Page 4

CHAPTER 4

Henry

I’d finally been let go close to twelve-thirty. Giselle and her party had already left, and my last table was on their way out. I counted my tips, which did not include my bingo winnings, if only because I didn’t feel right claiming them being as I was an employee and on the clock. Instead, I’d let Mia claim them.

She was more excited about the bingo than I was anyway.

“Can you restock the soap in the men’s room before you go, Henry?” Max yelled at me over her shoulder as I undid my apron, folding it up and tossing it underneath the bar.

“Yeah, of course,” I answered, not even thinking twice about it.

I’d just finished replacing the empty package when I heard the faintest groan from the stall at the end of the men’s bathroom.

Panic flooded me because honestly, even though I’d heard stories about the patrons who had a little too much fun, I hadn’t had the pleasure of encountering one myself. After all, I’d only been working at M’s Place for a couple weeks. Less than a month. I really thought I’d have more time before I had to peel a drunkard off the floor.

I cautiously approached the stall, gently swinging the door in, since it was apparent it wasn’t locked. My eyes widened to see Grayson, knees propped up, head leaning against the stall wall, a fresh sheen of sweat on his brow. Despite the fact he looked more than wasted, something about the way his hair was all disheveled, the way he carelessly hung his wrist off his knee, he was still GQ-level hot.

Who looks hot when they are wasted? No one!

“Hey there, Grayson... you, uh... gotta get up, buddy.”

Grayson opened one eye, his gaze scanning over me with disdain as a cough escaped his throat.

“I don’t have to do shiiiit.” He pouted, taking in a deep breath.

I carefully knelt down, getting on his level, forcing him to look at me.

“Bar’s closing down, you can’t stay here...” I said softly as I pulled out my phone, queuing up Giselle’s number.

Grayson’s hand stopped me in my tracks as he grabbed mine. My gaze met his and he shook his head.

“Don’t... call... my sister.”

“I wasn’t going to,” I lied.

“Bull fucking shit, Henry. This isn’t my first fucking rodeo,” he growled.

“I was calling you a cab...” I said, switching gears.

Grayson laughed. “I don’t need a cab, I have the Porsche.”

His sweaty palm against the back of my hand didn’t move, and I contemplated what to do.

“You are not driving anywhere under my watch, Grayson.”

Grayson scoffed, but he didn’t argue.

“You’d look pretty in my baby, baby,” he crooned, and I couldn’t help but blush. Even if his compliments were the babbles of a drunk man.

“So fucking pretty...”

I could have just left him there, went and got Max and told her he was being a pain in the ass and wouldn’t listen. Her tone alone could make a grown man cry and I had no doubt she could whip Grayson into submission easily.

And then I could go home, and Max would take care of everything, and...

But something in the look in Grayson’s eyes, amidst the drunken glaze, I saw something else, something that pulled at my own heartstrings.

It was the look I’d had when I felt like I couldn’t catch a damn break.

So, I did exactly what I should not do. I slid my phone in my back pocket, and I reached out to help him up.

“Okay, well, this train is leaving in five minutes, so you need get up.”

To my surprise, Grayson actually listened to me, rising to his feet. I stood, reaching out to stabilize him, and he fought me off initially.

“I don’t need—” Grayson bristled in my grasp, stumbling in the small space, but I caught him, my reflex almost instantaneous, as if I rescued drunk patrons on the regular.

“I need your keys,” I said as I settled my hand around his waist. I half expected him to flinch, but instead he eased up at my touch, relaxing against me as if his body couldn’t protest quite the way his mouth did.

“My left pocket,” he breathed, and I carefully slid my hand in, my fingers wrapping around the warm metal keyfob.

I took slow, measured steps, if only so he could keep up, garnering a look from Max as we stumbled side by side toward the door.