Lucky in Love by Karina Gioertz Read Free Book Online

perve!” I instantly slid my chair further away from his, while he began to try and explain away his staring and Jason’s comment.
    “I was not picturing you naked.” He leaned back in his chair. Realizing that he couldn’t undo the damage that had been done, he shifted gears. “Anyway, I gotta go, I could really use a shower. Unless of course, you'd like to join me?”
    I scowled at him with disgust.
    “Yeah, I'm going to go with, no.”
    Noah nodded his head as he stood up.
    “You're right, probably wouldn't be a good idea.” Then he took his plate and dropped it in the sink, before making his way past us and out of the kitchen.
    As brunch was coming to an end, Jason, Gabe and I began the dreaded clean-up process Noah had so conveniently avoided. After clearing all the plates and putting away the leftovers, I stood before the mounting trash can and decided there was simply no way we would be able to fit anything else in it. So, I bravely tackled the trash and dragged the extremely heavy bag outside to the garage.
    After I left the kitchen, Jason turned to Gabe who was busy loading the dishwasher.
    “So...Lucky doesn't have a tattoo.”
    Gabe grinned. “Yeah, I know.”
    Jason laughed and walked back over to the stove to grab the last of the pans. “You're not right dude.  He is going to do nothing, but try to see that tattoo now.”
    “Yeah, I know.” Gabe couldn’t help feeling satisfied with himself. Sure, he felt a little bad about involving me, but getting one over on Noah would be worth it.
    When I came back in to the kitchen, both guys managed to wipe the smiles off their faces before I could see and I was never the wiser.

 
Chapter 7
    I Thought You Wanted Pancakes…
    It was closing time at the bar that Noah worked at, the same bar I, myself, had spent so many years in, night after night, mixing drinks and trying to study by the dim light of the beer cooler, every chance I got. It was early Sunday morning as I walked in to find the cocktail waitresses busy clearing glasses and wiping down tables, while the bouncers were sluggishly moving past them dragging the trash cans and mopping the floors. In the midst of everyone, were the two bar backs, buzzing back and forth between the bars with filled glass racks and empty ice buckets, hastily trying to get everything restocked and cleaned up, so things would be ready to go the next night.
    Not wanting to get in the way, I strolled back over towards the front door and made a sharp right at the coat check. Right behind it, tucked away in a quiet corner, was a tiny office. As expected, I found the owner, Darnell Jacobs, sitting behind his desk counting the cash and finishing up the closing paperwork. He looked up from his pile when he heard me.
    “Hey, D.”
    “Lucky!” he exclaimed, happy to see me. Then his smirk stretched into a smile, “Are you here to save your boy?”
    “Oh no, which one of my boys needs saving?” I asked, rolling my eyes and already knowing the answer.
    “Noah, who else? He worked the hell out of this lady tonight.  She ran up a huge tab and left an even bigger tip.  Now, she's insisting on getting what she paid for.” He was leaning back in his chair and rocking it back and forth as he spoke.
    “Well, that shouldn't be a problem for Noah.  He's usually more than happy to provide his services.” It didn’t sound to me like a problem he wouldn’t be happy to fix all by himself.
    “I don't think he's too happy about it, this time.  Take a look.”
    As he was talking, he stood up from his chair and walked around the desk to where I was standing. Then he craned his neck as far as he could, leaning so far into me, I had no choice but to do the same. There, all the way in the back at the corner bar, was Noah. And just a few feet over to the right was the woman D. had been talking about. I let out a loud snort at the sight of her. She was considerably older than him, which normally he wasn’t necessarily opposed to. This