Spittle flew from his mouth as he snarled at me. Then he shifted his attention back to Dani, and the expression on his face turned uglier.
“Are you fucking him? Is that why you won’t let me help you? You’ve got your little lap-dog, so now you don’t need me? I always knew you were a whore.”
Dani ripped herself away from his arms and took several steps back. In the dim glow of the security light, her expression glittered with anger.
“For the last time,” she grated, “I’m not a cheater.”
Not like you, Beau.
Beau’s eyes widened in surprise at the vehemence in her tone. He pushed her too far, and he back-pedaled in an almost comical manner.
“Baby, I’m sorry. You know how jealous I get. I don’t mean anything by it.”
“It’s late, Beau,” she said in a shaky voice, “and I still have to finish up here. Please go quietly, and we can talk in a few days when I’ve calmed down.”
“A few days!”
A glance at her face had him smooth his expression into a smile so fake politicians would shy away.
“What about him?” he asked in a petulant voice.
“He’s my friend,” she said on a sigh.
Someday those words wouldn’t hurt, but I didn’t flinch when Beau stared me down. With a grunt of displeasure, he stormed off.
Once he was out of sight, I turned to Dani.
“Are you okay?”
I barely held myself back from wrapping her in my arms.
She needs a friend right now, asshole, not another guy slavering over her.
“Yeah,” she said slowly, “but I’m glad you were there. I’ve never seen him like that. Yesterday was the first time he ever grabbed me. Today, it was worse. I’ve never been scared of Beau before, but I am now.”
“Do you want to report it?”
“And say what?” Her mouth twisted into a sardonic smile made to look sinister by the security light. “‘My boyfriend got upset when I wouldn’t let him help me?’ That’ll go over well.”
“That’s not what he’s doing.”
Her shoulders slumped, and the fight drained out of her.
“I know.”
“Come on, let’s get you back inside so you can finish up and go home. I bet a hot bath will make you feel like a million bucks.”
“That’s a good idea. There’s no tub at Beau’s house, and it’s been so long since I’ve had a good soak.”
I firmly kept my mind on refinishing my floors and out of the gutter—or the tub—as I led her towards the back door of the Tavern.
“Anything else you need to do out here, or can Neil do it?” I asked as she stepped over the threshold.
“We’ve got one more trash run, but I’ll ask Neil to take care of it this time.”
She glanced over her shoulder with a shudder.
“Good plan. I’ll wait for you in my truck out front.”
