Page 39 of Inseverable (Carolina Beach)

My hands stay busy mixing, but my eyes are trained on Trin. I’m waiting for this idiot to raise his voice, or do something to upset her. It won’t take much to set me off, not after the past two days I’ve had, and especially not when it comes to Trinity.

Trin’s one of those rare and genuine young women with a smile so sweet you’d think she was made of honey. She shimmied, that’s right,shimmiedher way into my life. But for all I didn’t initially want her, found her annoying, and tried to push her away, all I could think about from the moment I left was getting back to her as quick I could. I needed her smile, and that compassion she offers so freely. Needed it bad, considering the news I received the night I left her.

It doesn’t seem right to feel this way about someone I’ve only known about a month. She’s different than the women I’m used to. There’s no denying she’s beautiful, and kind. But it wasn’t until I kissed her that I realized how damn sexy she is. It was like something smacked me upside the head and yelled, “Wake up, son. This girl’s smoking.”

I pour another few shots as I watch her speak to the Stepford twins. I can’t hear what she’s saying, not with this crowd. But that edge of steel flickering in her expression assures me she’s not about to let them push her around.

Either way, they better not try.

“Hey, hot thing. How about another refill?”

The brunette who’s been hitting on me all night shakes her empty glass in my face. I take it, dump the contents, and pour another few fingers of scotch over ice. I pass it back to her without bothering to meet her face. She slips me a hundred with her digits scrawled on it.

“Keep the change,” she tells me.

She leans over the bar, pretending to act more drunk than she is as I head toward register. “You going to tell me your name, cowboy?” she asks. Her fingers trail down her low cut shirt, giving it a hard yank to the side.

I don’t bother to look at what she’s flashing, slapping the change down in front of her. “No ma’am. I’m not,” I answer.

I start to move toward the next customer when Trin passes in front of me. Her walk seems off, like she’s working to slow her steps and not run. I lean over the bar to make sure she’s not crying. And that she makes it to her friends okay.

Hale stops her. I can’t see her face, but I see his just fine. He frowns, his is expression split between worry and anger. I think he’s trying to coax her to sit beside him, but instead of taking a seat, she takes off.

That asshole and the blonde leave their seats, rushing to catch her. I don’t know what they’re up to. All I know is that Trin’s upset because of them, and that’s enough for me.

I stomp down to the end of the bar and hop over, stepping in front of her ex before he can reach the double doors leading out to the deck. “If she wanted you with her, she wouldn’t have left. Stay away from her,” I warn.

“Who the hell are you?” he snaps back.

Becca shoves her way in front of me. “Trin’s new boyfriend,” she answers for me. That statement doesn’t bother me, even though it’s not true. But I have to work not to grimace when she doesn’t stop there. “And unlike you, he has a tremendous dick.”

Heat fires his face, and probably mine, too. Christ Almighty, is it a wonder she’s Trin’s best friend?

Dipshit is pissed, and looking to take it out on a Becca. I lug her behind and into Hale’s arms, knowing he likes her, and that he’ll keep her safe.

The moment she’s out of the idiot’s reach, he turns his anger at me. “You’reTrin’s boyfriend?”

In truth, I don’t know what I am to her, but I’m not letting him know that. “That’s right.”

“A bartender,” he says.

“I’m asoldier,” I fire back, ramming my fingers into his chest hard enough to make him stumble. “Special Forces, former Ranger, and someone capable of beating your ass if you ever hurt Trin again.”

“This herebartenderas you called him served his country for eight years,” Hale says. “Show respect,son.”

Mason and Sean take Hale’s lead and run with it. They don’t have to raise their voices much, seeing that by now the music’s stopped and the entire bar is watching us.

Mason points at Trin’s ex. “While you were scrolling through Instagram on your iPad, Callahan here was shooting down our enemies to give you that privilege and freedom. Thehell’swrong with you giving a man who’s bled for our country a hard time?”

“You should be thanking him!” Mrs. Brewster shouts, to which every last patron yells in agreement.

The idiot lifts his hands, trying speak and soothe the now fuming crowd. But no one is listening. “To disrespect Callahan is to disrespect America,” Sean says, talking over him. “You trying to disrespect America?”

“Kick his ass, Spanky,” old man Perrington yells.

Jesus.

The blonde starts up with Becca. By now I know Becca well enough to realize this is mistake. “It didn’t have to be this way,” the blonde says, angry tears streaming down her face. “You were my friend, too.”

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