing eyes. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets around on a Harley, too. But in comparison to Dalton, he’s almost dull.

His lips lift into a subtle smirk, his eyes dancing with all that cheesy goodness that gets my blood pumping. “How about a date?”

My brow arches, not having expected that, but honestly, I should have. I get asked out multiple times during my shifts, and it’s usually by drunken idiots who are only looking for someone to take home and screw. Only this guy certainly isn’t drunk, and judging by the way Dalton and Sawyer are scowling at his back, I might just take him up on it. After all, I’ve only got twenty-seven days to live. Why not make the most of it?

“What’s your name?” I ask with a flirty smile, pouring him a beer despite not having asked for one.

“Harley,” he says, making me laugh.

“Of course it is,” I say, handing him the drink as I notice Zade getting to his feet. I offer him my hand, making sure to turn the charm right up. “I’m Oakley.”

“Oakley and Harley, huh?” he murmurs, holding onto my hand a moment longer. “We already sound like the world’s cutest couple.”

A real laugh tears from my throat, and I’m surprised. I flirt with customers all the time, though that’s generally for the sake of raking in tips. None of them have made me laugh for real. Hell, the fact that it seems to be getting under all the guys’ skin only makes it better. “Indeed we do,” I tell him, more than prepared to take this all the way, despite a real lack of interest in the guy. I mean, he’s cute and all, and he can probably fuck like a king, but I already have more than I can handle.

“So, what do you say?” he questions as Zade and Dalton stride across the bar, more than ready to warn this guy away by any means necessary, even if it means beating him to a pulp in the alley behind the bar.

“You know what?” I say, just as Zade and Dalton get close enough to overhear our conversation. Just to prove a point, I ramp up the flirting. “I’d love to go on a date with you.”

“Tonight?” he questions with a hopeful spark in his dazzling stare, completely oblivious to the storm brewing at his back.

I laugh. “Wow, you’re eager,” I say, knowing he’d probably end up dead if I agreed to that, and considering I’m not a cold-blooded killer like my new friends, I swiftly decline. “I’m working late tonight, but let me give you my number and we can figure something out.”

“Alright, sweet,” he says, digging into his pocket and handing me his phone. I quickly swipe my thumb across the screen, unlocking it and adding my number to his contacts, not even sure I know where my phone is. After all, I haven’t seen it in a few days. It’s not like I have anyone to call anyway, apart from my apparent not-aunt when she sends the occasional check-in text. But I suppose that’s all an act to cover her tracks. I doubt she even cares about me at all.

Handing his phone back, I arch my brow. “You know, a man who doesn’t use a passcode to unlock his phone makes me nervous,” I tell him. “In my experience, that means he’s usually too confident for his own good.”

His lips kick up into a wicked smirk, his eyes dancing with hunger. “And what if I am?”

“Then it sounds like we’re more than compatible. But I must warn you, anything you wanna throw at me, I’ll give back twice as hard.”

Harley laughs, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “I’ll see you around, Oakley,” he says, that confidence shining through his stare. I nod and watch as he scoops up his beer and walks away, shouldering past Zade and Dalton, oblivious to their rage.

My gaze shifts to the boys, more than pleased with myself. But it’s not like I’m actually going to go out with the guy, something Zade clearly hasn’t figured out. “Out back. Now.”

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