Can’t Fight Love

Chapter 3

For the weekend, this is the only place I’ll be. At the course. I’m off from my other jobs to be here Saturday morning until Sunday night now. Slinging drinks, listening to inappropriate comments the drunker these men get, and catching eyes from the wives that have joined them for the Saturday night party. They do NOT like me. 

The Saturday night party is always a good time. A DJ, dinner and the drinks flow freely. A lot of the members are blue collared, so they are not snooty, the party isn't too stuffy. Except the wives. They hate me. And I know why. And I give zero f***s. 

I have changed into the cutest white, strappy mid thigh dress embellished modestly. My evening bartending dress. I have several wardrobe changes this weekend. My van is packed with clothes, makeup and shoes. I’ll drive the 45 minutes home every night and morning but I always have to be prepared. The slightest blip in schedule can totally screw my whole day.

I’m behind the small bar when a familiar face walks up. I advert my gaze away from his and I pop a miller lite and place it on the counter before he opens his mouth. My heart pace picks up speed and a warm sensation washes over my body.

“How sweet, you already know what I like.” He chuckles 

“You’re pretty basic,” I say as I wipe up the counter and then look at him. 

Oh god. He’s dressed up now. Button up, nice pants, no longer sweaty or wearing sunglasses. His smile is huge when he realizes I’m gawking at him. 

“You know..” he shifts his body closer, leaning over the bar, “you could have a drink with me..” His warm breath hits my face and I can feel my knees grow a little weak. 

And right on cue, the owner, my father, walks up, clapping the back of X’s broad shoulders, “I see you’ve met my oldest,” dad turns to look at me, “beautiful, smart, a mouth like a sailor and a temper like her mother.” 

“Really?” X says, piquing his interest. He seems surprised but way more intrigued. 

“Yeah, stay away. She’s trouble” my father chuckles. My recent divorce means I moved back home. But I know my father, yes I’m trouble but he wasn’t warning X to stay away, he was warning me.

Xavier chuckles. 

He grabs his beer and winks at me “See ya later pretty lady, cut me off when I start asking for whiskey,” 

I give him a warm smile and he holds my gaze for a second too long, before going back to his friends. 

“Don’t. Even. Think. About. It.” My father interrupts my fantasy lowly under his breath, he’s hiding behind a fake smile. His sharp tone on every word irritates me. 

“Please I’m in no mood to deal with that.” I reply rolling my eyes. He knows me. He knows I’ve been having a lot of late night fun with whoever I please and it is what it is. As long as I’m safe and I am a good mom taking care of my daughters, my parents know that.

“Well he sleeps with all the ladies. And the way he talks. I have a dirty mouth and he makes me look like a saint.” He chuckles. I inherited my sick twisted sense of humor from my father. It makes my mother uncomfortable and she swears I was supposed to be a guy, or at least I was a guy in my past life. My thick skin and lack of sensitivity have made me perfect for this job. 

“You know I could handle myself.” I remind him, cleaning glasses and wiping counters. 

The next morning, all the players are hung over and the morning group goes out early. Xavier is in that group, so I won’t see him much since I can’t serve alcohol that early. I’m not sure if I’m a little upset about it. 

"Ooooh you caught Xavier's eye...” Will says as I'm setting up the cart.

I smile, "I caught a lot of eyes,” I joke back, “including the women last night. Maybe if they paid more attention to their husbands instead of scowling at me.." and I trail off. 

“Yeah well don’t let them get to you,” he sighs as he’s calculating something on the computer. 

“How did Mr. Jones and his guest play?” I ask trying to sound so casual but the whole question is weird 

Will looks up from the screen, a slight grin on his face “Mr. Jones and Mr. Balmacentura,” he paused after an extra annunciation on Xavier's name, “played like shit.”

I chuckled, “Between the two of them, we almost ran out of Miller Lites.”

“I think Mr. Jones’ guest had other things on his mind..” he paused watching my reaction. I could feel the heat in my cheeks and the butterflies in my stomach, “maybe a certain bartender..”

I roll my eyes and walk out of the pro shop.

My wheels start turning.