Not What It Seems (Escape to Alaska Trilogy) by Brenda Sinclair

customers.
    Despite her obvious lack of experience, the evening sped along without a hitch, mostly. Cassidy constantly fell behind, and she snapped at one customer who insisted on flirting instead of ordering quickly. Her remark raised an eyebrow with Clayton, and Cassidy immediately apologized to the customer for her impatience.
    Sherry appeared pleased with her work, however, and Cassidy anticipated a hot bath and a glass of wine as a reward for surviving her first shift. While hanging up her apron and filling in her timecard in the staff room, Cassidy overheard Sherry and Clayton in the next room. She caught snippets of raised voices during their conversation including ‘too green’ and ‘damned inexperienced’.
    Cassidy’s heart dropped to her knees.
    Clayton would order Sherry to fire her. She’d tried her best, but apparently, her best efforts hadn’t been good enough. Darn it. She’d enjoyed the work immensely. But someone else controlled her destiny, again, and this time that someone was Clayton Morrison. She wouldn’t be afforded the luxury of time to prove herself. Why had she set herself up for a major disappointment yet again? Perhaps her destiny was failure.
    Get over it, she scolded herself. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. She grabbed her purse out of her locker and dug out her car keys.
    Just then, Sherry breezed into the staff locker room. “Hi, there.”
    “Am I finished?” Cassidy heard the disappointment in her own voice.
    “Yep.” Sherry raised her shoulders to her ears, dropped them again, in a familiar stretch, and then yanked open her locker door.
    “I had fun anyway. Too bad it didn’t work out.”
    Sherry swung around to face Cassidy, and frowned. “What are you talking about?”
    “I didn’t intentionally eavesdrop, but these walls are paper thin. I overheard you and Clayton discussing my dismissal.” Cassidy fought back tears.
    “No. You overheard Clayton discussing your dismissal. I informed him you weren’t going anywhere. I refuse to judge someone’s performance on their first night. You’ll be up to speed in no time.”
    “I’m not fired? You just said I was finished,” blurted Cassidy.
    “You’re finished tonight’s shift, but I expect you back here tomorrow night no later than quarter to six. Now, head home and soak those sore feet.”
    “How did you know?” groaned Cassidy. She’d discreetly limped for the past half hour from the serious blisters raised by her snazzy new cowboy boots.
    “Been in your shoes...no pun intended.” Sherry laughed. “Good night, new friend.”
    “Back at you, new friend. And thanks so much for your confidence in me.” Cassidy hugged Sherry before leaving the locker room, head held high and spirits revived. What a night she’d had! No one back home in Chicago would believe it.
    “Can I interest you in a nightcap before you head home?” Clayton Morrison called out to Cassidy from behind the bar just as she reached for the front door handle.
    Cassidy looked around. The bar had emptied out at two o’clock, except for the cleaners and Terry. Included in the head bouncer’s duties was walking the waitresses to their cars every night. Clayton could only be talking to her.
    “On the house, I’ll take it out of my promo fund.” Clayton pointed to a barstool.
    “Doesn’t the owner frown on staff members fraternizing after hours?” Cassidy cautiously lowered herself onto the barstool as if she feared it would suddenly swallow her whole.
    “The boss encourages friendship among the staff, but he strictly prohibits staff dating customers.” Clayton finished mixing the cocktail behind the bar and set the glass in front of Cassidy. “Bottoms up.”
    “Cheers,” she whispered and took a sip. In spite of the bartender’s recent campaign to remove her from her job, Cassidy smiled at him. “Delicious! A Harvey Wallbanger and real orange juice. I’m impressed.”
    “You recognized a drink that was popular decades before you were