Irish Coffee

CHAPTER ONE - RIVALS

Susan. Robert knew she was his competition from the moment he saw her. Hired on the same day as he was, to do practically the same job, it was pretty obvious what the boss had in mind. One of them was gonna get cut off along the line, leaving the other one to work twice as hard.

They hadn't said so but he had been in this situation often enough to know that that's how it went. They would both work their arses off trying to impress those upstairs, and in the end, only one would get to keep the job – most likely her. She had that submissive, dependable look that most bosses loved. Cute enough to draw a crowd, but 100 % reliable. His only saving grace might be if he had skills that she did not have. He could pour cocktails like you saw them do it in the movies these days, juggling bottles without losing a drop. He knew a few hundred cocktails by heart now, but he did not have a degree or anything.

At first glance, he was more the bad-boy type. Good looks, toned body, long hair and the signature leather jacket he loved screamed rebel-without-a-cause – the kind of guy you don't take home to mama unless you want to scare the hell out of her. It sometime worked in his favor -- especially if he was on the pull -- but just as often it did not. When it came to getting a job, most bosses saw him as a potential liability, which simply was not true. He was a hard worker -- a very hard worker – good at his job, willing to learn and trustworthy. But he just did not look it. When it would eventually come to it, nine out of ten bosses would choose her.

And who could blame them? She looked smart, clever, sassy, and with her perfect little button nose and ginger hair pulled back in a pony tail, she had good girl written all over her. She looked reliable to the core. Plus, she was darn cute in that girl next door kind of way, and what's more, seemed to be absolutely oblivious to it. Of course they were gonna choose her. The male punters were gonna run away with her. Especially if she gave them one of those shy smiles that she seemed to have been throwing around all morning for no apparent reason. Maybe she was just practicing for when she needed them later to wow her bosses.

Argh, he hated all this negativity in his mind, and he knew he should not be letting it get to him. But he had been been in this situation more times then he could count. For now, though, a job was a job, and this one was not something he could turn down. He needed the money, or he'd be out on the streets by the end of the month. Which meant his green card would be revoked, and he'd be on a plane back to Ireland. He did not want to give up on his American dream just yet.

This place would give him the experience in tending bar that would be necessary for his resume, which was full of odd jobs and odder professions. He had done a lot over time, but the jobs he liked he had a hard time making money in and the things that made money ... well, they just weren't the kinda professions that would last. Bartending was hopefully gonna be a happy intermediate – it could make him some decent money, especially if he could get some tips coming in, and it was something he could see himself doing for years to come – if he could just get the necessary experience. He couldn't rely on his looks for the rest of his life.

~

Robert. That was his name. She had heard it mentioned by her new boss as she came in. And he was friggin' gorgeous. Like the guy you'd conjure up in your wildest fantasies. She felt distracted just looking at him. Not that she dared to give him more than the occasional glance while she was setting up the coffee machine for afternoon business. She quickly found out it was a temperamental beast. The coffee machine, that is, not Robert – although he did look a bit moody. She wondered if was always like that, or if it was part of his tough boy act.

He was the type that would not give ordinary-looking girls like her a second glance. Well, maybe if she threw herself at him, he'd notice her, but that wasn't ever gonna happen ... the only way that it might, was if she accidentally tripped and fell in his arms because she was too distracted by his good looks.