Chapter 1

Chapter

One

SEER

" H EY! Can we get another pitcher?" I blink a few times to clear my vision and nod at the obnoxious kid pressing me to do my job.

I was daydreaming again.

It seems to be the only thing I do when Leah is working. I watch her constantly and ignore all my other duties. At first, it was to observe her work since she's never waitressed before, but lately? It's because I crave the innocent little thing that stumbled into my bar months ago.

I smile as I remember our first conversation while I start filling the pitcher for the douche, taking up space behind me.

She stumbled into my bar in the middle of Mardi Gras, looking like she just walked off the set of My Little Prairie.

She was a ray of sunshine at 2 am in a sea of flashing boobs and colorful beads. I'm not sure where she came from or where she thought she was going, but I'm certain it isn't here.

The Quarter will eat her up and spit her out.

"Baby, you lost?" I look her up and down quickly before pouring the line of shots the group of bachelorettes ordered on the opposite side of the bar.

"You're the owner. Seer?" Well, now, that's very interesting.

I pat the shoulder of the prospect who's working the bar with me tonight and point over to the ladies waiting for their tequila. He nods and grabs the tray so I can focus on the pretty little brunette in front of me.

"That I am." I place both my hands on the bar and lean into her slightly so that my exposed arms flex.

"Um, I was wondering about an internship." I smile, shaking my head.

"Cher, do I look like a sorority house or a university?" Her eyebrows scrunch up, and her pert nose crinkles.

"No?" I'm sure she meant it as a statement, but it sounded a lot like she was asking me.

"Ok, how about a bank or office building?" I step back and cross my arms over my chest, waiting for her to get my point.

"No." I try not to roll my eyes, but I can't keep standing here indulging my curiosity of libido.

"Then why on Earth are you here for an internship? Now, if you can pour a beer, then I have a job if you want it. Otherwise, stop wasting my time and get out of the way of paying customers." I point at the line forming behind her.

Her face falls as she looks around us. Her skin turns paler, and a sheen of sweat dots her brow.

Shit.

Now I feel like a fucking asshole, but before I can apologize, she turns back to me and nods frantically.

"No. I mean, fine. Whatever. Thanks." Now my eyebrow lifts.

"Is that a yes?" Another nod without meeting my eyes is all I get from her.

I sigh and grab a spare apron from under the bar, tossing it at her.

She doesn't even catch it.

"What's your name, Baby?" I smile as I motion her around to the entrance to join me.

"Leah," she swings the door open to enter but doesn't clear it before it hits her ass, making her fall into me.

I catch her, and when she's steady, she looks up at me with a small thank you on her lips.

Natural full pink ones that I want to suck on until they're blood red.

Fuck this is a huge fucking mistake.

"Hope you're a fast learner. You start now."

"HEY!" The yell and a splash of liquid over my hand draw me out of the memory, and I curse.

I'm currently wearing a pitcher's worth of our newest IPA, which is all over me from the overflowing one I wasn't paying attention to.

"Need help, boss?" Leah's natural flirty tone makes my dick hard.

I don't want her to call me boss, and it's getting hard for me to avoid the temptation.

"Take this over to table three, would you, Cher? I need to clean up." I try and fail not to meet her eyes.

So eager and innocent. She's the perfect combination of willingness to learn, which is my fucking kryptonite. I vowed to keep us strictly professional, and I have. For six fucking long months.

I sigh as I walk back to my office and pull the wet shirt off as I go.

"Fabien?" I open my office door, ignoring my best friend and lover, Kai.

"Not in the mood," I call over my shoulder before trying to slam the door shut.

"Really, because from the looks of it, you are most certainly in the mood. Did Leah get to you again?" He smirks at my reaction, and I groan, slumping down into my chair.

"Maybe," the sigh that leaves my mouth is bone deep.

"Baby, why don't you just ask her already? The worst she can say is no, and then you wouldn't be tormenting yourself like this." He comes around, sits on the corner of my desk, and smoothes the hair out of my face so he can see my eyes.

"She'll never be able to accept us all," I whisper the words I've been saying to my poly family for months.

Leah is not built for this type of relationship, and I'm not selfish enough to push her into one.

"You need to learn to let others make up their own minds. You have no right to take this opportunity away from her. She's an adult. Give her the damn option. we're all tired of seeing you suffer like this." He leans in and kisses me softly before closing me in my office alone with my thoughts.

That's never a good idea.

A million of them bombarded me at once, and I grabbed my head, trying to keep from losing my mind. In the end, I'm still left with the same choice.

Invite her into my world and chance losing her forever or never having her at all.

How does anyone pick between them?

One thing I do know for sure is that my time is running out fast. She's set to leave right after Halloween. Which means I have roughly five weeks to test the waters and see if she'd fit in with my family.

"I can't let her leave without trying," I say to myself.

Decision made, I grab a spare shirt and get my ass back to work.

I have a woman to woo.