Read Back To Me for Free Online Page B

inwardly.
                  “No, but I will,” I replied as sweetly as I could manage. It was taking all I had to not smash the tray over his head, too. I walked away quickly, knowing I had just blown any chance for a tip.
                  I hadn’t made much tonight, but with several hours left to go, I was hopeful I could make up for it by the end of my shift. On my way back to the bar, I noticed a man sitting off to the side. It was one of Tracy’s tables, but she was swamped. I sighed to myself and made my way over. At least it was just one customer. That should make the job easier.
                  “What can I get for you?” I asked politely while I waited.
                  The mysterious man sat in the shadows, and though I was barely able see his face I recognized his cologne the second I approached. It reeked of money and power. I stumbled backwards, suddenly afraid of being so close to him.
                  “Why, Senorita . How nice of you to come over and say hello.” His perfectly white teeth shined brightly in the glow of the strobe lights as his tongue snaked out to rake over his full lips. Chill bumps immediately broke out over my skin, but not in a good way. I knew this man was trouble and I would have never made my way over had I known it was him. All of my senses were on high alert as I tried desperately to regain my voice.
                  “I was just coming to see if you needed anything to drink.” Oh hell, please say no!
                  “Scotch on the rocks, my dear. And make it a double.” He took my hand in his, leaning forward ever so slightly to press his mouth to my fingertips. “Such lovely hands. I bet they feel as good as they taste.”
                  I threw up in my mouth, but quickly recovered. Take shit from no one. I withdrew my hand from his grip, making a show of wiping his slobber onto my skirt. His touch repulsed me as meaningless words flew from his mouth like the silver-tongued devil I knew him to be.
                  “I’ll be right back with your drink.” I turned quickly and sprinted away, praying that Tracy might be willing to wait on him after all. I would take all of her other tables if she would handle just this one. I knew he frequented the bar and that he normally stayed until the doors were locked. I also knew that with over two hours left, I couldn’t tolerate dealing with him for that long.
                  “I need a double on the rocks,” I said to Johnny. I moved closer to him, trying to make a show of affection, though I felt none of it. He was more like a brother to me and it’d never crossed my mind to think of him as anything more. However, if I could convince Casanova over there that we were a couple, maybe he’d back off. It was doubtful, but I was desperate and willing to try anything.
                  “What’s gotten into you?” Johnny asked, giving me a puzzled look. He guessed before I could answer. “Someone spooked you, didn’t they?”
                  “Yeah,” I whispered. “Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Creepy over there,” I pointed discreetly over my shoulder. “Keeps calling me senorita and kissing my hand, and all that crap. He was talking to Tommy earlier when I went into the office.”
                  Johnny peered over me, but I knew he couldn’t see the man. It was too dark and I imagined that’s just the way he wanted it. No one could identify him as the creep who murdered me if they couldn’t see his face. Suddenly closing up and walking to the parking lot by myself didn’t seem so appealing.
                  “Be careful. You know the rules. If he gets out of hand, you let me know.” Johnny was a big guy and no doubt could hold his own, but something told me Rico Suave was used to getting what he wanted regardless, and big men like Johnny didn’t scare him one