Page 31 of Undone, Love Times Three

“I’m sure he has.”

“He?” One brow arches ever so slightly.

What is she getting at? I glance around, then back at her. “Ah.”

She smirks.

“You’re the owner.”

“Am I?” she tilts her head at me in a way that says I got it right.

Someone calls for a drink and our stare off is broken. When she walks away, my eyes dip to her ass in those jean shorts. Damn, her confidence is as sexy as her ass.

“Thought I lost you?” Reed slaps my shoulder, making me jolt and slosh beer onto the bar. His loud shout draws attention from the people nearest to us, and the woman who I now know owns this place.

Not knowing her name, I decide to think of her as Blue, after the name of the bar. Reed’s stumbling around and has to hold on to the bar to stay upright as he tries to catch Blue’s attention to order. She sees him, but ignores him. He calls her a bitch. Fuck that.

Instead of pursuing her, he turns to the group of women and asks them if they’re interested in going back to his hotel, making me cringe.

“Er, no thanks,” the closest one says and then turns her back on him.

“Come on, don’t be like that. It’ll be fun. I have a suite with two bedrooms,” he winks at me.

As if I will have any part in this. The more I watch him harassing these women, the less I want anything to do with him. In fact, I no longer want to tie my company to his.

“Reed, I think they’ve made it clear they don’t want to come back to your hotel,” I say, stepping closer. “You’ve had enough to drink.”

“Don’t be a dick. I’m just trying to have some fun.”

“They said no,” I respond, more firmly.

The women are moving away. Reed follows, stumbling a little. Fuck, how did he get this drunk? I grab onto his arm, mostly to steady him, but also to stop him following the women. His bullshit has drawn attention from all around.

“It’s time to leave,” I drag him back. “I’ll call your driver.

“I don’t want to go,” he turns and, with no warning at all, swings at me.

His fist connects with my jaw, and my head spins sideways, knocking me into the bar. This prick just fuckinghitme. I’m not a violent guy, not by any stretch. Iwilldo whatever it takes to prevent myself, or any of the surrounding people, particularly women, being hurt by an out-of-control drunk.

Straightening up, I grab onto him and push him back. He’s cursing at me, and he turns his eyes my way. They’re so far gone, the rage has taken over. He goes to swing again, and I put my guard up, stepping in front of the group of women, ready to fight this fucker.

Before it can go any further, two men are pulling him away. They’re fucking huge. And they’re not patrons. They’re security.

“Outside now,” one of them barks, handling Reed like he’s a toddler throwing a tantrum.

The second one reaches for me to throw me out with him.

“It’s okay. He’s good.”

He lets go of me, and I turn to Blue. Her tone is commanding, and the men follow her orders without argument. She isn’t looking at me. She’s staring at Reed as they drag him out of the bar. I watch too, embarrassed as shit.

I’m not doing business with this asshole. I don’t care what it costs.

“Nice friend.”

“He’s not my friend,” I say, touching my jaw and mouth. My lip is split. The adrenalin kept me from feeling it. Poking at it with my tongue, I touch the sore spot. My fingers come away covered in blood. “Fuck.”

Blue eyes me, a frown on her face. “Okay, everyone, you know the drill. Nothing to see here. It’s been handled. Go back to having fun. Ladies,” she says to the women Reed was harassing. “Free drinks for the rest of your evening.”

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