Maya And The Tough Guy Read Online Free PDF

grabbed.  
    In fact, she got groped more times than Janice, and that was with Janice inviting the action. Jayce would have hated anyone touching Maya, but he hated it even more with her flinching and looking ashamed every time it happened.  
    Around nine o’clock, he turned from the taps to mix a drink and about ran over her. She was hovering there, fidgeting with her hands, staring up at him with those wide, fearful eyes.
    He frowned.
    “I was wondering,” she said; her voice loud to counter the music from the jukebox and the noise from the crowd. “Would it be okay if I gave my kids a call to tell them goodnight? I swear I’ll make it quick. I shouldn’t have promised them, but…” She trailed off.
    Jayce just stared at her, angry, disgusted, and aching for her. “No,” he said sarcastically. “You can’t call your kids.” He rolled his eyes and turned back to work, assuming she’d just go on and call them. It seemed so stupid for her to grovel to him just to ask for a perfectly reasonable break. He shook his head in frustration as he finished the drinks and, when he turned back to the counter to serve them, she was still standing there. Her hands twisted together at her waist and her eyes welled with tears.
    He slid the drinks to the customers and then turned to face her. “What? What, Maya?”
    She flinched and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know, but I already promised them. It won’t happen again.”
    This was what she thought of him. This was how she saw him. He shook his head, sickened. “Call your damn kids, Maya.”
    She nodded and then hurried back to the office. Scurried was more like. A frightened little mouse that he’d scared off once again. God, but she made him so frustrated. He realized that he was allowing his frustration to turn him into the bad guy she seemed to believe he was. He took a breath before turning back to the customers.  
    “Kind of a jerk to her, weren’t you?” some guy at the bar asked, sliding his empty beer mug across the counter toward Jayce.  
    Jayce poured him another beer. “Yep.”
    “You gonna apologize?”
    Jayce cocked his head. “You gonna make something of it?”
    The guy shrank back. “No, dude. I just hate to see a chick like that being afraid of her boss.”
    Jayce wiped down a small spill on the counter. “I’ll make it up to her,” he conceded, though he had no idea how.  
    Thankfully, the guy shut up about it. Maya was back out and serving drinks in five minutes flat.  
    After the last of the customers left, around one-forty-five in the morning, Jayce watched with amusement as Maya collapsed into a chair. “Oh my God,” she groaned, dropping her head back, exposing her elegant neck.  
    Jayce took a moment to appreciate the view. He propped his chin on his fist at the bar and watched. Janice sat across from Maya. “Count your tips, lady,” she instructed.
    Maya reluctantly sat up, untied her apron, and dumped the contents onto the table. Janice and Maya were the only two left. The other girls had left the bar at midnight. Jayce went round the bar and sat at the table with them while they counted. Maya’s curls stuck to her sweat-damp cheeks and neck. She stacked her bills and coins as she counted.  
    When she finished, she looked up at Jayce, her eyes wide. And then a smile.
    Jayce felt his own lips quirk up. “Good night?”
    Maya shrugged, still clearly stunned.
    “Pretty good,” Janice said. “You’ll have better, Maya. What say you and I flirt with each other next weekend and see if that gets us more tips?”
    Maya blushed. “I could try. I’m not very good at flirting.”
    “Oh, we’ll practice. Jayce can help. He’s a fantastic flirt.”
    “Really?” Maya asked, crinkling her nose in disbelief.
    Jayce actually laughed. “I don’t think she believes you, Jan.”
    “Well, then, flirt with her.”
    Jayce never removed his eyes from Maya. Her cheeks gradually darkened. “Maybe after work hours.”
    Janice