Fallen Too Far (Rosemary Beach #1)(9)

I closed the door to my bedroom and collapsed on the bed. I didn't even pull back the covers. I needed sleep. I had to be at work at nine in the morning. I smiled to myself because I was thankful. I had a bed and a job.

Chapter Five

The sun was exceptionally hot. Darla didn't want me to pull my hair up in a ponytail. She seemed to think the men liked it down. Unfortunately for me, it was so freaking hot today. I reached into the cooler for an ice cube and rubbed it down my neck and let it slip down into my shirt. I was almost to the fifteenth hole for the third time today.

This morning no one had been awake when I'd come out of my room. The empty plates had still been sitting on the bar. I'd cleaned it up and thrown out the food in the pan he'd left out all night. It made me sad to see it wasted. It had smelled so good last night when I'd come home.

Then I'd thrown away the empty wine bottle and found the glasses outside on the table beside where I'd watched Rush going at it with the unknown female.  After putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher I'd turned it on and wiped down the counters and stovetop.

I doubted Rush noticed but it made me feel better about sleeping there for free.  I pulled up beside the group of golfers at the fifteenth hole. They were a younger crowd. I'd seen them when they'd been on the third hole. They bought a lot and they were really good tippers. So I put up with their flirtatious behavior. It wasn't like one of them would really date the cart girl at the golf course. I wasn't an idiot.

"There she is," one of the guys called out as I pulled up beside them and smiled.

"Ah, my favorite girl is back. It's hotter than hell girl. I need a cold one. Maybe two."

I parked the cart and got out to go around the back and take their orders.

"You want another Miller?" I asked him proud of myself for remembering his last order.

"Yeah, baby I do." He winked and closed the distance between us making me a little uncomfortable.

"Hey, I want something too Jace. Back off the goods," another guy said and I kept my smile on my face as I handed him his beer and he handed me a twenty dollar bill. "Keep the change."

"Thank you," I replied tucking the money into my pocket. I glanced up at the other guys. "Who's next?"

"Me," a guy with short curly blond hair and pretty blue eyes said waving around a bill.

"You want a Corona, right?" I asked reaching into the cooler and pulling out the drink he'd ordered last time.

"I think I'm in love. She's gorgeous and she remembers what beer I drink. Then she opens the damn thing for me." I could tell he was teasing as he stuck a bill in my hand and took the beer from me. "Change is yours beautiful."

I noticed the fifty as I stuck it into my pocket. These guys really didn't mind throwing money away. That was a ridiculous tip. I felt like telling him not to give me so much but I decided against it. They probably tipped like this all the time.

"What's your name?" one asked and I turned to see the dark haired one with an olive complexion waiting to give his order and hear my answer.

"Blaire," I replied reaching into the cooler for the fancy beer he'd requested. I popped the top and handed it to him.

"You got a boyfriend, Blaire?" he asked, taking the drink from me while running a finger along the side of my hand in a caress.

"Um, no," I replied, not sure if it might have been better to lie in this situation.

The guy took a step toward me and held out his hand with the payment and tip inside of it. "I'm Woods," he replied.

"It's, uh, nice to meet you Woods," I stammered in reply. The intense look in his dark eyes made me nervous. He could be dangerous and he reeked of expensive cologne. Expertly bred. He was one of the beautiful people and he knew it. What was he doing flirting with me?

"Not fair, Woods. Back off, bro. You're going all out with this one. Just 'cause your daddy owns the joint doesn't mean you get first dibs," the blond with curls kidded. I think he was kidding.

Woods ignored his friend and kept his focus on me. "What time do you get off work?"

Uh-oh. If I understood them correctly then Woods daddy was my ultimate boss. I didn't need to be spending time the owner's son. That would be a very bad thing.

"I work until close," I explained and handed the last of the four his beer and took his money.

"Why don't you let me pick you up and take you for something to eat?" Woods said, standing very close to me now. If I turned around he would be only a breath away.

"It's hot and I'm already exhausted. All I will want to do is get a shower and crash."

Warm breath tickled my ear and I shivered as beads of sweat rolled down my back. "Are you scared of me? Don't be. I'm harmless."

I wasn't sure what to do about him. I wasn't good with the flirting and I was pretty sure that was what he was doing. No one had flirted with me in years. Once I broke up with Cain, my days had been consumed with school and then my mom. I had no time for anything else. Guys didn't bother with me.

"You don't scare me. I'm just not used to this kind of thing," I replied apologetically. I didn't know how to respond properly.

"What kind of thing?" he asked curiously. I finally turned around to face him.