A tall redhead with slender arms and legs stands behind the bar, drying beer mugs before stacking them underneath the bar. She’s beautiful in that non-traditional sort of way, and I immediately consider how great her tips must be with boobs as big as hers.

When she catches me openly watching her, she rolls her eyes. “You the new girl?”

I nod and walk over to introduce myself, wanting to make a better impression with her than I had with the two cooks and my boss. “Hi. I’m Anna.”

Her green eyes flick down to my extended hand, but she makes no attempt to reciprocate the greeting. “Look, I don’t train newbies, I don’t give pointers, I don’t share my tables, and the bar seating is mine. Above all, stay the hell away from my regulars. If you’re looking for a friend, don’t come sniffing in my direction. If you want to keep your job here, just learn to stay out of my way because Andy listens to everything I say. Got it?”

I swallow hard, not missing her blatant disdain, or the fact that she seems to run this place. It doesn’t take a lot to realize that she’s one woman I don’t want to piss off.

“Got it.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Good.”

Just then Quinn approaches the bar and her brown eyes flit from me to the redhead and then back again. Her pretty pink lips twist before her gaze snaps toward the unfriendly bartender. “Alice, don’t be a fucking bitch. Anna’s cool, so lighten up.”

Alice folds her thin arms across her chest. “Don’t expect me to cut her any slack just because she’s related to you, Quinn.”

“I’m not asking for any favors. I just want you to act like a human being instead of a demon bitch from hell. Try and pretend you have a heart for a change, would you? It’s her first day. Soon enough she’ll learn to stay away from your evil ass.”

I’m quietly impressed by the way Quinn goes right back at her, not allowing her to push her around in the slightest.

Alice rolls her eyes and returns to drying the mugs. “Whatever, Quinn. Just makes sure she knows the rules.”

Quinn waves her off dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. You’re the queen bee, and the rest of us are lowly peons. I think she can handle it.” She moves behind the bar and picks up the waiting burgers, placing them on her tray before turning toward me. “Come on, Anna, let’s get you trained up.”

“Thanks for that,” I tell her the moment we walk away.

“No problem. Alice is all bark. Don’t let her get to you.”

I smile. “I’ll try my best.” I snap my fingers, suddenly remembering Brock’s message. “Oh, Brock wanted me to tell you that he’s a complete idiot, and he’s sorry.”

Her lips twist. “He did, did he? Well, he’s got the idiot part right. Not sure what I ever saw in that clown.”

“How come you didn’t tell me about him?” I question.

She shrugs. “I don’t know. Mom doesn’t even know about him. It’s like what we shared, I wasn’t ready to share with the rest of the world or something. I felt like people would judge me for wanting to date a fry cook.”

I touch her arm. “Who cares what people think? If you’re into him, and he treats you well, that’s all that matters, right?”

She sighs. “I know, you’re right.”

For the next hour I follow my cousin around, attempting to learn everything I can. As we work, I relentlessly try to extract more information about her and Brock, but she’s tight-lipped about the situation, still not ready to share more with me yet, so I respect her boundaries. Quinn’s great at her job, and she’s a thorough teacher, but all the information she’s throwing at me is enough to make my head spin. Who knew there was so much more to this job than just memorizing menus and bringing customers their correct food orders?

“Dinner rush will start soon. Andy wants you to take a few tables tonight since we had a waitress quit,” Quinn says as she wipes down a table. “Any guesses why she quit?”

I snicker after I glance over at the bar. “Enough said.” Alice is busy flirting with a couple customers sitting at the bar and doesn’t notice my stare. “Is she always so mean?”

Quinn laughs. “It’s okay to call her a bitch, Anna. Uncle Simon isn’t here to bust your chops.”

“You’re right.” I nod and laugh with her. “She’s a major bitch.”

She gives my arm a nudge. “Atta girl. The sooner you learn not to take her shit, the better off you’ll be. Andy doesn’t listen to her half as much as she thinks. He only puts up with her because he fucks her from time to time when he and his wife go through a dry spell.”

“Eww.”

The image of my new boss and Alice getting it on turns my stomach a bit. Andy isn’t exactly hideous, but not the type I would figure Alice to go for. “Why does she do that?”

Quinn shrugs. “Alice is a slut. She sleeps with anyone she thinks has a little bit of money.”

I grimace. “How can she allow them to use her like that?”

She gives me a pointed look. “She’s using them just as much as they’re using her. Have you seen what she drives? No one can afford a brand-spanking new Mustang on our salary. Those things are like thirty grand.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Some guy gave her that just for sleeping with him?”

Quinn laughs. “Sex done right can make a man do just about anything. Your vagina is your strongest weapon—always remember that. It can make any man putty in your hands.” She grins when something catches her eye. “Speaking of man-putty, I see a delectable piece of man-meat now. I think it’s time to give you your very first customer.”

I scrunch my brow as I try, unsuccessfully, to read her face. Quinn nods toward the bar and I point my gaze in that direction just in time to see Xavier take a seat. Alice immediately dashes over to him, leaning across the bar so he can get a direct shot of her cleavage down her v-neck t-shirt.

“You better go save him before Alice tries to stake her claim,” Quinn says.

“I can’t go over there. She’ll kill me,” I complain. “Besides, he might not even be here to see me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Get real, Anna. Of course he’s here for you. Now, go get your man.”

I clutch the pad tightly in my hand as I walk over to where Alice is attempting to engage Xavier in some flirty conversation. Her gaze immediately cuts toward me, and I swear a chill runs down my spine as I take in her fiery stare. I swallow hard, silently praying I’m not making a total fool of myself and that he actually might want to talk to me again. After the way he rode off last night, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see him again.

The moment his blue eyes meet mine, my breath catches. It’s almost enough to stop me dead in my tracks. I can’t read whether or not he’s glad to see me, but I take another couple of steps forward to reach the end of the bar.

“You need something, newbie?” Alice says with ice in her voice. “You know this is my section, right. I’m sure Quinn explained the boundaries to you.”

I nod, biting my lip at the same time. Going up against Alice for Xavier’s attention wasn’t exactly the plan, but I can’t back away without letting her know that he’s not hers for the taking. Which makes no sense because he’s not exactly mine either.

I shift my nervous gaze to Xavier, and I notice he’s no longer looking at me, but glaring at Alice, who is oblivious as she stares at me through narrowed eyes. He hadn’t missed the snide tone in her voice either.

Xavier pushes back from the bar, and Alice flicks her gaze in his direction. “Looks like I sat in the wrong section then.”

Xavier takes my hand off the bar and pulls me behind him, leaving Alice to stand there with her mouth agape as we head toward Quinn’s section. I risk a glance back, and she’s glaring at me.

Uh-oh. I think I’ve just made an enemy.

Quinn’s mouth twists as she tries to hide her smile as we approach. “Funny seeing you here, X.”

He gives her a slow nod like they’ve spoken before. “Quinn.”

Xavier stops at the corner booth. “Is this your section?”