For a solid minute, neither of us moved as the standoff rooted us both in place.
“I’ll be around.”
Walking out, there was only one thing I needed right now after the ride I’d had, and that was a beer. I’d seen a bar not too far from the building and headed back that way, cursing when I saw the busy lunch rush.
Parking at the back of the lot, I cursed walking through the slush melting over every inch of the lot. “It’s like they don’t know what a fucking snow plow is,” I muttered.
The warmth of the bar hit me instantly, thawing my freezing fingers. My toes would take a little longer.
“I’ll be right with you!” a blonde woman called out as she hustled behind the bar.
The whole place was packed, and the only available seats were those at the bar, unless I wanted the table right beside two ladies who were arguing over a burger and fries.
Sliding onto the stool, I waited a good five minutes for the blonde to quit running down orders and delivering drinks.
“Sorry about that,” she sighed with a smile. “What can I get for you?”
“Beer.”
“Anything in particular? Light, dark?—”
“Whatever’s on tap,” I answered quickly. I didn’t need a rundown of everything they had.
Grinning, she grabbed a glass, filling it to the brim. “Anything else?”
Shaking my head, she leaned forward on the bar top. “You don’t say much, do you?”
“Got nothing to say.”
“I haven’t seen you around here before.” Holding out her hand, that bright smile should have pissed me off. “Lizzy.”
“JR.”
“Well, enjoy your drink, JR.”
Thankfully, she left me alone after that. I didn’t mind a pretty face, but I wasn’t sticking around long enough to enjoy the perks in the area. I was only about halfway through my drink when that peace was destroyed.
The commotion behind me drew the attention of the whole bar.
“You need to leave,” Lizzy said, her arms crossed over her chest.
It was clear the man was already drunk. Stumbling forward a step, he fell right into her, but she just shoved him aside and let him fall to the floor.
“Your whole damn family thinks you’ve won!” the man shouted. “This isn’t over!”
“Yes, it is. And if I have to call the sheriff down here, you’ll be breaking that promise you made, and I don’t think you want that,” she threatened.
Grunting, I was just about to turn back to my drink when I saw him snake out his hand to grab her ankle as she turnedaway. I was on my feet the next second, grabbing the man around the neck before he could touch her.
Hauling him to his feet, I snarled in his ear. “Either you walk out of this bar on your own, or I’ll make sure the only way they take you out is in a body bag.”
Light filtered into the dark space as the front door opened. It didn’t take long for the man to find me and the fucker I was holding. He stomped over and grabbed the man by the jacket, barely sparing me a glance as he turned and hauled the man out of the bar.
“Thank you,” Lizzy said, that smile back on her face. “I had it under control, but thank you all the same.”
Grunting, I took my seat again, but the beer was long past doing a damn thing for me.
“Let me get you a fresh one on the house,” she said, already pouring a new one.
