Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 52(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 52(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
I walk in next to him and stop and point to myself. “Me. I rode on the back of his bike,” I admit.
He just smiles and shakes his head. “That right there should tell you something.”
I thank him for walking me and refuse his offer to stay until Smoky gets here. “Teddy’s here. I’ll be fine.”
He looks over at Teddy and snarls his nose up. Obviously, there’s something going on there. “Don’t trust Teddy. He’s here, but there’s something about him I don’t trust.”
I nod my head at him, thank him again and then watch as he walks back out the door.
I walk to the bar and put my purse under the counter. “Hey, Teddy.”
“Hey,” he answers. “I’m going to need you waiting tables. I’ve had two servers call in and I can’t pull any dancers, not on the weekend.”
I almost argue with him, but I can tell that’s what he’s expecting. I think for a second I should call Smoky, but I don’t have his number and decide to just do what he’s asking me.
I nod at him, grab an apron and tie it around my waist.
It’s definitely busier on the weekends, I’m finding out. And rowdier. There’s a lot more people here and I’m tense the whole time I trek back and forth between the table and the bar. I know when Smoky gets here, he’s going to be mad, but regardless, I have to make money.
7
Smoky
It took me longer than I thought it to pick up everything and take it back to her house. The stuff that wouldn’t fit in the truck I paid extra to have delivered tonight.
As soon as the boys unloaded my truck, I drove the five minutes to the club.
When I walk in I know something is wrong. I look at the bar and Teddy and Kristy are standing behind it. I look around the room and finally spot Harper.
As soon as I do, I start walking toward her, and as if she senses me, she turns around and looks straight at me.
I watch as an arm sneaks around her waist and pulls her down. Her eyes widen and I can see the fear from across the room. I make my way through the throng of people, watching helplessly as she struggles in the man’s grasp. His other arm comes around her and grabs her breast as she winces in pain.
Mother fucker. I start pushing people left and right and before I reach her, the man holding her spots me and releases her. It doesn’t stop me. I barrel into him, taking us both flying back onto the table. I pummel him with my fist and don’t stop until three men drag me off. I stand up and turn to our bouncer, but before I jump on to him for not stopping this before it happened, I point to the man on the table. “Take him outside and make sure he never comes back. Take his friends with him.”
I look at Harper, standing there and trembling like a leaf. “Aw, honey.” I walk toward her but before I get to her, she runs toward me and into my open arms. I don’t even hesitate. I lift her up into my arms and stride across the room. Everyone moves out of the way as we walk by and I take her up the back stairs to my apartment. When I get inside, I take her straight to the bedroom and set her down on her unsteady feet.
I pull her T-shirt up, but she puts her hand out to stop me.
“Honey, it’s okay,” I assure her. “I just want to make sure you’re all right.”
She releases her hold on me and lets me take her shirt off. I unfasten her bra and gasp at the bruising that is already forming on her large, round breast. “I should have killed the fucker,” I grunt.
I stroke my finger across her bruised skin softly. She arches against me, but I pull gently away. She pulls out of reach then. “I’m fine, Smoky.”
I should tell her that she was supposed to be behind the bar, but I don’t want her to feel like I’m blaming her for this. No, that will be a conversation for another day.
She turns her back to me and I see the wince on her face as she turns. I stroke my hand down her side and see a faint bruise on her ribs.
I step toward her, putting my body against hers. I circle my arms around her because I have to, because I need her right now… even if she thinks she doesn’t need me.
“Baby, please let me take care of you. Please. It kills me that he was hurting you and I couldn’t get to you in time. I won’t do anything else, just care for you. I promise.”