DELINQUENT

THREE

I hadn't made it to bed earlier than 1 AM and when I woke, it was already past noon. I missed the whole morning. After a quick shower, I took a stab at feeding myself.

I had cereal. No milk. I shoved my hand into the bag of Froot Loops, filled it and stuffed my face. They tasted better with milk.

I took my time dressing for work. Per Jared's request, I put on something a little more tasteful. Low rise jeans that hugged me tight, my black Deliverance shirt and some black converse to match. Flirtier than my other look, I gave it a B.

Plus.

I transformed my tired eyes with thick concealer and thicker mascara, finishing off the look with a delicate gold necklace. The chain dangled against my chest, ending just above my cleavage. It was just enough to signal that I had boobs without encouraging any eyes to drop lower.

There was no way Jared could tell me I hadn't dressed up. I left my hair long and flowing, pinning back a piece that wanted to live between my eyes.

It was still a little wet when I started the trek for work. Black and thicker than a horse's mane, it was prone to tangling and flyaways. I couldn't fathom why Jared preferred it down.

I arrived early to find the front door locked. I tried to zone out, meditate and failed horribly. Settling against the door with a pout. Nothing better to do, I worked on my hair, running my fingers through the knots. I compelled them to straighten out, muttering threats that I'd never follow through on to the strands.

The door at my back opened and I fell through it hands still wound in my hair. Jared caught me with a grunt and steadied me back to my feet bursting out into a laugh.

"I've never had an employee be early before." He told me. I shrugged. It wasn't like I was an hour early. It was only 15 minutes before my shift.

"Phone." He requested, his hand out to me. I rescued it from the depths of my purse and handed it over. He smashed at the buttons ignoring my questioning eyes before handing to back to me. "Next time. Call me and I'll open the door for you."

"Thanks." I tucked the phone deep in my back pocket.

He flipped the closed sign to open as we entered. Without a word, his keys fell into my hand. I went to the back, unlocking the office and ditching my purse. I strapped the apron I had brought from home around my waist and locked the door behind me.

When I made it back to the main room, I caught Jared's eyes, he nodded to a table. Whoa, open less than a minute and we already had customers. Maybe I would actually make money here.

Despite the quick start to the shift, it was a slow day. I busied myself with wiping down tables, scrubbing at stuck on grime. Had these ever been cleaned before?

The bell at the door jingled, my eyes wandering over to it. Jameson Neat.

He looked even better today. A white T-shirt sat tight across his broad chest. I let my eyes trail over his exposed arms. Wisps and tangles of black danced across his skin. The tattoos moved with his muscles, constricting and expanding as he walked.

"Not Carly." He smiled at my interest. I frowned.

"Mila." Jared corrected him. I ground my teeth together with annoyance. If I had wanted him to know my name, I would've given it to him.

"Mila." He said tasting it on his tongue, he smirked. A small dimple appearing on his left cheek. A childish addition to his powerful body. "I tried giving Mila here a ride home last night. She declined" Jameson Neat informed Jared, eyes stuck on mine.

Jared raised his eyebrow with surprise, "She said no to me too."

Jameson Neat's eyes flared with excitement at the news.

I rolled my eyes, inhaled sharply and proceeded to ignore them both, bending down to wipe at the tables again. The bell on the door jingled angrily. More customers. I moved to greet them, show them to a table. Jameson Neat beat me to it. The three men shook hands an exchanged a few words before he directed them to a table.

They all sat down together. It was a sight to see. Jameson Neat, hair tousled with a fresh out of bed look while the two men at his sides looked trim in navy suits. He should look homeless next to the polished men.

He didn't. He had that easy confidence he always wore. He sat like a king, smug smile on his lips as he listened to them. Each of the dapper men were on edge, fidgeting endlessly, abhorrently uncomfortable.

Figures he wouldn't sit at the bar. He wanted to make me serve him. I approached grumpily and flashed the newcomers a sweet smile. "What can I get you?"

"Miller." Suit one said quickly with a rush of breath.

"Draft or bottle?"

"Draft." I flashed him another smile and turned to the other man, who ordered the same thing. Did all suits drink that watered-down garbage?

I didn't bother a look at the king.

"Jameson Neat." I said bluntly and turned on my heel. He intercepted me, bending me over so that we were face to face.

"Keep my glass from going empty and I'll give you a more than a generous tip."

A challenge. I accepted it with a nod. I separated us and turned again. He was sure to pat my ass before I got too far away.

Dick.

A Jameson neat already sat waiting for me. I picked it up.

"Two miller pints," I told Jared. He obliged and I had them at the table before they could realize I had left.

I continued to watch Jameson Neat throughout the afternoon. His glass never dropped below half full. My only other table was a group of young professionals, gathered for after work cocktails. They chatted politely and didn't necessitate any attention. Not that I would spare it anyways.

I sat on the bar overlooking the room, chin resting in a cupped hand, checking out the crowd. Jared's anxious hands rinsed and dried glasses. Repeatedly.

"Why did Carly quit?" I asked him, letting my legs swing back and forth with the dull music that flowed from our scratchy speakers.

"Nasty fight with her boyfriend. I don't know the details."

"Him, right?" I asked, pointing at Jameson Neat.

Jared chuckled. "He's definitely not her boyfriend."