Page 18 of Her Bossy Daddy

Lacey

I’d ordered another iced tea a few minutes ago, but the pub was so busy. I leaned against the bar and waited patiently, but my thoughts were on my sexy boyfriend on the other side of the room.

“Ain’t you the prettiest little thing?”

Someone directed the question to me. I glanced behind me and then threw Devin, the owner daggers with my eyes. He held up a hand. No, he was swamped. I didn’t tell my friends about how hysterical the crowd found me when I’d mouthed off in an Irish brogue after being hit on by drunk men. Devin sometimes shuffled drunk men my way to see the sparks fly.

“Are you blind?” I turned on my well-practiced Irish accent, a bit over the top, but it served me. I shifted, forgetting how I had undone more buttons on my top, and it no longer left much to the imagination. “I’m not little.”

“I meant how gorgeous your tits, er, uh, your eyes.” The man’s face was redder than a tomato.

“Yeah, I know where you were looking.” I returned my focus to the bar and raised my glass. “Devin! May I have another glass of tea?”

“What sort of woman drinks tea in a pub?” Drunkie moved closer to me.

“This one.” I glanced over my shoulder again. The man had invaded my personal space, and I didn’t like it.

“I’m just trying to make conversation. Throw me a bone.”

“What sorta woman do you think I am? I’m not interested in you.” I tapped my glass lightly on the bar. “Devin!”

“I see you, Lacey! I’ve got four orders in front of you. Give me five.” Devin nodded to me apologetically. I’d reached my tolerance for bullshit. I glanced over to where Liam and his friend were, but they were deep in conversation. The man pressed closer still, and then he laid his hand on my shoulder. I shoved him off, and he stumbled backward.

“What the fuck, bitch?”

“Keep your filthy paws off me!” Half of the bar quieted around me, and I noticed multiple sets of eyes on me. Devin had built up my rants, and the regulars were in for a show.

“Tell him, Lacey!” a woman shouted from somewhere behind me, and several more tables fell silent.

“I’ve been really nice to you. I told you how pretty you are!” He fumbled for his mug and it slipped out of his hand. It didn’t break, and luckily it didn’t splash me, but it pissed me off even more. “At least I gave you some attention.”

“You said how pretty my tits are. I don’t need your opinion.” His words hurt, but I wouldn’t let them sink in. No, he wasn’t worth my time. The words to several prayers played through my brain. I wanted him to leave me alone.

“You’re fucking crazy!”

“You ain’t seen me fucking crazy yet.” I grinned at him, adding to his declaration but my nerves were shot. He had become out of sorts after he realized how many of the patrons were staring at us. Something shifted in his head. The jerk swung at me, but I caught his fingers on his right hand and bent them back until he cursed. Yes! Those self-defense classes actually worked.

“Hey, stop it!”

“Did you hear what I said about my boyfriend? He’ll be mighty pissed when I tell him you swung at his girl.” I laughed, but nothing was funny. “Have you ever started with an Irishman? He’ll knock ya down in seconds, all with a smile on his face.”

“Crazy bitch!” He swung with his other hand, but several men jumped in between the two us, including Liam and his friend Patrick.

“Get him the fuck out of here.” Devin sent his head of security to escort the jackass out. “I’m sorry, love. Are you all right? I’ll grab free drinks for you and your friends.”

“I’ll be okay.” Trembling on the inside, I forced a smile and then bowed as the patrons applauded my bravery.

I retreated to the bathroom where I contemplated buttoning up my blouse, but it would only cement the idea that a man can approach a woman in an aggressive manner just because he liked her breasts. Liam enjoyed looking at them, and his attention trumped the negative. I breathed deeply for a few more minutes and then I stepped out into the hall and collided with Liam. “I didn’t realize you were there.”

“It’s fine, love. You want a smoke?” He extended a hand, and I laced my fingers in his.

“Yeah. I also want the awful feeling inside of me to stop. That drunk picked a fight for no reason.”

“Don’t think about it. Let’s go.” Liam led us out the back exit and then lit two cigarettes. I normally didn’t smoke, but I accepted one and took a drag.

“That asshole had no right to start with me.”

“Right. Well, he’s lucky your boyfriend was distracted for a bit.”

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