CHAPTER ONE

It was a full house tonight, business was good. Claire was as competent as ever behind the bar, attending to customers. She wore her red hair back in a ponytail, a black t-shirt tucked into a tight sky blue jeans. She looked so simple but yet so beautiful.

She have gotten used to the endless attention she received from the men who frequented the bar.

She just smiled and politely declined them....all the time, till they gave up. Of course there have been times when a drunk customer had tried assaulting her, but she wasn't so easy and powerless, she had learned to defend herself from years of experience, working in a bar. But whenever she couldn't handle a customer herself, her staff, Brody, a young lad built like a bouncer, who assisted her at the bar, handled the situation.

At closing time, they were both already so exhausted.

"Hell of a night" Brody commented leaning on the counter giving Claire an exhausted smile.

He was young and handsome. And Claire loved the fact that he was also hardworking. He had ofcourse made innocent pases at her on several occasions, but he has given it a rest after she politely declined. But that didn't stop him from flirting with her once In a while.

Claire had blushed, at the thought that even the youngster found her appealing. Charming, but she wasn't interested.

"Tell me about it" Claire sighed, rubbing her neck. It was aching all the way to her shoulders.

"Thanks Brody, you did great tonight...as always"

Brody smiled

"Do I get a kiss then?"

"No, you don't. But maybe a raise on your next paycheck "

"Fair enough"

They both laughed.

"You should get going now, I'll lock up" Claire said.

"Alright then. See you tomorrow " Brody replied, picking up his back pack. Which basically contained his headphone, his work shirt, some snacks and some text books. He is a high school student after all, he only worked part time at the bar.

"Goodnight" Claire called out as he headed for the front door.

"Goodnight" he replied and then he was gone.

Claire checked her wrist watch, it was 10:05pm. She had to get home to her son Nate before 10:30pm, that was the nanny's closing time. She always dropped him off at school on her way to work and the nanny picks him up and sits him till 10:30pm, when she closes from work. She knew she wasn't spending enough time with Nate, but, sadly, she couldn't help it, she had a business to run, cause she needed the money for she and her baby, raising a child as a single mother wasn't exactly easy. She had tried dating again when Nate was 2years old, but after 3 attempts, she had given it up. Now she just wants to be a successful independent woman, being able to take care of herself and her son.

It's been five years now since Claire escaped from the man she had had a one night stand with at the bar where she worked as a bar maid. By God! the man was wonderfully made, he was the man in every girl's wet dreams, and he could talk! Even with his dark and Mysterious looks he was still so appealing. Claire wasn't a whore who slept with any man she served at the bar... but there was just something about him.