Snarky Bastard: A Bad Boy Next Door Romance Read online

  Table of Contents

  Epilogue

  Grace

  Zac

  One Year Later

  A Note From The Author

  COPYRIGHT PAGE

  SNARKY BASTARD

  COPYRIGHT

  © 2018 Adeera Lake

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  All characters in the book are over the age of 18.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination

  Individuals pictured are models and are used for illustrative purposes only.

  CREDITS:

  Cover Art: Mayhem Cover Creation

  Editing: Gabry S.

  DEDICATION:

  To my lost loved ones.

  NEVER MISS A NEW RELEASE! JOIN ADEERA’S VIP CLUB AND GET MY NEW BOOK FOR ONLY $0.99c ON THE RELEASE SPECIAL WEEK OFFER:

  Newsletter

  CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE FOR MORE:

  Website

  CONTENTS

  Grace

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Zac

  Grace

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Grace

  Zac

  Zac

  Grace

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Zac

  Grace

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  A Note From The Author

  COPYRIGHT PAGE

  SNARKY BASTARD

  Adeera Lake

  A BAD BOY NEXT DOOR ROMANCE

  1

  Grace

  It’s only my second day and I already hate this job.

  All these years of university to end up serving drinks to a bunch of cocky assholes.

  I just walked up to a table where three tough looking guys are sitting, and I politely ask if I could get them anything to drink before sending the waiter to take their orders, but a smartass kind of grin springs on one of them.

  “I’d love to try some of your…” He purposely coughs bringing his fist to his mouth. “What was it called? That juice, you know?” He snortles.

  “Pardon me?” I reply after a moment of hesitation. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. I’m sorry about that, but I’m new, so maybe I should send someone more experienced to talk about that.” I clear my voice. “Juice,” I add, keeping a phony polite smile on my face.

  “Wow!” the ‘funny guy’ blurts.

  “Shut up Dan!” One of his friend – a really hot one, wearing a leather jacket – rumbles. “I’m sorry about my friend. He’s a little buzzed, don’t take it personally.” He groans, almost piercing me with his magnetic blue eyes.

  “I’m not buzzed!” The ‘stupid’ one protests.

  “I said shut, up.” The hot guy firmly reminds his friend. Then he locks his magnetic eyes on mine. “Please get us a bottle of Chateau Margaux 2009 before we order our entries,” He says letting out a charming, sexy grin.

  My nostrils involuntarily broaden. I try to keep calm and I remind myself how bad I need this job. “Certainly Sir,” I mutter.

  He sneers. “Call me Zac.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to call customers by their first names. It’s the restaurant’s policy.”

  He chuckles shaking his head. His friends follow suit seemingly delighted by the show he’s putting on.

  “Alright then, so your name would be?” He asks, squinting his eyes slightly reminding me of a famous actor.

  “Well, I’m not allowed to tell you that either.” I pause for a moment and then I add: “Sir.” I tilt my head slightly, smirking with one side of my mouth. “I’ll be right back with your wine,”

  He raises an eyebrow, half amused and half surprised by my reaction, and as I turn and walk away, I hear the guys chuckling and buzzing.

  “Jerks!” I mutter through my teeth as I grab the expensive bottle of red wine in the cellar.

  When I go back to their table nobody speaks and the tension is palpable.

  “Thank you,” Zac says, his squared jaw clenched into a devilish grin.

  His friends are pretending to be busy reading the menu. I open the wine and I pour half an inch into his glass.

  He takes his time, and rotates the glass, pondering through it. Finally, he takes a sip, slowly tasting the dense, red fluid. ‘Does he want to show off? Or does he always do that?’.

  I stand beside him, waiting for his response.

  He looks up after savoring the dark nectar and nods slightly, and when his gaze meets mine, I feel a little tingle run up my spine - his eyes are magnetic. Deep and blue, like the ocean - I pour the wine into their glasses, feeling a little clumsy and then I mumble “I’ll have my colleague take your orders.”

  “Sounds great, I’m starving,” the one who tried to be funny in the first place says.

  I walk away, and I go looking for the head waiter Nick - I don’t take orders, I only carry the plates and drinks for now - and I find him near the cashier.

  “Hey, I think the guys on table ten are almost ready,” I murmur.

  He looks forward and when he realizes who I’m referring to, he says, “Oh my God, they are hot! And look at that guy,” he says. “That one is super hot!” He mumbles while rolling his eyes, placing his hand on his chest.

  I drop my jaw halfway and gasp silently. “Nick!” I whisper with smiling eyes. “Anyway, his name’s Zac.”

  Nick is a lovely gay guy. He did my orientation a couple of days ago, and we established a good connection right away.

  “Oh, nice name! Look at how his biceps flex under his shirt! Too bad he’s straight, I can tell that from a mile away,” he says frowning blatantly.

  “He’s a dick anyway,” I squeal quietly.

  “Well, he sure is, if you know what I mean.” He giggles over his shoulder, walking toward their table.

  I let out a soft smile as I slowly shake my head.

  ***

  As I walk through the tables, carrying dishes and drinks, I sense that man’s eyes on me. He doesn’t do it annoyingly, but I feel observed, and when the three friends ask for the check, I exhale, relieved they are leaving.

  It’s midnight, and as soon as the last customers walk out the door, I slip off of my shoes sighing relieved.

  I moan. “Jeez my feet hurt so bad.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry dear, you’ll get used to it!” Nick sings as he locks the front door from the inside.

  The thought of getting accustomed to this job suddenly scares me but I reply with a polite grin. “I hope so Nick, but now I really need a hot bath.”

  He peeks at me with an almost compassionate gaze, waving his hand to the door in a very feminine way. “Jusst go. You’ve done enough for your sssecond day.” He mutters, winking at me.

  “But I…I need to help you guys for tomorrow. I don’t want the others to think I’m a slacker.”

  “Shhh!” I place his index
finger on his plump lips. “I’ll do it for you. I’ll tell the others you didn’t feel well.” He murmurs. “Just don’t get used to this too much!” He giggles rolling his eyes.

  I’m moved. This guy doesn’t even know me and he’s being so nice to me.

  “Oh, Nick. Thank you, but I don’t…”

  “Just go! Take a nice rest. I’ll see ya tomorrow.” He waves me away again and walks toward the kitchen.

  A couple of waitresses, who are setting up the tables, glare at me viciously and I hesitate for a moment, but I feel so exhausted that I take advantage of Nick’s offer. I quickly walk barefoot to the dressing room and wear my comfortable canvas shoes, without even removing my waitress uniform. I wear my coat, and I’m all set to go.

  When I’m out I inhale the fresh night air. It’s a wonderful evening and the temperature is mellow, but I’m too tired to walk home and I decide to invest a little cash into a cab ride.

  The streets are quiet, and I shudder when a cat meows loudly and crosses my way with a couple of thumps, rapidly sneaking underneath a car on my left.

  “Shit!” I mumble, catching my breath right after.

  “It’s only a cat.” A manly voice groans behind me.

  I gulp, instinctively turning.

  I’ve been frightened for the second time in a few seconds - and when I recognize the man standing behind me, my heart hammers.

  2

  Grace

  I widen my eyes dropping my jaw. That guy, Zac, is standing right behind me.

  “Oh, Jeez!” I frown. “You actually did scare me!” I squeal, chewing my bottom lip right after.

  “It’s because the street’s so quiet.”

  I roll my eyes and sigh. “What are you doing still here?” I ask. Suddenly worried he may be a stalker or something.

  “Well, we had a couple of drinks at the bar down the street and I was walking home when I just saw you jumping for that cat and…I thought that was funny.” He grins. “Hope you don’t mind me talking to ya.” He says.

  “Oh, well, I see,” I mumble, biting my thumbnail, not quite convinced about his explanation. “Um, no. I was just trying to find a cab back home.”

  “Wow, a waitress that uses cabs to go to work.” He snortles.

  “Well, not really. Today was my second day and I’m not used to standing and walking around for eight hours straight. My feet and legs ache, and I’d be too tired to even walk ten feet more now, so…”

  “Then why you got this job? Were you in need of cash or what?” He asks daringly.

  “Pardon me?” I widen my eyes. “That’s not a cool thing to ask, especially considering I’m a stranger to ya.”

  ‘I can’t believe what he just said!’

  He grins. “Here ya go again.”

  “What?”

  “You got defensive already.” He says.

  “Are you serious? I mean, you dared ask about my financial situation when I don’t even know you!”

  He snorts. “Doesn’t hurt to ask? I don’t usually do what people are supposed to do anyway. I don’t fall into the standards, so it’s not a problem for me to ask if you need money, or even how much money you make.”

  “Really?” I chuckle sarcastically before speaking. “Well, I guess I do fall into the ‘standards,” I blurt, using finger quotes.

  “What a temper!” He groans sarcastically.

  “Ok, you know what? I didn’t like you guys in the first place, but I had to be polite because you were customers. But now we are not in that damn restaurant and I don’t have to talk to ya. So, take care, and hopefully, I’m not gonna see ya again!”

  He slowly shakes his head, clicking his tongue.

  I turn pretending he’s not there, and I unfold my arm to stop a cab.

  He stands on the sidewalk and purposefully locks his gaze on the backdoor window. I don’t want to turn but I do, and I glare at him. He grins with one side of his mouth as our eyes meet, and when the car drives away, he slowly disappears from my sight.

  I shake my head.

  ‘What a fucking asshole. What does he want from me? An easy fuck? How dare he say I’m broke? – well I am but that was mean - He thinks he can act like a dick and women will like him anyway, or even fall for him just because he’s damn hot? Maybe, but that’s not me! I’m not looking for a one-night stand, let alone a serious relationship, and definitely not with a man like that!’

  I hand the driver twenty bucks. “Keep the change, I say as I open the back door realizing it’s almost a third of my daily wage. But I was really too tired to even walk to the subway.

  “Never again though. I can’t waste my money like that!” I promise myself.

  “Good night Miss Lords,” The night concierge says from his cubicle - he looks happy, although he works his ass off for twelve hours a day.

  My best friend Lisa moved to Paris and for the time being, she let me use her cool apartment in the upper west.

  “Good night Lawrence,” I smile, heading toward the elevator.

  The door clicks open when I insert the four-digit code. The dim lights in the living room turn on automatically. I take off my coat and shoes and I stroll to the kitchen. The huge silver fridge is empty aside from some Chinese left over I bought ‘to-go’ last night. I take a whiff inside the white carton box and I cringe, but I’m too hungry and I carry it into the living room along with a can of soda. I lay on the couch, and as I curl my legs up on the soft seat, I can’t help admiring the beautiful night skyline from the door-to-floor wide window.

  I start eating the sticky noodles using wooden chopsticks, and I realize I forgot to microwave them, though I’m too lazy to do it now. I feel my eyelids involuntarily shutting. I fight against sleep and a sudden series of blurry images flash through my mind.

  ‘I’m dragging a huge bottle of wine on the ground, but a man’s silhouette appears in front of me and laughs ‘You can’t do it!’ He says. I’m raging and when a beam of radiant light brightens his grinning face, I gulp. ‘You again! Get out of my sight!’ I wail. But suddenly I find myself in a taxi, and when the driver turns to ask me where I need to go, I gasp when I see it’s Zac again. I clumsily try to open the door, but it’s locked, and I start panicking. ‘Don’t worry.’ His voice echoes, and then I realize his face has turned into a cat’s face. But suddenly I’m on a wonderful exotic beach. Zac is laying next to me and holds my hand before he leans forward and kisses me. He tastes so good that I eagerly part my lips, letting my tongue duel with his. I’m getting excited and the heat in my core starts burning. My breath catches and when he eases into me, I start trembling and I grunt throwing my head back and overwhelmed by the immense pleasure. He groans into my ear and his breath washes over my earlobe. I’m about to explode and I feel the waves coming in. I’m ready. I tighten and start to release…’

  “Grace? Grace, you there?” Lisa’s muffled voice calling from the headset on my laptop wakes me up abruptly.

  I jump, and the noodles glide down my chest.

  “Shit!” I grunt.

  I clumsily get up and feel my panties warm. All at once I revive the dream I just had. “Jeez,” I mutter, feeling my face turning red.

  “Yeah Lis wait!” I wail, rushing toward the living room table.

  “Hey what’s up? I’m sorry I just fell asleep on the couch,” I chuckle, still half asleep, as I sit on the chair in front of my laptop.

  “Hey Grace, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bother ya. Oh, my God, it’s one in the morning right there,” she squeals. “It’s been two months I’m living in Paris and I still have to really understand the hour shift.” She giggles.

  I chuckle. “No, it’s fine, I just got back from work. So, how’s it going?” I mumble. Then I cringe as I pick a couple of cold, greasy noodles, which have sneaked inside my boobs cleavage.

  “I’m alright baby, Paris is so beautiful and romantic!” She squeals.

  “I know, I need to come visit sometime soon!”

  “Oh, please do! But hey, yo
u didn’t tell me! How was your first day at work?”

  “Um, yeah, it was yesterday. It was alright, ya know?” I mutter, sounding not quite convincing.

  She raises an eyebrow.

  “Well, Lis, I can’t lie to ya.” I giggle. “It’s an ok job that will help me pay the bills eventually, but it’s really not my cup of tea,” I say, with a resigned expression.

  “Of course, it’s not dear, you are an academic researcher! But it’s not gonna be for the rest of your life so don’t you get upset!”

  “Yeah, well…Um… I’m scared, though. What if nobody hires me and I get older and older. That’d be it. I’m gonna have to be waiting tables for the rest of my life.” I frown. “With all due respect to the category, really. But this is not my goal in life,”

  She chuckles. “Don’t worry Grace you’ll find an even better one. But I still think you shouldn’t have left the research project you were part of.” She mumbles. “I know I know, don’t tell me! That fucking moron of your ex-boyfriend,” she adds. “But seriously, like, fuck him and that bitch!” She rumbles with emphasis.

  “You are right, but I really couldn’t stand having to see them both every damn day. Both of them! Working together with the guy who cheated on me and the girl who fucked my boyfriend? No way!” I groan all in one breath.

  “I know. I hear ya, baby. This isn’t fair, but trust me! You’ll find the job you love in your specific field eventually. You are young, you own the world!”

  “We’ll see what happens Lis. But hey, I should be glad I got here a week ago and I found a job already. Plus, there’s my supervisor, who’s been so sweet to me,” I squeal.

  “Oh cool, glad to hear that! How ‘bout guys? I mean, did ya meet any hottie worth mentioning?”

  I pause, and my expression gets serious. “Lis, I told you. I’m done with men. That’s it.”

  She grumbles. “Oh my God baby, are you for real? Shut – up! They can’t be all fucking morons! You need to live your life dear. It’s about karma! That shit can’t happen twice in a row,” she says. “Besides, it’s been more than six months baby.” She smirks lasciviously. “There must be some real heat down there.”