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Chapter One

Nicky Anderson finished his shift hot, tired, and ready for a hot tub and a nice e, not that he was about to receive either one of them any time soon He sank down on a stool at the bar and smiled His friend Steven, the bartender, sat a beer in front of him

“Thanks I need this Is it just me or were the customers particularly boorish today?” “If by boorish, you rinned and set a bowl of peanuts closer

“Hey, pretty boy! You off the clock?” Saer, a ainst the end of the bar, snarling at him

“Yes, Sam,” Nicky replied He tried desperately to hold onto his temper Nicky needed this job, and Sam would love a reason to fire him

“You better be paying for that beer, or it’s co outta your pay ”

“Okay,” he said with a sigh “Keep your shirt on, Sam ” Nicky pulled out his wallet, or rather he started to pull out his wallet and discovered it wasn’t in his back pocket What the hell? He had aincredibly late for work He’d pulled on his clothes and rushed out the door in a hurry, no doubt leaving his wallet lying forlornly on the dresser in his room

“Oh shit, I don’t have my wallet!”

“Uh-huh,” Sam said with his usual nastiness “How convenient ”

Nicky clenched his fists, biting back a sharp ree it Sam had refused to let him start a tab like some of the other e of how satisfying it would be to slam Sam’s face into the bar

“Oh, for God’s sake, Sam, it’s just a beer I’ll put it on my tab ” Steven frowned at Sam, as he wiped down the bar at the other end

“Just so long as it’s paid for Nobody gets anything for free around here ”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Nicky er walked away “Asshole ”

“Oh, and tie that hair back before you come in toonna close us doith all those pretty little curls of yours flying around everywhere ”

Nicky flushed, embarrassed over his unruly, blond hair that absolutely refused to be taet a haircut yesterday, but he was running short on cash before payday He’d just have to tie it in a ponytail, sure Saood on his threat if he didn’t