Page 64 of Jael

“She’s a friend of mine,” Danny said. “And she’s in trouble. Back off before someone gets hurt.”

“I’m not your friend,” Jael said. “And I’m not in trouble. My whole life is laid out perfectly before me. I have everything a girl could want. A soon-to-be fiancé who’s a horrible person. All the money I could ever need to live in luxury. My life is sweet.”

“You want me to sort out your fiancé?” The guy stood up and hiked up his pants. “I sure hope this is him.”

Danny’s eyes moved to the man, who must lift a lot of weights to have arms that big, but the rest of his physique suggested he had no stamina. Danny would only need to dodge a couple ofpunches, and he’d have the guy on the floor without breaking a sweat.

“No,” Jael said. “He’s not my fiancé. He’s just Danny.”

Danny hooked his hand around her arm. “Come on. I’m taking you home.”

She resisted, but when he continued to pull, she yanked out of his grasp. “Leave me alone. Why are you even here? I’m doing everything my dad wanted. Your job is done. There’s no more work for you.”

“I’m not here for your dad, and you know it.”

“Do I?”

“I’m worried about you.”

She shook her head. “Liar. The Danny I know never cared one bit about me or what happened to me. Just leave me alone.”

“The lady wants you to back off,” Shiny-shirt said, putting a hand out toward Danny to warn him off.

Danny stepped around Jael, standing to his full height and getting close enough to the guy that he shrunk slightly. A little intimidation should be enough for this guy to decide Jael wasn’t worth it.

“This isn’t a fight you want to start,” Danny said quietly. “I hope you’ll trust me on that. You can leave us alone now, or we can take this outside if you’d prefer.”

“You think you can take me?” Shiny-shirt stood nose to nose with Danny, but Jael jumped from her chair and pushed between them.

“Danny, don’t do this,” she said. “He’s ignorant. You might end up killing him.”

“I’m not gonna kill him.”

“That’s right. You won’t,” Shiny-shirt said, his confidence boosted by the barrier between them.

Jael pressed against Danny so he had to move back a couple steps. Then she turned to the other man.

“I appreciate your help,” she said, “but it will be safer for you to go. As much as I want him to, Danny’s not going to give in, I’m afraid to say.”

“Lady, I can take him, trust me.”

“No. You really can’t. Just go.”

The guy blew out an indignant breath. “Forget it. I don’t need this. You two are both messed up. You deserve each other.” He leaned in toward Jael and said, “And you’re not worth it.”

Danny would have swung for the guy, but Jael, even in her inebriated state, anticipated it and got in his way.

“I already know that,” Jael said. “Have a good evening.”

The guy swatted the air in one last rebuff and stumbled away.

Jael dropped back into her seat, and Danny said, “Come on. Let me take you home.”

“Or you could stay and have a drink with me.” She motioned for the bartender, then said, “Two more please and thank you.”

“Cancel the order,” Danny said. “We’re leaving.”

“Excuse me?” She gave him an offended once-over. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Bartender, keep the drinks coming.”

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