Stay For Me - Megan Smith Page 0,1

not the same without you.”

Jaylinn closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. I don’t know what’s going on between them because Cooper is so closed off when it comes to her. They’re clearly miserable without each other.

“I’m the one who’s supposed to be interviewing Layla. I got tied up. Why don’t you have a look around and I’ll go do the interview with her real quick.”

“Sure.” Jaylinn walks towards the stairs and notices the sign that says ‘Rooftop Bar’. “Is it okay if I go up there?” She’s looking for a hiding place in case Cooper shows up…can’t say I blame her.

I smile knowing she’ll see what he’s done to the upstairs though. “Of course.”

I turn and walk down the hallway towards my office with the smile on my face that is getting bigger and bigger with each step. I think by her seeing the upstairs that it will, maybe, hopefully, give her that little push she needs to work things out with Cooper.

I step into my office and shut the door, coming to a halt when I see this alluring blonde girl sitting in one of the two chairs in front my desk. What I notice first is her legs, crossed over one another.

She stands and holds her hand out to me. “Hi, I’m Layla Del Luca.”

I stare at her hand briefly. Her nails are painted a light pink color, her fingers long and slim, and her wrist dainty. I clear my throat. “Hi, I’m Eli Sabatino. Sorry I’m late. I had something come up that I couldn’t put off.”

“Not a problem.” She smiles with an eagerness that is alive with affection. The whiteness of her teeth and the golden blonde of her hair stand out against her tanned skin. Layla’s body is slender, her hips rounded slightly and from this angle her ass looks fucking phenomenal in her jeans, and I’m caught again by those legs. Immediately I’m thinking about them wrapped around my waist. Fuck, I’m like a teenager all over again. “I’m sorry I’m not dressed better,” I look up and she has a little gleam in her. She’s caught me checking her out. “I came here right from school and didn’t have a chance to run home and change.”

I keep my eyes locked on hers, trying not to look at her legs. “It’s not a problem. We have uniforms that you’ll have to wear and we’ll always have extra in case you need them.” Although I’d like to keep you in those jeans so I can stare at your fine ass.

“Okay, great.”

I walk around and take a seat behind my desk so that I can attempt to concentrate on this interview and not let my eyes wander.

“So, Layla, tell me a little about yourself. Do you have any experience working at a club? Being a bartender?”

She sits and crosses a leg over the other and folds her hands in her lap but not before running them down her jeans. She’s nervous but trying to play it cool. I like that she’s trying to show confidence.

“Well, I’ve been bartending since I was eighteen. I went to Mix’em Up Bartending School and was hired by my neighbor, who owns Jax’s, once I passed the classes. I’ve been working there off and on since then but I’m looking for something a little more stable as well as needing more hours.”

I nod and jot down that she has schooling and also make a note that she is in school so we’ll have to work around that, which shouldn’t be a problem.

“Do you have transportation?” This is important for us because we need employees who are reliable.

Layla glances down to her hands before she looks up at me again. “I don’t own a car but you don’t have to worry about me making it to work on time. I’m used to public transportation and I have friends who are more than willing to help me out when I get in a jam.”

I clench my jaw hard; I don’t like that. She’ll have to be taking it late at night and a girl like her shouldn’t be out late at night by herself. I make a note and put a star that we’ll have to figure something out for her.

“Things may be slow around here for a little while until we get our name out there. I can’t promise you many hours until business picks up.”

She nods and straightens her back. “I understand.”

“The opening is this weekend; will you be