Page 8 of Adored By Jonah

I look over and see a guy giving the girls a hard time. Liz looks pissed and Maddie looks more than uncomfortable. I’m already on my way over when I see the asshat put his arm around Maddie's shoulder and pull her towards him.

“Take a hike, they aren’t interested,” I growl from behind them.

Maddie turns to look at me and visibly relaxes. The fucker bothering them on the other hand turns around to look at me and sneers. “I wasn’t talking to you, was I, cowboy?”

I haven’t seen this guy around town before, but I get the feeling he doesn’t know his manners. “You must be new. Around these parts when a lady tells us ‘no’ we respect what they say and leave.”

“Is that right?” He snarls, dropping his hand from Maddie’s shoulder to turn and face me.

“Yeah, that’s right. So get the hell out of here before I help you on your way.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Not a threat, a promise. Leave the girls alone or we’ll be having a different conversation outside.” I tell him.

“What the fuck ever man. Her pussy isn’t worth this much trouble,” he barks as he starts walking away.

Grabbing a hold of his shirt I pull back my arm and thrust my fist into his face, dropping him as he falls to the ground. He grabs his nose as blood starts pouring from his face.

The crowd in the bar quiets down as we all look at the stranger who thought it was wise to come in here and make trouble. Even Clyde, the town sheriff, sits back and watches not moving a muscle from where he sits with a few other cops.

“I’m pressing charges,” he screams at Clyde as he gets to his feet.

Clyde shrugs his shoulders “For what? I didn’t see anything,” he says before taking a sip from his beer.

“He just assaulted me. The whole bar witnessed it.” He screams looking around at everyone.

Clyde looks around at the bar full of our town’s finest, none of them willing to speak up on his behalf. Clyde smirks. “Is that right? From where I’m sitting, you're the one who wouldn’t take no for an answer. If you want, I can get a statement from the young lady right there, then we can go fill out some paperwork at the station. Up to you, buckaroo.”

“Fuck this place,” the guy sneers then walks out of the bar.

As soon as he’s out the door the place erupts into hoots and hollers. Clyde gives me a nod then goes back to talking with his friends. And this is exactly why I love Jolly this much. We’re small, we’re rural, and we’re family. No one messes with one of our own, and Maddie is already one of us.

“You ladies doing okay?” I ask, looking between the sisters.

Maddie smiles at me, “better after you showed up.”

“Honey I’ve had my eyes on you all night. Wasn’t going to let anything happen to you, never will.”

Maddie bites her bottom lip as she stares into my eyes. Not interested my ass, this woman feels what’s happening between us just as I do.

Liz clears her throat causing Maddie to look away and down what’s left of her drink, breaking our connection.

Liz scoots off her barstool and gives me a meaningful look. “I need to use the little girl’s room. Keep an eye on her for me?”

“Of course,” I say, then laugh when Maddie rolls her eyes.

“I’m a grown-ass woman. I’m pretty sure I can look after myself.” She grumps adorably taking the last drink out of her glass.

“Can I get you another?” I ask.

“Shouldn’t I be buying you the drink, seeing as you’re the one who saved the day here?” She asks, fluttering her eyelashes at me dramatically like some doe-eyed school girl.

I snort. The woman is fucking with me. “Funny.” Looking over at Mickey, the bartender I played little league with, I hold up two fingers and point to our drinks. He gives me a nod and gets to work making our drinks. A minute later he brings them over and I pass him a ten. “Thanks, Mickey.”

“You got it, Jonah,” he says walking down the bar to serve another customer.

Maddie takes a sip from her glass. “Do you know everyone around here?”

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