“Thanks.” She smiles, cheeks rosy.
“Anytime,” I rasp, hearing the heat in my voice.
“So, how’s your night going with your brothers?” she asks me as we wait for Marsha to get back with our drinks.
“Eh. They’re annoying. Would rather be here with you,” I tell her honestly.
She watches me for a beat with those rosy cheeks before saying, “Another time then.”
I smile like she just promised me the world. I will take every chance I get with her.
“Another time.” I nod just as Marsha comes back with our drinks.
“Well, thank you,” Jade says, holding up her drink and hesitating between staying or going. “I should probably get back to the table now before Sarah thinks I’ve bolted.” She laughs nervously. I know she came here for a girls’ night, but damn, I hoped she’d stay.
“Have a good rest of your night,” I tell her, reaching for my whisky and heading back to my own table.
I pop a seat and get back to eating my burger and scowl at my brothers when I notice some of my fries have been taken. They all avoid eye contact, and I shake my head. Annoying is right.
Calling it an early night, Cade takes off, and Hayes joins him. Colter also drove, so the two of us opt to stay and shoot a few more rounds of pool. We just finish a game when a scuffle taking place across the room catches our attention. Swinging my head towards the shouts, I recognize Sarah’s voice and begin making my way to the women.
“There a problem?” I ask the table, eyeing Jep Shepard, who’s got his hands locked around Harper’s arm.
“Nah. No problem, Sheriff. Just here to get my girlfriend,” he says, pulling her from the booth.
“She. Doesn’t. Want. To. Leave,” Sarah seethes, punctuating each word between her teeth.
Jep Shepard is bad news. The guy’s been in and out of jail since he was a teen, and I don’t want him anywhere near Jade. Like his father, I know for a fact he’s been selling drugs to minors. We just haven’t caught him yet.
“Shut up, bitch,” he quips, glaring at Sarah.
“Hey!” I shout. “That’s enough. Now remove your hand from the girl,” I order.
Jep lets go and gives Harper a look that has her cowering before she continues to step out of the booth. As she slides out, the shoulder of her shirt falls and I have to swallow a string of curses and the urge to knock this fucker out right here. Harper’s shoulder and collar-bone are covered in what can only be bruises from his fingers.
“Bye, girls. Thanks for inviting me out tonight,” she says with a sad smile as Jep grabs her wrist and starts to drag her towards the door.
“I hate that guy,” snarls Sarah as she watches them exit the bar.
“You and me both,” I say, eyes tracking the couple.
Pulling out my phone, I text Ian, who’s out on patrol, and tell him to keep an eye out for Jep’s vehicle. Turning back to the table, I scan the girls. “How much do you guys know about Jep and Harper’s relationship?” I ask them.
Wren shakes her head. “I just moved back, so don’t ask me.”
“Honestly, not much,” Sarah says. “She doesn’t really talk about him, but I will say, he gives off a controlling vibe. This isn’t the first time he’s interrupted us on a girls’ night and made her leave. But he always has big, beautiful flower arrangements delivered to the book store for her, so I’m not sure what his deal is.”
“Hmm,” I hum.
Jade looks at Sarah and then to me. “I don’t know much either. Like Sarah said, she doesn’t share much with us, but earlier today I thought I saw bruising on her wrist and it had me thinking, she’s often jumpy and always has scratches and bruises. She usually has a story about where they came from, so I just figured she was accident-prone, but you don’t think that he could be hurting her, do you?” she asks, concern lacing her voice.
“I’m not sure. Wouldn’t fucking put it past him, though.”
“Poor Harper.” Jade sighs.
“Anymore trouble and you ladies come find me, okay,” I tell them before I go back to the pool table where Colter is watching from.
“Everything good?” he asks as I approach.
