The douche doesn’t mean a word of that, and I want to pound his face. No, I’m not looking to become Bethany’s knight in shining armor. But this kind of guy always grates on my nerves because he thinks he can treat all women like trash, and the only thing that matters less than them are their feelings. I hate pricks like him.

  Unfortunately, I can’t do anything else right now without ramping up the incident, instigating a fight…and probably getting fired. Instead, once he leaves, I turn to Bethany. I’m pissed all over again when I see she’s gone tense, as if she’s trying to hold herself together, and sporting a big red handprint around her small wrist.

  “You okay?”

  She nods. It’s shaky at first, then she drags in a steadying breath. “Yeah. He might be the first to think he can demand something more than a drink. But like Andy said, he won’t be the last. I’ll get used to it. Thanks for stepping in. I’m Beth.”

  When she holds out her hand, I have to admit I’m impressed by her backbone. I’ve seen new waitresses shrink, cry, and ultimately quit when confronted with a customer that vile. Bethany simply picked herself up and now looks determined to carry on.

  “You’re welcome. I’m Clint. It’s my first day.” I shake her hand.

  We touch. Heat flares and rolls through me, instant and scorching. If I wanted to fuck her before, it’s nothing compared to the lust burning me now.

  Damn it to hell.

  As I stare, her pleasant smile fades. She stares, blinks. Is she feeling the jolt, too?

  That thought makes the fire in my body rage even hotter.

  She pulls her hand free. “It’s my first week, too. You’ll get the hang of it.”

  I clear my throat. “Yeah. Ash will help me. We’ve been bros for a long time.”

  Beside me, my buddy waves at her. “Hey.”

  She manages a muted smile, crossing one arm around herself as if she’s seemingly uncomfortable.

  “You want an ice pack for your wrist?” I ask.

  She rolls it gingerly. “It will be fine.”

  Maybe but… “That dude needs his ass kicked.”

  “It won’t solve anything. Besides, I’m a big girl. He won’t surprise me again. I’ll handle him next time. I’ve dealt with worse.”

  Like what? By her own admission, she’s never been hit up waiting tables before this week.

  “You don’t have to do it alone. I’m here. Ash is here.”

  “Yeah,” my buddy cuts in. “No one will let anything happen to you on the job.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got it. Excuse me.”

  Bethany turns away to check on her tables. It feels as much like she’s eager to get away from us as she is conscientious about her customers.

  “And…that’s exactly how she behaved yesterday. Polite but not friendly.”

  “With everyone?”

  “Everyone. Andy, Montana, me, Terry, Samantha…”

  Winning her over and earning her trust might be harder than I thought, but I won’t let that deter me. “Well, the evening is young.”

  “Yep, but after five o’clock we’ll start getting too busy for chitchat. If you’re going to work on her today, you better do it fast.”

  Point taken.

  “Anything else that needs to be done before the rush starts?”

  Ash shakes his head. “I got it. You go do that.”

  When he points Bethany’s way, I nod and look across the room to find her lifting a tray piled with empty glasses and plates above her shoulder, balancing it on one upturned palm. She clutches a folding serving stand in her free hand and heads for the kitchen, determination stamped all over her face.

  “Let me.” I stop in front of her and start to pluck the heavy tray from her grasp.

  She swivels away from me, bristling. “I’m capable.”

  And clearly touchy. Did someone along the way imply that she wasn’t? “Yeah. I just had a spare hand and thought I would help.”

  She softens. “It’s unnecessary. You have a job to do, and so do I. I appreciate your help, but you can’t rescue me all the time.”

  “How about just when you need it?” I try to joke.

  She doesn’t think that’s funny. “I don’t date co-workers.”

  I take a step back. “I don’t, either. In no way am I propositioning you. I just don’t know anyone on this island except Ash. Is there something wrong with me trying to be friendly? Did I insult you somehow?”

  For a moment, she closes her eyes and hands me the tray with a sigh. “No. I’m sorry. I… Forget it. I won’t let that jerk upset me again. I get what you mean about not knowing anyone on the island. I only know a few people myself.”

  “Exactly. Back home, I had a lot of pals and drinking buddies.”

  “Where’s home?”

  “North Dakota.”

  Her mossy eyes flare wide. “Being here must be a huge change for you.”

  “I haven’t even been here twenty-four hours yet, but so far that’s an understatement.” I head toward the bar and set the tray down. “Back home, it would be below freezing. Our nights would be in the single digits, if not in negative territory. There would be snow, and the wind would threaten to cut me in half.”

  “That sounds horrible. But I grew up in California.” She deposits the stand on a hook in a nearby alcove. “Other than the few years I went to school back East, I’ve lived in warm climates my whole life. What brings you to Maui?”

  A few random details about myself shouldn’t tip her off about my identity. Why would she jump to the conclusion that a guy with my name and background would be here for retribution, rather than a mere job? “I lost my dad recently, and Ash convinced me that winter here would be better than winter there.”

  Her face softens. “I’m sorry. Losing your father can be hard.”

  “Did yours pass away, too?” Will she lie to my face?

  “No. We’re…estranged. It’s complicated.” She waves off the questions she must see on my face.

  Subject closed—for now. Though I can’t say I’m surprised. We’ve only known each other for ten minutes. But it’s all I can do not to scoff. Estranged? Is that how she describes distancing herself from the man who’s taking the fall for her part in their crimes?

  “So what about you?” I ask instead. “What brings you to Maui?”

  The thaw in our conversation suddenly catches another chill. “I wanted a change of pace. Some well-meaning people convinced me to come here and give this place a try…”

  She’s being intentionally vague, and a million questions pelt me. I should look for the right lead-in question to steer the conversation toward her last job. But I don’t because I already know she’ll tense up even more and cut our chat short.

  “Like it so far?”

  She shrugs. “It’s pretty. What I’ve seen, anyway. I got here late on Christmas Eve. I managed to get this job the day after Christmas. I’ve been working ever since. So I haven’t seen much.”

  “Seems like a shame, to come all this way and not take in paradise.”

  She winces. “That’s what all the people who suggested I come say.”

  “I have plans to see this island on my days off. My parents always wanted a second honeymoon here, and they never took it. I’m going to see it for them,” I say truthfully. “That probably sounds cheesy—”

  “It sounds thoughtful, actually.”

  “You’re welcome to join me if you want. No pressure. I won’t hit on you. It just might be nice not to see the sights alone.”

  Bethany nibbles on her lip for a long moment. The gesture shouldn’t be sexy. It shouldn’t make me want to run my thumb across the swell of that lower pout. It absolutely shouldn’t make me want to kiss her.

  But fuck, it does.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “My first day off is Monday.”

  “Mine, too. I guess we’re both going to work a killer New Year’s Eve before we get a break.”

  “Looks that way. If you decide you want to come along, I was thinking about driving down to Wailea to see those beaches and maybe catch a bit of the southern end of the island.”

  “Thanks. I’ll let you know. I’m staying with some…distant family right now. One of them has a baby due this week, so everything is a little up in the air.”

  I wonder who she’s talking about or if her story is even true. “Totally. Like I said, no pressure. But I’d enjoy the company. It would keep me from thinking too much about the fact my mom and dad aren’t here to see the island for themselves.”

  She nods, and I see sympathy flit across her features before she shuttles it. “I should get back to work.” She glances across the room to find a couple looking for a refill. “Duty calls.”

  As I see more people filing in through the open-air entrance from the beach, I nod and head behind the bar. “When you need drinks poured, holler. I’m your man.”

  Shit, that came out wrong. Flirtier than I intended. A little flush stains her cheeks. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  My feet are screaming uncle by the time the bar shuts down and we’re cleaned up for the night.

  “Holy shit,” I mutter to Ash. “I don’t remember hurting this much when I bartended a few years back.”

  “Eh, you’ve just gone soft. The calluses on your soles will come back.”

  I refrain from pointing out that working the oil fields is no posh job because Ash knows it and is simply yanking my chain. Besides, I haven’t gone soft in any way. Staring half the night at Bethany made sure of that.

  “Hey,” he murmurs as he leans in. “Montana was asking earlier if we wanted to come to her place for the rest of the night.”

  I raise a brow at him. “Both of us?”

  “I guess she’s adventurous.” He grins.

  “No. Thanks, man. You go ahead.”

  “You’re sure?”

  The notion of sex sounds great…but I just can’t get excited about this proposition or her. “Yeah, I’ll pass.”

  Ash shrugs and yanks his car keys from the pocket of his shorts. “All right. Take the car back to my place. I’ll ride with Montana and have her bring me back before our shift tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good. Have fun. Don’t forget to glove up.”

  With a waggle of his brows and a flashy smile, he tosses down his dish towel and heads toward the flirty waitress. Seconds later, he slings an arm around her, and they’re gone. Samantha, whom I just met tonight, shoots them an envious stare as she clutches her keys and heads out with a sigh.

  I wonder if Ash knows that shy Samantha is interested in him.

  Bethany emerges from the hall that houses the employee break room and lockers, slings a little purse over her shoulder, and heads for the parking lot. Instead of walking to her car, she stands under the awning and pulls out her phone. I follow her with a frown.

  “You’re heading home?”

  She turns to me and nods. “As soon as I call for my ride.”

  Who is coming to pick her up at three a.m.? Family? A boyfriend she failed to mention? “I’m not sure it’s a great idea for you to stand outside and wait alone. That guy who gave you a hard time earlier? I wouldn’t put it past him to come back and harass you some more.”

  “You’re right, but…” She looks behind her to find Andy locking up the bar, pocketing the keys, then sauntering toward his truck with a wave.

  She can’t go back inside. This is my opportunity.

  “I have Ash’s car if you want a ride home.”

  That contemplative lip-biting move tells me she’s considering my offer. It’s also wreaking hell on my restraint.

  Why do I have to find Bethany Banks sexy?

  “I don’t want to inconvenience you…”

  But she didn’t mind “inconveniencing” people by taking hundreds of millions of dollars from them?

  “Aren’t you waking someone else up in the middle of the night to come get you?”

  She hesitates, then nods reluctantly.

  “Beth, I’m already awake. I’m already driving myself home…”

  “But where I’m staying… It’s not close.”

  “The island is only so big. How far can it be?”

  “A good thirty minutes.”

  That would give me time to work on her, see if I can get her to start opening up to me.

  I shrug like it’s no big deal. “I don’t mind.”

  She glances down at her phone, then back up at me. “All right. Thanks.”

  “Happy to help.” I lead her to the car and hit the fob to unlock Ash’s serviceable wheels. “It’s messy, I warn you. Ash thinks organization is a four-letter word.”

  Bethany sends me a faint smile. “I’ll pretend not to notice since you’re doing me a huge favor.”

  As I back out of the parking space and exit the lot, I glance her way. Shadows cling to the feminine angles of her face. The silhouette of her long lashes curls against the night. She clasps her hands in her lap, looking nervous.

  “You okay?”

  She shrugs. “Fine.”

  Bullshit. “Beth…”

  “Just tired.”

  I’m still not buying it but before I can say anything, her stomach rumbles. “And hungry?”

  She gives me a self-deprecating grin. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’m starving.”

  “I just never had time for dinner.”

  “Ditto. I’ve tended bar before but never in a place this hopping.”

  “I’ve never even waited tables, so this whole week has been a shock. It’s really busy.”

  “Yeah? What was your last job?”

  Let’s see how she answers that.

  Instantly, she draws up tight. “It was all paper pushing behind a desk. Something I’ll probably never do again. Um, where I’m staying is past the airport. When you reach there, keep heading east.”

  Her change of subject isn’t even subtle. I wonder why she thinks she’ll never work in investment banking again. From her perspective, she got off scot-free. Why wouldn’t she set up shop somewhere else, ride out a few years to let the heat die down and gain new clients’ trust, then repeat her scam all over? But clearly, the subject is closed.

  “No problem. Hey, we’re driving past Zippy’s. They’re open twenty-four hours. What about a quick bite?”

  “Oh, that’s not necessary. You don’t have to—”

  “I could use the food.” And the extra time alone with her. Who knows when I’ll get it again?

  “In that case…all right.”

  We’re there in twenty minutes. The restaurant is small and well lit. Inside, there aren’t many places to sit, but we order—she insists on paying for her own breakfast bagel—then we grab an open table and wait for our food.

  The initial silence is awkward, and I wrack my brain for another conversation starter that won’t get her back up. “Who was going to pick you up?”

  “My oldest brother.”

  Maxon. I remember reading he’s a real estate shark. “I thought you were staying with distant family.”

  Bethany doesn’t answer for long moments. “I’d never met him until five days ago. It’s complicated.”

  That shocks the hell out of me. Granted, Maxon is her half brother, but she’d never met him until this week? “Wow, I guess so. I have brothers. We’re really tight.”

  “That sounds…nice.”

  Her voice is soft, almost wistful. Like she’s envious? Like she wishes she had a close-knit family?

  “Do you like him?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  No further elaboration. She’s choosing her words carefully. But she’s still talking, so I keep gently prying.

  “Do you have other family here?”

  “Two more brothers and a sister, along with all their spouses.”

  Two more brothers? My research indicated Barclay only had one other son, Griffin. But why would she lie?

  “And you’re just now meeting them?”

  She nods. “On Christmas Eve, yes.”

  What the… “Tell me about them.”

  “I don’t really know that much. The two oldest are real estate partners. They seem fantastic. Incredibly ambitious. They worked two massive deals right up until midnight before Christmas. Their wives are both sweet. Funny. Interesting. Perfect for them, honestly. And very pregnant. My younger brother is… I don’t even know how to describe him. A genius. And incredibly driven. We all have that in common. Socially, he’s a little awkward, but it’s because he’s always thinking about something technical. He runs a data storage corporation. He and his wife got married a few weeks ago and are officially moving here tomorrow. My sister is…” She sighs and I see the obvious admiration cross her face. “She’s vivid, confident, snarky, full of life. She’s pretty amazing. And she’s married to a former pro athlete who couldn’t be nicer. I’m just…trying to fit in with this big, loud clan.” Then color splashes across her cheeks. “And I’m talking too much.”

  “Not at all,” I assure her. “I’d love to hear more.”

  It’s fascinating to see this woman I sense is usually self-assured feel so out of place. Clearly, this isn’t a common experience for her. My head tells me I should be happy to see her squirm. Instead, inconvenient pity pricks me.

  “Not much more to say,” she demurs.

  “How did you all finally find each other?”

  She gnaws her lip again. She does that whenever she’s not sure if or how she should proceed. “I actually met my younger brother in Seattle right after Thanksgiving. It was a business discussion. It didn’t lead anywhere, but when I asked for his help about three weeks later, he bailed me out of a tough spot. When my siblings discovered I planned to spend the holidays alone, they invited me. Actually, they kind of insisted.”

  The snarky side of me wants to point out that it’s no surprise she had no one to spend this season with. Who wants to spend time with a scam artist? But I’m human, too. I can’t imagine spending the holidays utterly alone. It was a somber Christmas, just me and my brothers. But I would have gone batshit if I hadn’t had them.

  “Your family sounds awesome.”

  “They are, but I’m hoping tips continue to be lucrative so I can stop imposing on them and get a place of my own. I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage of their hospitality.”