Page 9 of Accidental Abduction

“I don’t know. Things are...” I wasn’t even sure how to explain what was going on in my head to her. “...complicated. She’ll be here, but I’m not sure if she’s coming for me.”

“Did you guys break up?”

Yes. No. I had no fucking clue.

“Kinda. I guess. Things are just a little strained right now. But I’ve got a plan to show her that I can change and be what she wants.”

Hazel pushed on my shoulder, gripping my jaw and turning my face toward her. My sister was a tiny thing, but she had a fire underneath the shy demeanor. “What did she do?”

“She didn’t do...”

She pushed my shoulder, and I watched the concern on her face morph into something a little bit unhinged. Charley may scare me, but a pissed off Hazel was kinda terrifying. “Is she trying to get you to sell the bar again? I told her it’d never happen and...”

“Wait, what?” I stopped her growly rant with a hand on her shoulder. “When did she say anything about selling the bar?”

“A few months ago, I overheard her and one of her little minions talking about you two buying a house together once you’d sold the bar. Charley lit into her for trying to manipulate you into selling, but I told her the bar was never going to be for sale. She tried to walk it back by telling me I’d mistaken what she’d said, but I heard everything Viv told her friend. She was so absorbed in their conversation she hadn’t realized I’d been standing there the whole time.”

This was the first time I’d heard about it, but maybe Hazel had just misinterpreted what she’d heard. We had been talking about getting a house together, but we couldn’t agree on what we wanted and neither of us had been willing to compromise at the time.

“I’m not selling, so please don’t worry about that.” This place was as much my dream as it had been to my father and his father before him.

“I know. You would’ve talked to me first. And I know you’d never do that to Dad.”

It’d been a point of contention when I’d graduated high school that he wanted to make sure I actually wanted the bar, not only because I felt obligated. Once I’d gotten my degree in restaurant management a few years later, he’d retired within a year, knowing his legacy was safe.

“But quit changing the subject. What’s going on? Do I need to let the door know not to let her in? If she hurt you, I’ll make sure she never steps foot in this place again.”

Chuckling, I stepped back and grabbed a bar rag, distracting myself by wiping up nonexistent water spots on the taps. “No, actually, I need you to have the door let me know when she gets here. I’m working on a surprise for her, and I need some time to get things prepared.”

She turned her head, scrunching up her nose. “You’re not proposing to her, are you?”

A resounding,Fuck, no,was almost out of my mouth before I stopped myself from saying it out loud. Why? I wasn’t sure. But I didn’t have time to dwell on why the hell that was my gut reaction. Just because I wasn’t ready to ask her to marry me now didn’t mean I wouldn’t be ready once things were repaired between us. But I needed to pull this off first.

“Not today,” I replied absently. Hazel’s eyes narrowed, but the back door opening halted whatever she was going to say. Her eyes widened, and for a moment I worried that Viv had shown up early and it’d ruin what I had planned. But Reid’s voice had my sister scurrying out the other side of the bar before I could even turn around.

“You ready for tonight, fuck face? It’s going to be epic.”

When I turned around, I saw what had my sister fleeing. “Fuck, put on a damn shirt, you asshole.”

“What? Why?” he asked, placing his motorcycle helmet on the edge of the bar. “I’m already in my costume.”

“We serve food here. No one wants to see your nipples while they’re eating. Cover that shit up.” Reid was wearing a pair of leather pants with a chrome studded belt, his black combat boots…and that was about it. I knew he’d warned me, but I hadn’t thought he’d start the night out showing off his pierced nipples. I figured he’d take off his shirt once he was drunk, but I’d be gone by then, so itwouldn’t be my problem.

“I told you what I was wearing. Charley didn’t seem to have a problem with it when I passed her in the back. Why are you being such a prude?”

“Didn’t you see how disgusted Hazel was? She practically ran away as soon as she saw you.”

“If you hadn’t noticed, your sister runs away every time she sees me, so it’s not just when my nipples are out.” He thought he was being charming, but I was the one who’d had to pay for her therapy—both physical and psychological—after her accident caused by his inability to keep his dick in his pants.

“Well, maybe if you hadn’t scarred her for life with your fuck boy antics, then my sister wouldn’t hate my best friend.”

“Did you really just call me a fuck boy? What are we, eighteen-year-old girls? I thought you’d be the last person to slut shame me, but sorry for having an active sex life you’re clearly jealous of. Get your head out of your ass, dude. This is the chance for you to find yourself again. Don’t waste it.”

Was that what I was doing? Had I been trying too hard to cling to a woman who didn’t want me instead of finding what I really wanted out of life?

“Did you see what Charley had on?” he asked, lowering his voice as he joined me behind the bar.

“Are you seriously going to be that much of a pervert? She’s Hazel’s best friend. They’re not even…”

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