And boy, she wanted more. A lot more.

The trick would be to take all she could get without him ever knowing how she really felt. She had too much pride to get dumped, so when it ended—and she knew it would—she wanted Rowdy to believe it was by mutual decision.

Somehow she’d find a way to convince him of that.

He was used to calling the shots, so he probably expected her to hang out in his office for a while. She refused to be one more woman who fell into line for him, so she pushed out of his chair and, ignoring her exhaustion and still-shaky limbs, went into his tiny bathroom and refreshed herself.

Within ten minutes she was back out front. On her way to the bar, she picked up a heavy crate of liquor from the back room to bring with her.

Cannon saw her, excused himself from the bar and hustled over to retrieve it from her. “Where do you want it?”

“Behind the bar near the ice chest.” She went along with him. “So you’re working the bar right now?”

He nodded. “Only until you’re ready.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“Whatever needs to be done.”

So if she took over now, he’d have to...what? Wash dishes? Clean tables?

Cannon flashed her a grin. “Don’t worry about it. It’s all the same to me.”

Avery noticed again what a good-looking man he was. The bar lamps put blue highlights in his shiny black hair, highlights that matched the pale blue of his dreamy eyes. And those thick lashes, the warm way he smiled, that small dimple...

His grin widened.

Such a wicked grin it was, too. Avery shook her head and collected her flagging wits. “I’d prefer to bartend.”

“Then have at it.” He turned to go, but Ella had approached. He nodded at her, saying, “Ma’am.”

Which made Ella twitter and blush.

Wow. Avery had to do a double take over that. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Excuse me?” Cannon said.

“Nothing.” Avery smiled at Ella. “Everything okay?”

Ella slid an order slip over to her without looking away from Cannon. “Just stopping by to greet our new coworker.”

“Thanks.” Without missing a beat, Cannon took the slip and filled the drinks. “We met last night, right?”

“We did, very briefly,” Ella said. “But with all the confusion I didn’t get to welcome you proper.”

“Appreciate it.”

She wound a finger in her brown hair and flirted shamelessly. “So you’re staying on?”

“Looks like.” He loaded her tray and then glanced back at Avery. “Rowdy told me to take my direction from you, so what’s it to be? Anything you want me to do to help out here, or should I check with Jones?”

Ella stared at him adoringly.

So Rowdy had put her in charge? After what had just taken place in his office, she would feel self-conscious about that, except that neither Ella nor Cannon seemed to think anything of it.

She took in the crowded floor, growing more so by the minute, and said, “Looks like we have a crush all of a sudden.”

“Friendly football rivalry,” Cannon said. “The guys at the bar are the winners, and the ones sulking in the booths by the far wall are—”

“Not happy,” Ella supplied. She winked. “But I’m working on cheering them up.”

Cannon lifted a brow. “I bet you’ll have them downright giddy in no time.”

It was nice that Cannon fit right in. She’d have to remember to tell Rowdy what a good choice he’d made. “Why don’t you help Ella get the orders going, and then see if Jones needs a hand? Maybe bounce back and forth.”

“Sounds good.” He grabbed an order pad and pen from behind the bar and started out to the floor.

The second he stepped away, Ella pretended to collapse back in a heap, making Avery laugh.

“Dear Lord,” Ella said, “that young man is potent.”

“He is easy on the eyes,” Avery agreed.

“That apron looks better on him than it ever will on me. Now, if he only wore the apron...” Her gaze tracked him as he went across the floor. “I could really appreciate it when he walks away.”

Laughing, Avery swatted at her. “Behave yourself.”

“Ha! Look who’s talking about behaving.” While Avery tried to fight off a blush, Ella winked. “Rowdy’s a morsel, no doubt about it. But you just might have a tiger by the tail with that one. Know when to turn him loose, okay?”

Dreading the answer, Avery asked, “How much did you hear?”

“Hear?” Ella’s brows arched up. “I saw Rowdy drag you off, honey, and it was plain to everyone what he wanted.”

She swallowed hard, and squeaked, “What?”

“You.” Ella squeezed her hand. “I think it’s nice that he couldn’t wait to get you alone to steal a kiss.”

Steal a kiss? Is that all Ella thought had happened? As her spine turned into a noodle, Avery said, “He’s...impetuous.”

“I’d say he’s outrageous and downright sinful.” She lifted her loaded tray. “Every woman here envies you. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

While it lasts. Ugh. Such a depressing thought—one that wouldn’t leave her even as the hours passed and she stayed busy filling nonstop drink orders.

The football players said, “Keep ’em coming,” and they meant it. Avery barely had time to draw breath, much less rest.