“And your men are also responsible for beating up Dallas?” Laura asked with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
His inscrutable face said everything.
“Let’s make a deal, Mr. Rutherford.” Laura lifted her chin and Dallas almost smiled at the icy Drummond glare she aimed at the man. “You and your…employees leave us alone and we won’t press charges.”
“Are you trying to intimidate me, girly?” Rutherford’s minders shifted at the tone of his voice, but he waved them away. “Does she speak for you?”
“Yes,” Dallas said, full of pride.
“Damn right, I’m issuing threats. Dallas and I haven’t done anything wrong. We have nothing to do with Maria or her debts. She comes near me or mine again and her butt will land in jail. If you stand too close you run the risk of getting caught in a girly catfight. I fight dirty so it won’t be pretty.”
Dallas sat statue-still while Laura went into full tirade with the well-known crime boss. Her brown eyes glinted with temper, her cheeks were flushed with red, and she looked magnificent. This was the woman he wanted standing at his side.
“I don’t like threats.” Rutherford bit out the words. His gaze went from Laura to Dallas and he scowled. “It’s obvious Maria has strung us a line of lies. I will cease bothering you and yours. However…” His gaze drilled into Dallas. “If I learn otherwise, you will not enjoy the consequences.”
Laura opened her mouth to say something, and Dallas grasped her hand, squeezing in warning. She snapped her mouth shut in audible annoyance but remained silent. Thankfully.
“Was there anything else?” Dallas asked, keeping his tone polite.
“Yes.” Frank Rutherford focused on Laura, the sudden smoldering heat coming off the man rousing Dallas’s ire. “If this man doesn’t treat you right come and see me. You’re feisty as well as beautiful. I’m partial to a sassy broad with a brain.” Frank stood, gave a curt nod and strode from the pub, his henchmen falling in behind.
“Did he just proposition me?” Laura asked.
“I wonder which one of us your mother would prefer.”
Laura shot him a level look. “I know which man I want.”
“Are you going to marry me?”
“I want a proper proposal. A nice dinner where I get to dress up. A good bottle of wine. Somewhere with a bit of romance. And I want a ring. Organize that, and we’ll talk.” She stood and strode to the kitchen, disappearing without so much as a glance over her shoulder.
“Who was that?” Patrick asked.
Dallas explained about Maria, her debts and the lies she’d told to the guy holding the loans.
Patrick let out a whistle. “That explains the weird heavies we’ve had visiting the bar recently. None of them have caused any trouble, but they’ve stood out from our normal customers. How did you get on with Laura? Are the two of you okay now?”
“She wants a proper proposal with romance.”
“You asked her to marry you?” Patrick zoomed in on the most pertinent point.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, bro. You blurted it out, didn’t you?”
“I asked,” Dallas said, uncomfortably aware he was guilty of the charge.
“Women go for romance, and Laura deserves it after the crap you two have gone through. You need a plan.” Patrick’s eyes sparkled with devilment.
Dallas let out a heavy exhalation. “Let’s hear it.”
