Love to Tempt You (Wild to Love #4) - J. Saman Page 0,2

he snaps back.

I roll my eyes as my friend Alyssa passes me, catching her amused smirk on the way.

“I said the pork looks fantastic.”

I don’t wait for his reply because I know he won’t give one. He’s already onto poor Alyssa. Our misogynist boss has no clue that my eyes are brown but knows full well what my cup size is. He doesn’t hide the fact that he hires waitresses based on tit to waist ratio. He claims it’s so he can order us proper fitting uniforms, which is his way of avoiding a sexual harassment suit, I guess.

This is not how I expected my life to be at the age of twenty. Not even close.

But in truth, things were worse before I came to Los Angeles, so I’m hardly in a position to complain about a job that pays my rent and manages the minimum payments of my debt.

“Here we are,” I say to the table full of celebrities from some reality TV show I never cared enough about to watch.

The men are all those polished types with expensively coiffed hair, golden tanned skin, and ultra-white teeth. The women are as blonde and big busted as I am, but theirs comes from a salon and a surgeon whereas mine comes from my father and grandmother, respectively. My mother was pixie small everywhere, and on more than one occasion, I’ve wished I took after her more than my father’s side.

“Are you an actress or a model?” one of the men asks as he takes a sip of his whiskey, his gleaming eyes appreciative as they rake over me.

I stifle a scowl as I finish setting out all the dishes and the second round of drinks, removing the empty first round. “Neither. I’m in college.” Or at least I will be starting back this fall if, by some miracle, I can scrounge up the semester tuition.

“Oh. That’s fun,” one of the girls snarks and the others giggle under their breath, like the idea of an education is such a waste when you can earn huge money doing nothing of significance with your life other than make out with random men while wearing a bikini. I suppose from that perspective, she’s right.

But that will never be me.

I straighten after I’m done and meet her with a steadfast gaze and a strong smile. “Is there anything else I can get you for now?”

“No thanks. I think we’re all set,” the appraising guy answers for her, and I spin on my cheap heels and leave them to it.

They’re not the first ones to ask if I’m one of the many who works as a waitress in between acting or modeling jobs. We have a few struggling actors here. But that’s not why I came to Los Angeles.

I finish off the rest of my tables, working my tail off until the kitchen closes and the restaurant turns more into a bar, taking in the after-hours action this city is known for. Bruce, the bouncer who works the door, walks me to my car, making sure I get in safely while he chats my ear off about his new baby boy who has colic.

“That’ll get better, right? I mean, Kathy says it will, but she’s so exhausted all the time and with me working nights, it’s hard to help.”

I smile and pat his humongous shoulder. I have zero experience with babies, but I don’t think he’s actually looking for me to supply him with a real answer. He just needs someone to vent to and I’m a good listener.

“Hang in there, Bruce. This phase won’t last forever and before you and Kathy know it, he’ll be sleeping through the night and then you won’t know what to do with yourselves.”

Bruce lets out a hearty chuckle, opening the door to my car for me as he always does because he was brought up with manners. I throw him a wink and a thank you for walking me to my car, and then I shut the door. Turning the key to start my car up, I clench my eyes shut, sending up a silent prayer that it starts without issue. Once it does, I blow out a breath, relaxing and leaning back in my seat.

I didn’t have a chance to count my tips tonight before leaving and after glancing this way and that, determining that the lot is clear of people, I slip my wad of cash out of my pocket and start counting the bills. One hundred