“Gosh, freakin’, dammit.”

I grab the cordless phone and punch in Saline’s number. I’m not surprised when it goes straight to voice mail. At this point, I could rip this girl’s head off. She always does this because she only thinks of herself. I should have fired her at the meeting. She's never going to change.

Feeling pissed off and annoyed, I dial Dale’s number to see if maybe she called in. He informs me that he hasn’t heard from her, but he will call the others to save me time from being on the phone.

Ten minutes later, I receive a phone call saying Jen has Jax so she can’t come in. Luna is at her second job and neither Kade nor Saline will pick up their phones. It’s absolutely ridiculous and Saline will no longer have a job here. I’ve had enough of her petty games.

After dealing with that crap, I turn behind me to a group of three women taking a seat at the bar. Luckily, I know two of them, so they should understand my situation.

Placing her purse on the bar beside her, looking cute in her little pink cotton dress, Michelle takes a seat and smiles when she notices me. Her golden hair is hanging long and straight tonight, making her look classy. “Hey, girl. Busy night, I see.”

“You can say that.” I reach for the glasses and set them down in front of me. “How are you ladies tonight? Have you come to watch me suffer?” I tease.

Laura leans over the bar and half laughs, half snorts. “You know I can’t pass up the opportunity.” She points beside her at a younger looking girl. She has long black hair with purple streaks throughout it, pulled into a low ponytail hanging over her shoulder. She looks as if she’s been crying, but is trying to cover it up. “This is our friend Jamie. She’s had kind of a rough night.” She leans in and whispers. “Her boyfriend’s a dick.”

Jamie elbows Laura in the side causing her to almost fall off her stool. “Shut up, Laura. I’m sitting right here. I have f**king ears, you know.” Her eyes meet mine and she fakes a smile, putting on a brave face. “I’ll take a Vodka and lemonade.” She holds up two fingers. “Make that with two shots. A double please.”

I nod my head and look between Michelle and Laura. “What about you two? I don’t have time for some sissified drinks at the moment, so please order something quick and easy to make,” I plead.

Michelle throws her head back and sighs, gripping onto the bar. “Don’t do this to me, Phoenix. You know what I usually get.”

“Exactly, which is why I’m asking you nicely. I’m by myself tonight and I’m slammed. I already have customers riding my ass.”

“Hey, you. Can I get another drink over here?” Exactly my point.

I turn my head to the right, to see a guy from the rich guy’s crew, standing at the bar with an impatient look on his chubby face. He looks pissed off, as if he’s about ready to toss his drink at me or jump over the bar and make his own drink. It makes me want to go and flick his man boobs.

Holding up my finger, I say, “Give me a minute.” Then I turn my attention back to the girls. “Please, work with me.”

Michelle looks over toward the impatient douche and gives him a dirty look. “Fine. Just give me a Vodka and cranberry.”

I nod my head and look at Laura while scooping up the ice. “What will it be, sweetie?”

Shoving her phone into her purse, she looks at man boobs and scowls. “I’ll take the same, but-“

“Can you hurry the hell up? I don’t have all night,” the jerk says, slapping some money down onto the bar top. “My guys are waiting on me, sweet tits, so why don’t you bring that fine little ass over here and give me what I want,” he slurs.

I get ready to lose my cool, when out of nowhere, a hand grips the guy’s shoulder, causing his eyes to go wide in surprise. Thank goodness, because I was about to shove my boot up this moron’s ass.

He spins around to see who grabbed him, looking like he's ready to fight. My eyes leave the idiotic man, to see who has risked a fight at my expense, landing on the guy towering over him and my heart starts going wild in my chest. Kellan is standing there, with his messy hair falling over his face, as he looks down at the guy.

The guy pulls from Kellan's grasp, trying to swing, but is stopped midair by Kellan's hand. His forehead creases, with the slightest smile playing out on the edge of his mouth, as if amused. “Not a good idea bud. Since you've been drinking, I have the advantage.”

Tonight he’s wearing a charcoal gray, fitted, graphic tee, revealing the outline of his muscles. The short length of the sleeve stops just below his shoulder, showing off those sexy tattoos. My eyes trail down, catching sight of both full sleeve tattoos. It’s like staring at a work of art, each showing a magnitude of depth and beauty, like each is its own story waiting to be told.

He's wearing a thick, brown, leather cuff buttoned around his left wrist. His faded jeans hang low on his hip, ending, front tucked just slightly beneath the tongue of his heavy black boots.

Without realizing it, I fan myself off, beginning to feel heat spread throughout my body. I'm ogling him like a damn love-struck teenager again. Some things never change.

“Day-um! That’s one fine specimen,” Michelle says while leaning over Jamie to get a better look. “Move it, girl.”

I stand there frozen and unable to say anything. All I can do is stare and swallow, while mentally slapping myself out of it. Get a hold of yourself, Phoenix, before he really starts to think you’re an idiot.

What the hell is he even doing here? I wasn’t expecting to see him around again. Seeing him here is working me up and making me think of the things I’m trying to forget, dammit. Not cool.

Kellan places his hand back on the guy's shoulder and squeezes, before giving him a pat on the back, slightly too hard to be considered friendly. “You see the lady is busy, so, I’ll offer you a onetime tip. Have some f**king respect when speaking to women.” His voice is deep, angry like, causing the guy to look away, toward his friends that seem to be ignoring him. Kellan smiles at this and slaps his back so hard that the guy slams against the bar and knocks over his empty glass. “I’m here to help. Now, how can I help you, sweet tits?”

The stunned guy watches as Kellan walks behind the bar, past me and over to stand in front of him. He obviously wasn’t expecting someone to hear him and stand up for me and neither was I. “Any day now. You’re not the only person in the bar, as you can see.”