Before I had a chance to so much as move a muscle, though, a large body stepped up next to us.“Let her go.”
Drunk Guy looked up at Vance with an even drunker grin.“Or what?You gonna tell on me?”
“That would make it too easy on you.I will kick you out myself—judging by the state of you, it won’t take much effort.”
This was all delivered in an even voice that Vance had perfected.But I knew he was angry by the way his hands were clenched and his jaw tightened.
Trying to defuse the situation, I put my planned-out rolling motion into place.It didn’t go as successfully as I’d envisioned in my head, and I ended up squashed between the table and Drunk Guy.
Who still hadn’t loosened his hold on me.
Vance took my hand, pulling me up.Somehow, he succeeded with minimal resistance, and two seconds later, I was standing next to him.“It might be best if you find another place to get a drink.”
Drunk Guy stood up, swaying on his feet.“This your bar or something?
“Nope.But this is my girlfriend you harassed.Now take your friends and get out.”
“Nobody tells me to fucking get out.”
“Funny, since that’s exactly what I did.Now, I’m happy to use simpler words so you can understand if that will help.”
Drunk Guy’s face went red before he stepped back, then swung his arm, aiming at Vance’s head.Vance stepped in front of me, swatting the guy’s hand away like an annoying fly, followed by a quick punch to his gut that made him double over.
Vance looked at the rest of the group, who were gaping at us.“Now, if you could take your friend and get out of here, I’d appreciate it.”
They all stared at Vance, then at their friend, who was currently hunched over kneeling on the floor.
“What the fuck is going on here?”John stormed up to us, his gaze going to the guy on the ground.“He better have an upset stomach.”
Vance scoffed.“I didn’t hit him hard.And it was self-defense since he threw the first punch.You can check the tapes.”
John turned his anger on me.“Already causing shit on your first shift.You’re officially on notice.And you’re not allowed to bring your boyfriend anymore.”
I opened my mouth to apologize, but Vance beat me to it.“Where were you when one of your customers harassed your waitress and then tried to punch one of your other customers?”
There was practically steam coming out of John’s ears.“Mae, your shift is over.I don’t think this is working out.”
My body went cold.“But—”
John turned away and kneeled next to the drunk guy.
Vance led me back to the bar, helping me take off my apron and putting the tablet back where it belonged.At least I made some tips tonight, so it wasn’t a total waste of time.By the time we walked out, the guy was off the floor and back to swaying on his feet.
Vance led me straight to his car.I stopped, not getting in when he held the door open.“I’m going to call a taxi.”
“Mae?What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath, hoping I wouldn’t yell.“I needed this job.I know you might not understand why anyone would work at a bar with sticky floors and watered-down alcohol, but it was the only job I could find.This was my lifeline.And you just cut it.So I’m going to take a taxi home, because otherwise I might say and do things I’ll regret later.”
My whole body shook with anger.I knew it wasn’t fair to blame Vance.Drunk Guy had been a dickhead, and Vance had protected me.But I’d needed this job.And now I was back to square one.
Vance crowded me against his car.“I’ve never been possessive over anyone I’ve dated.Or jealous.Or utterly consumed by them.Or unable to stay away.But then you came along.You destroyed plans I’d made a long time ago.Plans I had no intention of changing.Yet here I am, in a small town in Colorado, starting a new life because the person I can’t seem to live without is here.Now, when someone else puts their hands on that person, there is absolutely no fucking way on this earth I’d sit back and watch.”
The noises that left my mouth were a garble that sounded an awful lot like “gobbly bobbly boo.”Slapping a hand over my mouth, I watched him with big eyes.
He put his forehead to mine.“Fuck, Mae, you twist me up inside, and I don’t even care.All I want is to be with you.And I’ll take you in whatever way you’ll give yourself to me.And if you need time, I’ll wait.Because what we have is something you only find once in your life.I’m not letting go.And you’re not going home in a taxi.Not when I’m here to drive you and make sure you get back safely.”
The little seed of hope in my chest turned into a tiny blossom.“Okay.”
