On the Rocks Page 5

  I groaned. “They aren’t into me. I wouldn’t worry.”

  “Oh, I’ll worry, but that doesn’t change anything.”

  I rolled my eyes. “The whole big brother protective thing is supposed to have worn off by now. I’m twenty-two.”

  “Why would it wear off?” He stopped pacing long enough to look at me. “It’s just as present now.”

  Maddy laughed. “Macon and Brody are good guys. At least she’ll be well protected.”

  “Fine, but how are you going to pay rent? Want me to get you something temporary at the office?”

  Work at his real estate firm? No thanks. “Actually Brody is going to talk to Max for me.”

  “You want to work at the Grille?” Colin asked incredulously.

  “Hey, watch it, Mister.” Maddy scowled.

  “What? I’m not saying it’s a bad place to work, I’m just surprised Carly would want to work there.”

  “And you think I’d rather work at your office instead? At least I’d get to work with cool people at the Grille.” I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him. That wouldn’t exactly help my whole ‘I’m not a little kid anymore’ argument.

  Colin sighed. “What kind of job are you applying for exactly? You don’t have any waitressing experience.”

  I hadn’t thought that far through the plan. Thankfully Maddy saved me. “I know Max needs more hostesses. Carly would do great at that. She’s friendly.”

  Colin seemed to relax. “Hostess? Ok. I guess I can see that.”

  “Why don’t you come in with me tonight and talk to Max?” Maddy suggested. “Unless you want to wait a while.”

  “Nope. I’d like to get the ball rolling.” The sooner I got a job, the sooner I’d have money and could move in with the guys. I refused to be dependent on my brother for too long.

  “I have an out of town meeting today, but I’ll stop in to see you guys when I get back.” He shot me a look, and I figured out exactly what the meeting was. He was going to see Maddy’s parents. I hoped for his sake and mine that it went well. Clearly it was a bigger deal for him, but I really wanted Maddy as a sister-in-law.

  “Okay.” Maddy kissed him on the cheek. “I’m going to get ready for a run. Want to join me, Carly?”

  I laughed. “Yeah… running, not exactly my thing.”

  “I run slow.” She smiled, and I could tell she was really hoping for the company.

  “How slow is slow?”

  Colin chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll survive, Carly. See you girls later.” Colin picked up his black briefcase and headed to the door.

  “So, are you in?” She started up the stairs.

  “Sure. Let me get changed.” It’s not like I was completely out of shape, but I was more of an elliptical kind of girl. It had been awhile since I’d actually run any real distance. I figured it couldn’t hurt to go with her. I could always turn around and walk home. I didn’t want her to think I was completely lazy or anything.

  I dug out some gym clothes and my tennis shoes.

  Fifteen minutes later Maddy and I jogged down the back steps and out toward the beach. The sun was out, and the heat beating down on us was enough to make me reconsider my decision. “Remember that you promised to go slow.”

  Maddy smiled and kept to the jog. “Let me know if I get too fast for you.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll notice when I fall back.”

  She glanced at me. “You don’t look out of shape.”

  “I’m not exactly, but I don’t do this often.”

  “Are you more a gym person then?” She picked up her pace slightly. I could tell she was trying to talk to me so I didn’t notice.

  “Usually.”

  “You should see if Macon will take you to his. He gets lots of buddy passes. I haven’t bugged him to use one in a while.”

  “Oh, cool.” If I was going to spend my time in a beach town I was probably going to have to make sure I kept working out. I didn’t spend my life worrying about how I looked, but I think most girls have doubts when they put on a bikini.

  A mile in I decided I was done for the time being. I could just picture Maddy calling Colin to visit me in the hospital for heat stroke. “I’ll meet you back at the house.”

  “Ok, I’ll see you in a little bit.” She waved before continuing down the beach. If she minded that I was turning back, she didn’t show it.

  I sighed with relief and walked down to the water. The waves were gentle that morning, creating a slow and steady rhythm as they made contact with the sand. I closed my eyes, taking in the relaxing sound.

  “Doing some morning meditation?” A very familiar and sexy voice asked.

  My eyes flew open. “Hey, Macon.”

  “So? Were you meditating?” He stared at me with an intensity that unsettled me.

  “Nope, just relaxing.” I wasn’t relaxed at the moment. He was shirtless and wearing only a pair of shorts and running shoes. I’d seen him in less when we were in the ocean, but it was hard to turn away.

  “Cool. I’m just out for a run. Care to join me?”

  “You too? What is it with you people and running?”

  He laughed. “Uh, am I supposed to answer that?”

  I shook my head. “No. I just went on a mini run with Maddy when she insisted. I’m just not the runner type.”

  He looked me up and down. “Whatever exercise routine you do is working.”

  I could feel the blood rushing to my face. “Thanks.”

  “So any news on the moving front?”

  “I think it’s a go. Maddy seems on board.”

  “Awesome. Let me know when you’re ready. I can help you move your stuff if you want.”

  I redid my pony tail so my hair was further off my neck. “How much stuff do you think I have to move? I’ve only been at Colin’s a few days.”

  He shrugged. “I had to offer.”

  “I’m going by the Grille tonight with Maddy to see if I can get a job.” I’m not sure why I decided to tell Macon, maybe because it was his idea to start with.

  “Good luck with that.” He turned to leave. “Maybe I’ll catch you there.”

  “Oh. Cool. Enjoy your run.”

  “Enjoy your meditating—or that’s right, relaxing.” He waved before running off.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled knowing he couldn’t hear me. I watched his retreating figure. I needed to snap out of it. I wasn’t allowed to crush on a roommate. He had made his feelings clear, and the last thing I needed was more drama in my life.

  ***

  I double checked my outfit choice one more time. I figured you could never go wrong with a simple black skirt and blouse, but I didn’t want to emphasize just how inexperienced I was when it came to job interviews. My resume was sadly short. One summer working at The Gap and tons of babysitting rounded it out. Unfortunately, work experience wasn’t something I had a lot of.

  I waited by the front door for Maddy. A minute later she walked down the stairs two at a time. She was dressed in a black skirt and black Surfside Grille t-shirt. “Sorry.”

  “That’s fine, I haven’t been waiting long.”

  “I assume you want to drive over.” Maddy had finally gone home to get her car from her parents’ house, but she sometimes still rode her bicycle to work. She was like that; she wanted to do things her way.

  I smoothed out my skirt. “I don’t think this outfit and a bike would work well together.”

  She laughed. “I realize that not everyone prefers riding a bicycle to driving a car.”

  She seemed to have mastered the art of biking in a skirt. I wasn’t there.

  “I’d be up for it once in a while, but not for an interview, or whatever this is.”

  “Relax.” She gave me an understanding look. “Max is a sweetie. He’s not going to grill you or anything.” Maddy always talked fondly about her boss, but I didn’t know him. I was usually good at staying calm, but I really wanted this job to work out.

  In the end I drove,
which was fine with me. Sometimes driving, even a short distance, helped me keep my mind off things. I needed the interview to go well. I was so close to buying myself an entire summer away from my family—away from Kim.

  All too soon I pulled into the lot of the Grille. I drove around to one of the far spots where the employees usually parked. Maybe I was jumping the gun on that, but I wasn’t going in as a customer. Besides, I drove Maddy in, and she worked there.

  The restaurant was mostly empty. The Grille had a lunch crowd, but by four o’clock in the afternoon those diners had left. All that remained were a sprinkling of customers mostly just enjoying drinks.

  I followed Maddy down past the restrooms to an employee only area. She knocked on the doorframe of an office. “Hey, Max.”

  A man probably in his fifties or so with slightly graying hair glanced up from his desk. “Hey, Maddy. Is this the friend you mentioned when you called earlier?” He smiled at me.

  “Yeah, this is Carly.”

  Max stood up. I didn’t know much about him other than he was supposed to be a really good boss. He held out his hand. “Max Bankwell, nice to meet you.”

  “Carly Morris.” I accepted the handshake.

  “I’m guessing she’s related to your boyfriend then?” Max looked to Maddy.

  She smiled. “She’s his little sister.”

  He turned back to me. “How little? Are you twenty-one?”

  “I’m twenty-two.” For some reason twenty-two sounded so much older than twenty-one.

  “Do you have any work experience?”

  “Lots of babysitting and I worked at a store once.”

  He chuckled. “You want to hostess?”

  “That’s probably what I’d prefer.” Really I would have taken anything, but greeting people and making sure I seated them right sounded like a good job for me.

  “Great. When can you start?”

  I blinked a few times. Was I imagining things or did the guy just offer me the job. “Excuse me?”

  “When can you start?”

  “Anytime…” I looked at Maddy. She just smiled.

  “Are you free tonight?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m free.”

  “Ok. I’ll get the paperwork together and then we’ll get you started.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes. I was going to have to put one of my waitresses on it tonight. Looks like I won’t have to.” He smiled. “Nice to have you on board, Carly.” He looked at Maddy. “Want to find Carly some shirts before you get to work?”

  “Sure,” Maddy quickly agreed. “Mary used to be a hostess here, right? Maybe she can show Carly the ropes?”

  “Great idea. Here.” He shoved some papers in front of me. “You don’t happen to have your social security card on you, do you?”

  “Uh, I do.” I’d brought it down with me just in case. I pulled it out and handed it to Max. He put it in one of those combination printer/copier things and handed it back to me. I looked down at the papers and quickly filled in my information. Everything was happening so fast. I handed over the forms.

  “Welcome to the Surfside Grille family.” He shook my hand again.

  Maddy took my arm gently and led me to another room. “Here’s the break room.” She went into a closet. “Are you a small or medium?”

  “It depends.” I didn’t want to be difficult, but it was all about how tight across the chest a shirt was.

  “I don’t see any mediums, so try the small.” She tossed a black t-shirt at me.

  I glanced around, and satisfied we were alone I pulled off my top and put on the t-shirt over my black bra. It fit snuggly, but I had a feeling it looked good.

  “Colin’s going to pass out if he sees you in that one. Want to try a large? It’s going to be big though.”

  “No, I’d rather not look silly.” I’d swim in a large.

  She shrugged. “Well, you’re not working for tips, but the male customers will be friendly with you.”

  “Oh, yeah. No tips.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s not like you have to stay as a hostess the whole summer.”

  “Okay. I’m just glad to have a job.”

  “Let’s find Mary and get you started then.”

  “Thanks.”

  ***

  Mary was in her mid-twenties, and she had this giant smile that immediately put me at ease. So far everyone I’d met at work had been insanely nice to me, and I was just waiting for the other shoe to fall. There are always a few bad apples in the mix.

  “I’ll leave you in good hands.” Maddy patted my shoulder before walking off. Mary showed me where everything was kept, and how to decide what sections to seat people in. The seating chart was pretty self-explanatory, and the entire training session took less than ten minutes. After showing me where they stored the crayons for the kids she took a seat on a stool.

  “So you’re Colin’s little sister, huh?” Mary reached underneath the large table and pulled out some menus.

  “That’s one of my titles.”

  “He’s a nice guy.”

  “I’m glad you think so. He’s a cool brother.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “So I’m dying to know, is he going to pop the question to Maddy soon?”

  “Maybe.” I smiled to myself. I guess everyone knew how much Colin loved her.

  “I hope so. They make a great couple.”

  “I think so too.”

  “What about you?” She crossed her legs.

  “Hmm?”

  “Are you one half of a great couple too?”

  “Not at all.” I hadn’t had a boyfriend in way too long.

  “Are you scoping out your new roommates then? I just heard you’re taking over Maddy’s lease. They’re both pretty adorable, aren’t they?”

  “I’ve obviously noticed they’re attractive, but I’m going to be living with them, not sleeping with them.” Of course the thought of sleeping with Macon got me excited, but I wasn’t sharing that with anyone.

  She gave me a knowing look. “I’ve seen the way Macon looks at you. I’m not so sure he feels the same way about you just being a roommate.”

  “I wouldn’t read into it.”

  “If you say so.” She smiled. “Okay, I’ve got to get ready for the dinner crowd. Good luck tonight!” She waved before heading off. Five minutes later the first diners began arriving.

  The first few groups were easy enough to seat. They were mostly families with little kids looking to get dinner in before the kids went crazy for the night. I’d babysat enough to know that taking kids out anywhere late at night was hard. I was careful to give the same color and number of crayons to each kid in a family. The last thing the parents needed was a meltdown because one got red and the other didn’t.

  Miraculously I made it until eight o’clock without too much of a problem. I seated too many people in one waitress’s section once, but aside from that slip up I was doing fine.

  “Hey, how are you holding up?” Maddy stopped by the station with two bottles of water. She handed one to me and opened one for herself.

  “I’m doing all right.” I opened the top and took a long sip. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was. “Thanks.”

  “Not a problem. I figured if you were anything like me you’d need one.”

  I smiled. “Then I guess we’re alike.”

  “It’s getting later, so just know the clientele is going to change, and it’s going to get wilder.”

  “Wilder as in…?”

  “As in this is when you may want the large shirt.” She patted my shoulder before heading over to the bar. She’d been working the outdoor bar a lot lately, but I had a feeling she’d particularly requested the inside one so she could stay close by. I appreciated it, but I wasn’t going to call her out on it either. If she wasn’t making a big deal, neither would I.

  Chapter Eight

  Macon

  I usually didn’t pay much attention to the hostess when I walked into the Grille. I jus
t waved at whoever was working before making my way over to the inside bar first to look for Maddy. I nearly did a double take when I saw Carly standing there with her brown hair cascading down the back of that oh-so-tight black t-shirt.

  “Hey.” I didn’t have the brain power to come up with a more clever opening line. I was using every ounce of it to force myself to look at her eyes. There was no sure fire way to piss off a girl more than to get caught staring at her chest.

  “Hi, you made it.” Her voice was playful, and I took it as a good sign that her evening was going well.

  “It looks that way. Max got you working already?”

  “Yeah, he hired me on the spot. I’m special, huh?” She ran her teeth over her lower lip. It was a sexy action that had me thinking inappropriate thoughts again.

  “Oh, you’re special all right.” I laughed. Teasing Carly wasn’t the same as teasing Maddy; we didn’t have the same sort of history, but I liked it for different reasons.

  “I’m guessing you’re just going over to see Maddy at the bar and don’t need me to seat you.”

  “Yeah, but I’ll miss out on your mad escorting skills.” Damn. That came out all wrong. “And by that you know I mean escorting me to a seat.”

  She blushed a little. It was cute on her freckled cheeks. “You mean you weren’t referring to my call-girl skills?” She said it completely dead pan.

  “You never know what they’re teaching in college these days.”

  “How long ago did you graduate? Two years?”

  “Two years is a long time.” I put a hand on the hostess stand. “Good luck, and keep those escorting skills clean for me tonight. You’re going to be my roommate you know, you need to stay on the up and up.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I’ll try.” She laughed, and I made my way over to the bar. Maddy was busy making some frozen drinks so she didn’t come over for a few minutes. I watched Carly talking to a few people while I waited. Finally she walked over.

  “How’s she doing?” Maddy didn’t bother with a normal greeting. I didn’t mind at all. I knew her enough to expect it. She was really protective of the people she cared about. She was protective of me when I let her be.

  “She seems to be doing fine.” I glanced in Carly’s general direction, but my view was blocked by a large group of guys. I tried to ignore my annoyance at that.