While a casual beach bar by day, at night, The Heights turned into more of a club and restaurant with live music on the rooftop. And on this Friday night, it was packed both indoors and outside.

Once again, I found my eyes firmly planted on Gia. She was actually damn good at this job I’d given her. I’d downplayed the role of hostess earlier, but it wasn’t as easy as I’d made it out to be. She greeted every customer with a bright and enthusiastic smile, as if they were the very first ones to walk in the door. She also took the initiative to walk around to the tables and check on patrons during the breaks when there wasn’t anyone in line. Thankfully, she seemed oblivious to the fact that I was watching her.

By the time everyone cleared out, it was well past midnight. It was starting to rain, and the nearby ocean was getting choppy. I was outside smoking a cigarette when Gia walked right into my cloud of smoke.

“I didn’t realize you were still here,” she said.

Smoke billowed from my mouth as I said, “Sorry to disappoint you.”

“You didn’t. I just…figured you’d be gone a long time ago.”

“Nice job tonight.”

“Whoa.” She smiled wide. “Is that a compliment?”

“I call it like I see it. I’d tell you if you sucked, too. While you couldn’t bartend to save your life…you were a hell of a hostess.”

“With the most-ess.” She winked. “Well, I kind of have experience. I used to have a hostess job in the City.”

“You can definitely tell it wasn’t your first rodeo.” My gaze instinctively fell to her heaving breasts, which were straining against the black bra I could see through her sheer white T-shirt. I pried my eyes upward.

Our eyes locked, and suddenly she seemed eager to leave. “Well…have a good night. I’ll be here tomorrow on time.” When she started to walk past the lot of cars, I realized she didn’t have a vehicle; she was walking.

Dressed like that? At night?

I jumped in my Mustang and drove up beside her, rolling down my window. “Isn’t it kind of late for you to be walking alone?”

“It’s alright. I don’t mind walking.”

“It’s dark, and there aren’t many streetlights on the way to your house.”

“How do you know where I live?”

That’s right. She didn’t know I owned her damn house.

“You gave me your address earlier, remember? I know this town like the back of my hand.”

“I see.” She continued to walk as I drove slowly alongside her.

“I’ll drive you home.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. You’re my employee. You worked late on my watch. If something happens to you on your way home because of that, I’d feel partially responsible. And I don’t want that on my conscience.”

She stopped walking and put her hands on her hips. “Well, I don’t have a car at the moment. So, I’m planning to walk home most nights. If you can’t drive me every time, then why bother?”

I wasn’t going to waste time trying to rationalize with her. “Get the fuck in the car,” I demanded.

She didn’t argue as she opened the door and looked at me. “Thanks.”

The recognition of her scent and the way it was making me feel put me on edge. I couldn’t figure out why I was having this kind of reaction to a woman I’d just met. She seemed familiar, even though I knew we’d never crossed paths before today.

I’d fucked around with a lot of women, to the point where I thought I was immune to feeling like this. But there was something different about Gia that I couldn’t put my finger on.

This was dangerous.

I needed another cigarette. I took one out and lit it.

“Do you think you could not smoke in here?” she said.

“No. I can’t not smoke.”

Insisting on smoking when she told me not to was definitely a dick move. I should have been more considerate…but with her in this car, I really needed it. I opened the window and made a conscious effort to blow the smoke out and away from her.

“How long have you owned The Heights?”

“My family built it a decade ago. I‘ve been in charge of it for a few years.”

“It’s a really nice establishment. I’d only been there once before tonight and had a bad experience. I hadn’t come back until today.”

My head whipped to the side. “What kind of bad experience?”

“Oh…it wasn’t the bar itself or anything.”

“What was it, then?”

“I met a guy there and it was…well, it didn’t end well. I guess I associate The Heights with that experience. I didn’t even want to come today at all when Riley begged me.”

The thought of someone she met at my business harming her made my blood boil. I slowed down the car and looked over at her. “Did he hurt you?”