The Deal : Billionaire Romance by Rose Cody Page B

to fight a smile. “Alia.”

Chapter 3
     
     
      Alia leans against the bar, lazily wiping her damp rag over the stained wood as she watches the cook, Jason, flick off the front lights of the kitchen, leaving only the ones over the back of the sink on.
     
      She watches as he walks through the grey double doors before throwing his backpack over his shoulder giving Alia a little wave from just above his waist.
     
    “See you tomorrow.” He says, pulling a pack of smokes from his pocket and putting one between his lips.
     
    “Thanks for staying late.” She says, walking behind him and watching as he steps out of the heavy front door before she locks it from the inside before beginning to flip the chairs up onto the tables on her way back to the bar.”
     
    “Let me.” She hears Leon say as he gets up from his stool and jogs over to help her flip up the chairs. “I can do this” He says, placing the seat of one of the chairs carefully against the table. “You probably have more important stuff to do.”
     
    “Hey, thanks.” She says, her voice soft as she blushes. “Yeah, I’ll get the bar done.”
     
      She walks back over behind the bar, grabbing her rag as her eyes gaze over to Leon.
     
      She watches the tall men bend at the waist to pick the chair up by its legs before flipping it over, his broad and obviously muscular shoulders contracting under his white t-shirt, his biceps bulging as he lifts the tall chairs up to the table.
     
    “Hey!” She calls him, watching as he turns his neck. “Get over here, let’s have some shots.”
     
    “I can finish this first…” He says, pointing towards the row of tables beside him with his thumb.
     
    “Don’t worry about it.” She says, bending down to pull two shot glasses from under the bar counter before turning around and pulling a bottle of whiskey from off the glass shelf.
     
      Alia pours two shots as Leon slides himself back on top of the barstool before she pushes one of the shots over to him.
     
      He grips it, picking it up from the bar as Alia brings her own to her mouth.
     
    “Cheers!” She says before tossing her head back and letting the harsh, burning liquid slide down the back of her throat.
     
      She gasps for air, hissing it out before letting out a small cough as she shakes her head before pouring another as she watches Leon down his.
     
    “Smooth.” He says, grimacing as he pushes the shot glass back over to Alia.
     
      She pours him another before picking it up and handing it over to him.
     
      Alia picks up her own shot as well, before holding it up in the air my her mouth and letting out a little giggle.
     
    “One… Two… Three…” She whispers before tossing the second shot down her throat.
     
      He slides the glass back over to her after slamming it down on the bar top in front of him, his eyes watering as she grabs the little glass and takes it over to the hand sink behind her and places them gently into the stainless steel tub.
     
      She wipes her eyes, smiling as she walks back over to the bar before leaning against it on her elbows and pressing her chest against the edge.
     
    “You know…” He starts, clearing his throat. “I come here pretty often and I’ve never seen you before…”
     
    “How often is pretty often?” She asks, lifting her hand up to rest her cheek on her fist.
     
    “Often enough.” He says, his voice getting lower.
     
    “Obviously not often enough.” She smirks, standing up and leaning backwards as she bites her bottom lip. “I’ve been here for a week. Maybe you just haven’t been paying attention.”
     
    “I think I would have noticed…” He jokes, letting out a short chuckle.
     
    “But you didn’t.” She whispers.
     
    “Well, I’m noticing now…” He says, coyly.
     
      Alia squints her dark eyes as she feels her face flush red.
     
      She reaches out to him, grabbing his hand before quickly glancing up at the black, domed security camera