“Lainey’s not doing anything. It’s that fuckwit McDowell who’s being a tosser.” Scott wiped his hands on the bar towel from his neck and dropped them onto his seat. “Going to chuck him out.”
Alex stood also. “Want some help? Abby said he was a being an arse on Saturday when she was on shift.”
“Aren’t you still a copper?” Scott glanced at his brother.
Jake watched on, amused.
“McDowell’s pissed enough people off this week. I’ll probably get a recommendation if he exits here by landing on his arse.” Alex put his phone on the table. “And I really don’t like how uncomfortable Lainey looks.”
Jake’s head swung round fast enough to give him whiplash.
Lainey had been pretty much trapped into the bar by Paul McDowell, his body angled so she couldn’t edge out, his hand to the other side.
It was nothing a swift knee to the bollocks couldn’t resolve, but Jake got the feeling she was a bit too polite to do that, which was lovely and all that, but it wasn’t going to teach McDowell any lessons about personal space.
He stood up, ignoring whatever comments Scott and Alex were making, and strode over to the bar.
Paul McDowell had been in Jake’s class in primary school, and in his year group in secondary, but they’d never shared classes. McDowell had been one of the boys who’d done what he could to leer at the girls and make remarks about their tits. Jake had once stuck a fist in his face when he’d said something about Keren, just not hard enough.
“You might want to move your hand and the rest of you.”
Lainey hadn’t noticed him get close; she looked too focused on being touched by someone who was trying to do a very good impression of an octopus.
McDowell turned to face Jake, his smirk a little too wide. “I’m having a conversation.”
“Really? Looks more like you’re keeping someone hostage.” Jake couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in a fight with someone other than one of his cousins, which was never that serious. Most of the time.
“Lainey and I are enjoying having a civilised conversation. Why don’t you go back to whichever hole you crawled out of?” McDowell’s grin was like that of a usually docile piranha that thought it’d caught an easy meal.
Jake looked at Lainey. She was tall, not that much shorter than him, and willowy, all legs and limbs, a bit like a colt. He suspected that she could kick just as well as any unbroken mare, but she was in a new town, starting a new business and physically assaulting one of the locals probably wasn’t something she wanted to be seen doing.
Yet.
“How about you prove me wrong and show me she’s not your hostage by moving away and seeing if the lady wants to get away from you?” Jake edged little closer to him.
He had no idea who jumped the highest when one of those willowy arms chopped straight into McDowell’s elbow, making his arm bend away and then snap back.
“What the fuck?” McDowell stepped back and glared at Lainey. “You could’ve just asked me to move! Fucking rabid bitch.”
“I did ask you to move. Three times!”
Jake didn’t hear her. His fist was too busy making contact with McDowell’s cheekbone, resulting in a very satisfying yelp and bang as McDowell fell back on the floor.
“Fuck!” McDowell’s voice was too loud. “Police!” He looked towards Alex, who was now looming over him. “I’ve just been assaulted!”
Alex looked over at Jake, who was now rubbing his fist. “Not sure if anyone actually saw what happened there. Maybe there’ll be some tape. Now how about you get yourself out of here and come by the station in the morning to make a statement, if you can remember what happened.”
Eyes that were identical enough to make them appear to be more brothers than cousins met, and Alex grinned.
That was all well and good, but one person who wasn’t grinning at him was Lainey Green.
Jake had the sense to take a step back. He had a sister who was a wild cat, and he knew the look that was in Lainey’s eyes spelled trouble. Or violence. Or some toxic combination of both.
“Please don’t tell me you had that under control.” He held his hands up in defence, although his words were anything but. “McDowell’s a dick, and his hands would’ve been on you if you gave him a fucking smile.”
She shook her head. “I’ve dealt with a lot worse that him. You’re my neighbour, right?” She didn’t hold out her hand.
Jake wondered whether everyone in the bar was currently watching, or just the majority of his family. Scratch that, it was probably most of the town, all out to observe him properly meet the neighbour he didn’t want.
