I Know Lucy (A Fugitive #1)(29)

“Hey Sarah.” Mark, the barman, grinned at her. “I didn’t know you were working tonight.”

Lucy pushed a smile over her lips. “I needed the extra work.”

“Still saving for that car, huh?”

“If only my parents weren’t so tight.” She chuckled. “I want it for the summer and I’m running out of weeks.”

“You’ll get there.” He nudged her arm and winked the way he always did. She could tell he liked her. She kind of liked him too, but he was twenty-two and if he knew she was only fifteen, he’d probably freak out.

“It’ll be a great graduation present to yourself.” He grinned, making her feel even worse.

She took the glass he’d just wiped down and stacked it neatly on the gleaming shelves behind them. Straightening her apron, she grabbed an empty tray and glided around the bar. Picking up Mark’s perfectly made cocktails on the other side.

“Table eight.”

She glanced over her shoulder at the gaggle of giggling ladies by the window and raised her eyebrows.

“I know, I know. At least it’s not a bachelorette party or anything. I think it’s just a birthday.”

“Which one?”

“That little hottie in the pink.”

“The one who looks like a Barbie doll or the soft pink?”

Mark snickered. “The Barbie.”

“Got it.” Lucy pulled the tray towards her and balanced it on her hand. It had taken her a crap load of practice back at Shorty’s place to perfect the tray-balancing act. Shorty had gotten pretty riled at all the spilled drinks, but she had it down pat now.

As she walked towards the high table by the window, she glanced into the lobby. She knew she had to head in their next and take orders. She wanted to scout out the mark and make sure he was there. Marlin needed to be sitting close enough to him so their chatter could be heard.

“Here you go ladies.” Lucy placed the drinks down, basically being ignored by the high-pitched squeals and laughter. “Happy Birthday.” She placed the strawberry Daiquiri in front of Barbie and was rewarded with a gushing smile.

‘Thank you.” Her bright pink lips spread wide across her face as she grabbed for the drink and turned back to her friends.

Lucy politely stepped back and headed for the lobby. Marlin was sitting exactly where he should be. He was always so into it. Probably because he loved the con so much. He was thriving under Shorty’s tutelage and thought their life couldn’t have been grander. Lucy supposed it was better than living in a violent household and running from a drunken beating every night. From Marlin’s perspective they were living the ultimate life of luxury. But Lucy had known the bliss of a loving family before this and it didn’t matter how much money they made, this would never come close to what she had.

“Good evening, gentlemen.” Lucy leaned over the mark’s table and smiled. “Is everyone happy? Do you need anything else?”

“No, we’re good, little lady.” The mark’s friend ran his eyes over her body before winking at her. She saved up her grimace until she’d turned away from them. Her plan was to head to Marlin’s table next, but she couldn’t ignore the tall blond man at the table next to him. He raised his finger.

“Good evening, sir.”

“A double vodka neat.”

“Certainly.” She nodded, storing the order away in her memory. They weren’t allowed to write down orders at this place. It was more professional to memorize everything and she was getting pretty good at it.

He didn’t even acknowledge her, so she turned to do his bidding, winking at Marlin as she stopped by his table. She didn’t know how he’d done it, but he’d managed to snaffle a few empty plates. She began clearing them.

“Are you wanting anything else tonight, sir?”

“Ah, no thank you, just the check please.”

Lucy smiled, enjoying the posh voice he was putting on. He had been practicing hard, watching lots of movies with aristocratic men and repeating their lines of dialogue.

“And can you make sure you throw in a couple of those mints for me too.” He winked and Lucy couldn’t help a grin.

“Absolutely, sir.”

She hustled to the bar, wanting to get the con over with. As soon as they were done, she’d feign sickness and head home early. She realized she had better start playing it up now, so she frowned as she returned to the bar.

“Are you okay?” Mark screwed the top back on a bottle of house wine and gently lifted the glass onto the tray.

“Just a headache.” She rubbed her temples and winced. “I need a double vodka neat and the check for table 18, in the lobby.”

Mark started getting the drink ready while Lucy went to the computer till and started punching in numbers. There was no bill for table 18, so she had to quickly create one. Most people in the lobby ordered light snacks, so she chose a few of the expensive tapas and added a martini as well. She wanted the bill to be decent enough for the con.

Placing it inside the thick leather pouches they used, she grabbed two mints and collected the drinks from the bar. She delivered the house wine to table four then moved back to the lobby. Placing the vodka in front of the tall man. He glanced her way, but didn’t smile. She tried not to let it bug her. Rich people, she found, weren’t overly grateful. She spotted Shorty over her shoulder. He’d moved into position while she was at the bar.