Page 66 of Wrecked

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the man says. “You can’t come in here.”

“Bullshit! This is a free country! I can damn well go where I please.”

Beth wades into the drama, hoping to calm things down so her customers don’t get freaked out. “Excuse me, is there a problem?”

“Call off your guard dogs, Beth!” the woman demands.

I step in front of Beth, to get between her and the skank. Mack joins me, insisting that Luciana leave because this is private property, and she’s not welcome here.

Luciana continues ranting and raving, calling Beth an idiot and telling her Shane will never marry her. “He’s just using you, Beth. When he’s had his fill of robbing the cradle, he’ll move on.”

“Take Beth upstairs,” Mack tells me. “I’ll deal with this.”

As I’m herding Beth up the stairs, I get a text from Shane, telling me he’s on his way. Mack must have informed him about what was going on.

I get Beth back into her office and hope that the drama will die down. But no. That’s when the images start coming. Someone from an unknown number—I can guess who—is spamming Beth’s phone with picture after picture. I don’t see the images, but I can tell from the expression on Beth’s face that it’s not good.

Erin joins her and is shocked by what she sees.

Shane shows up soon. I can hear his enraged voice as he comes down the hallway. “Do not let that woman in this store again,” he says to someone, I assume the security guards.

Shane ends up taking Beth home himself, so that leaves me free for the rest of the evening. I decide to walk home, thinking maybe I’ll stop somewhere to get a bite to eat.

Poor Beth. She had a shitty day today. I didn’t see many of the photos that Luciana kept sending her, but based on her reaction and Erin’s, they must have been pretty bad.

My phone chimes with an incoming text.

Cooper: I heard about what happened. Where are you?

Me: Walking home. I might stop and get something to eat.

Cooper: Meet me at the tavern?

He’s referring to our favorite restaurant, a steakhouse by the name ofTavern on Rush.

Me: Sure! I’m not far. I’ll put our name in.

Cooper: See you there.

I’ll put our name in.That sounds like such a couple thing to say.Cooper, party of 2. The thought makes me smile.

When I reach the restaurant, I walk inside and get in line at the hostess’s podium. This place is popular, so there’s always a bit of a wait. When I reach the hostess, she asks me how many are in my party.

“Two,” I say.

“Can I have a name, please?”

I hesitate, not sure what to tell her. I should sayHarrison. But I don’t. Instead I impulsively blurt out, “Cooper.”

She writes the name down. “It’ll just be a few minutes. Have a seat.” She gestures to the black leather-padded benches in the waiting area.

While I’m waiting, I pull out my phone and call Shane. I don’t know if he knows about the photos Luciana sent Beth this evening. Based on how upset Beth was, I’m guessing they’re pretty revealing. He needs to know.

Shane answers my call, and I give him a rundown on Luciana’s second visit to the bookstore today. I tell him about all the nasty things that woman said to Beth. Naturally, he’s pissed.

“What else did she say?” Shane asks.

I repeat everything I can remember. Then I tell him about the images the skank kept sending Beth, and how upset she was after seeing them. Erin, too. “Did she show you the images?”