A Time To Love (A Mill Creek Crossing Romance) (4 page)

“Sure didn’t seem like you did,” she said still crossing her arms tightly.

“Sit down.”

“You can’t order me around!” she said.

“Sit down,” he said again in a firm tone. A little flustered, she slowly sat back in her chair without looking at him. “Maybe we got off on the wrong foot.”

“Ya think?” she snipped.

“My name is Brice O’Malley. I run this place.” Gracie must have known this guy would get all under Eva’s skin because he was exactly the opposite of any person she would ever hang around. With his shoulder length dirty blond hair and scorching blue eyes, he would have looked more at home as a surfer dude on some California beach than at a seedy bar in a small north Georgia town.

“Ah, so you’re Brice,” she said with a smirk. “Gracie told me your name.”

“Good. Anyway, my father, Zeke owns this place but he’s not well right now. So, I’m the current manager.”

“Are you from Mill Creek Crossing?” she asked, unsure of why she wanted to know.

“I grew up here, but left home when I was seventeen. Came back about a year ago to help my Pop out when he got sicker.”

“Sorry to hear about your father. Gracie and I lost our mother a few years back, so I know what it’s like to watch your parent go through illness,” she said softly as she stared at her hands.

“Thanks. My condolences to you too.” The ice was breaking ever so slightly, and Eva was glad the tension seemed to be lifting.

“So, where did you go when you turned seventeen?” she asked.

“I think I’m supposed to be asking the questions,” he said smiling as he leaned forward a bit.

“Answer mine first,” she said smiling back as she put her elbows on his desk. “I think I have a right to know more about the man I might be working for.”

“You’re a little spitfire, aren’t you?” he said.

She didn’t answer. “Fine. From the time I was seventeen until I was thirty, I was on the road. On my Harley seeing the country.”

“So you just rode your Harley all over the place for thirteen years? Why does that story sound fishy to me?” she asked cocking her head.

“Maybe because you’re a bit paranoid?” he said. “Now, can we get back to the interview? I have a bar to run.” Suddenly, he went from laid back to all business, and Eva wondered what he was hiding.

“Sure.”

For the next thirty minutes, he grilled her about her past jobs - of which there were few - and her experience level. After the conversation, it was pretty evident Eva was not right for O’Malley’s. She had no waitressing experience and no bartending experience. And she sure as heck didn’t look like anyone around her. Everyone was wearing flannel shirts and jeans and boots. She didn’t even own a pair of boots.

“Well, thanks for your time, but it’s pretty apparent I don’t fit into this place,” Eva said as she stood up and grabbed her purse.

“Wait. What makes you say that?” Brice asked with a grin as he stood up too.

“Look at me, Brice. I’m a city girl through and through. I like the finer things in life. I don’t dress… well, like you…”

“I would hope not. You’d look ridiculous in my big boots and jeans,” he said laughing.

“You know what I mean. I don’t fit in here.”

“Then you might be just what I need,” he said. Eva’s heart started to pound. What did he mean by what
he
needed?

“Excuse me?”

“I’m looking to bring this place up a notch or two. Start offering some better food, events, that kind of stuff. It’s behind the times because my Dad is a creature of habit. I’d love some fresh eyes from the city to give me ideas.”

“Really?” she asked shocked.

“Yes. And I know you’d be honest whether I liked it or not. Am I right?” he asked smiling.

“You’re definitely right about that,” she said cracking her own smile.

“Then it’s settled. You can start tomorrow. I’ll have Cara teach you a little about waiting tables and what to do behind the bar. You should be up to speed in a week or two. After that, we can meet and go over what ideas you have for me. Sound good?”

“Sure. That sounds good…” she said, still hesitant but willing to try it out.

“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow at four.”

With that, Eva left the office and made her way to her car. She was shocked she’d gotten a job at O’Malley’s, but it was her first step toward rebuilding her relationship with Gracie and getting her hands on the two million dollars.

Eva pulled up at the house around eight o’clock only to see all the lights off. Figuring Randy and Gracie had already gone to bed since he had to get up so early for work, Eva quietly tiptoed through the house to her room. As she was passing Gracie’s room, she could hear a conversation and what sounded like sobbing, so she stopped to eavesdrop.

“Randy, we have to talk about this some time,” Gracie said through tears.

“Honey, we’ve been talking about it for years. Talking hasn’t done us a bit of good. We don’t have the money to make your dream a reality.”

“My dream? Don’t you want a baby too?” she asked. Eva realized what they were talking about immediately. She’d always wondered why her sister never had children, but their relationship wasn’t one where she could ask questions.

“Of course I do, but I’m okay never having any as long as I have you,” he said. She could hear Gracie’s muffled crying into what she assumed was Randy’s shoulder. For a moment, Eva felt jealous Gracie had a man who loved her so much he would be with her even without having the kids he wanted. What was that like she wondered?

“I just wish… that my mother had left me something. I could have done in vitro or even adopted. And then my sister just wastes all the money away on herself. It’s not fair!” Gracie cried as Randy tried in vain to soothe her.

Feeling bad about eavesdropping, Eva tiptoed into her room and closed the door. For once in her life, she felt pangs of guilt whip through her. She didn’t hate her sister, and she certainly only wanted good things for her in life. The truth was she could have spared some of the three hundred thousand dollars she’d let slip through her fingers so her sister could’ve had a family. What was wrong with her that made the money the most important? Eva had never asked herself that question, but now, in a moment alone, she worried her integrity and morals were sorely lacking.

At the same time, she’d felt entitled to that money. Her mother had always been her rock, and Eva took care of her while she was sick. Gracie was off living what Eva thought was the high life in a north Georgia town, but now she had seen see where Gracie was living and working, it didn’t seem so glamorous after all. What had she done?

When Eva’s mother had told her she was leaving money, Eva had assumed some of it would go to Gracie. When it didn’t, she took what was left to her and moved on, leaving Gracie to fend for herself. Maybe it was wrong, she thought, but she felt entitled for having cared for their mother on her own.

Unfortunately, Gracie’s relationship with their mother had faltered in the years leading to her death. She never got over Gracie wasting so much money on a wedding that never happened. A critical person by nature, their mother had always picked on Gracie and swooned over Eva. Their family dynamic was less than functional, but Eva never looked at it from Gracie’s perspective.

As she slid into a hot bath, Eva thought about the decisions she’d made over the last several years. Thinking only about herself, she’d never stopped to look at anything from Gracie’s perspective. And yet, she had a hard time even now thinking about anything but getting her hands on that two million dollars. As much as she loved charities, she didn’t want anyone getting the money except her. Her plan was to get out of Mill Creek Crossing and back to her jet setting lifestyle as soon as possible.

***

“You must be Eva. I’m Cara Wilton,” said a friendly brunette behind the bar as Eva walked into O’Malley’s. They hadn’t opened for the night time rush yet, so seeing the place deserted was a bit surreal given the hustle and bustle of the night before.

“Hi. Nice to meet you,” Eva said still trying to take in the surroundings of the empty bar. The floors were made of old hardwood; rough and unfinished. The bar had a mirrored background with dozens of different bottles that Eva knew she’d never memorize. Littered with high top round tables and a small dance floor, O’Malley’s was what her mother would’ve called a “hole in the wall”.

“Ready to get started?”

“I guess so,” Eva said with a half hearted smile.

“Brice told me you don’t have much experience.”

“Much?” Eva laughed.

“Okay, no experience,” Cara said with a smile. “I’ve been here for two years, so I can help you get on your feet. Let’s start behind the bar.”

For the next twenty minutes, Cara went like a whirlwind through every bottle and knob and hose. Eva’s head was spinning, and she was thankful she didn’t have to do it alone for awhile. Then they moved around the restaurant looking at tables, talking about table numbers and how to take orders. They practiced with trays and balancing them. Eva never realized how much work a restaurant could be.

Just before it was time to open at five o’clock, Brice came walking through the doors. Wearing a black button up shirt open a bit at the top, jeans and a pair of black leather motorcycle boots, he looked like something off GQ Magazine. Eva’s breath left her lungs for a moment as she tried to fathom why he had this effect on her. He wasn’t her type, after all. She liked rich guys with fancy cars and nice suits. Didn’t she?

“Ah, I see our newest member of the O’Malley’s team is here. How’s she doing, Cara?” he asked with a smile as he sorted through the mail he’d picked up on the way inside.

“She’s getting there!” Cara said with a grin and a wink at Eva as she made her way to behind the bar to prepare for the evening. The first customers started to filter through the door, and one of the other waitresses seated them at Eva’s table. She felt like a nervous actress waiting to go out on stage at her first performance as her palms started to sweat, and her fidgety tendencies started to take hold.

“Eva, can I see you in my office for a moment?” he asked as he waved his hand at Cara on the way by. She nodded in some unspoken way as he opened the door for Eva. Closing it, he looked at her. “Are you okay? You seem a bit nervous.”

“I am nervous. I have no experience working with…”

“People?” he asked with a laugh as he tossed the mail onto his desk.

“Not these kind of people…”

“What kind of people, Eva?”

“Nothing. Nevermind.”

“Oh, no. What kind of people?” he asked touching her arm in that way again. “Do you mean common people?” he pressed.

“What do you want me to say, Brice? I’ve lived around upper class, wealthy people for years. I went to art galleries, wine tastings and high end restaurants. I haven’t been to a place lately where you can throw your peanut shells on the floor and dance to a Willie Nelson song!”

Brice laughed before saying, “No one dances to a Willie Nelson song here. I’m surprised you even know who Willie Nelson is. Impressive…”

“I have customers waiting. Is there anything else?” she said crossing her arms yet again.

“You need to loosen up. Customers don’t like tight asses… Be friendly. You’ll get more tips.”

“Thanks for the advice,” she said rolling her eyes as she passed him.

“And Eva, always remember I am your boss, so don’t talk to me like that outside of this room,” he said blocking the doorway with his arm.