Page 27 of Fast and Dirty

“West,” Kira’s voice has a gentle commanding quality to it but it’s notenough to let Ryan’s insult at her go.

“Watch your fucking mouth,” I warn him through clenched teeth.

“Watch your fucking face,” he snaps back and draws his fist back.

I duck the punch and snap back up, throwing one of my own, and my fist connects with the side of Ryan’s stupid head.

The bar erupts in mostly masculine whoops. Collin breaks through the wall of bodies, pushing people aside. He grabs Ryan by his damp shirt and points him to the door. “You - out!” he demands, before looking to me. “West…”

I hold my hands up, knowing I’ve fucked up here. “Sorry Collin,” I tell him, sincerely. “He was disrespecting the lady,” I explain.

Collin looks at Kira and then toward Ryan, being ushered out the door by a pissed off looking Hunt.

“That true?” He looks to Kira.

“Yes,” she conveys firmly. “And he threw the first punch.”

“So I don’t need to ban you from here?” He cocks an eyebrow at me.

Please, God in Heaven, no, it’s one of only two bars in this rinky dink town!

Kira

“No Collin,”a deep, rich voice chimes in as a tall and rugged man with dark everything saddles up beside West with arms crossed over his broad chest. “I saw it. West was defending himself.”

Collin nods at the man,clearly valuing his word. “Alright, break it up!” He yells to everyone still milling around, and they quickly all disperse back to their tables, not wanting to piss off the person who serves their beer.

“Thanks man,” West gives the tall, smoldering man a shoulder bump as he moves around to regard him face to face.

“No problem,” he rolls his eyes. “It’s about time someone took that little fucker out, and unfortunately, it’s frowned upon from a first responder; off duty or not.”

West nods before turning to me, placing a hand on my back. “Sorry… Jace, this is Kira. She’s new in town, as I’m sure you gathered.”

Jace holds his hand out and we shake. “Jace?” I ask, the name sounding familiar. And he said first responder. “Are you with the fire department?”

“I’m the lieutenant for Station 7,” he nods, sans smile but his tone friendly enough.

“Oh! I’m living with a woman named Agnes Shmaltz…” I don’t miss the heavy breath he lets out and the faintest tug at one corner of his mouth. “And she told me to ask you something about ladies night?” I’m hoping he can fill in the blanks. Agnes was pretty vague about what she meant. In fact, she’s vague about a lot of things, including why she insisted I leave the house tonight.

“You’ve been rotting in this house all week, you need to get out and sow some wild oats, and this is the perfect town because everything is walking distance. If you meet a guy named Ryan, stay away from that douche canoe, and if you meet a hot fireman named Jace, ask him if he wants to start a side hustle if I start a ladies night. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and if you do don’t get caught!”

She said all of that, and yes, she said it fast as she shoved me out the door.

Jace recrosses his arms. “I get the feeling it has to do with a strip show,” he sighs through his nose.

“Oh… yeah, makes sense,” I retort, and then realize West’s hand is still on my back. Unexpected, but welcome.

“Tell her that’s sweet, but no thanks. I’m a professional. Speaking of which, I suppose I better get out there and make sure that little shit doesn’t need medical attention. Excuse me.” He makes his way in the direction of the door, albeit slowly.

West turns to me, concern taking over his features. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah I’m fine,” I nod, offering him up a smile. “Thanks for rescuing me for the second time this week. Who knew leaving home would make me such a damsel?” I shake my head at myself.

He slowly blinks, shaking his head before pulling a chair out at a nearby high-top table and gesturing for me to sit. “What happened?” He asks as we sit.

“That ass goblin couldn’t take someone beating him at darts, I guess.” I fold my arms on the table.

“He said something about hustling, are you a master at darts or something?” Before waving down a waitress.

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