Page 12 of Jasper

“Hey, sweetheart. You good?” she asks, wiping down a glass.

I nod, pulling my sleeves over my hands. “Just a hot water, please.”

She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t comment, filling a chipped mug and sliding it over. I curl my hands around it, letting the heat warm my frozen fingers.

“Cold out there tonight,” Leigh says, glancing at the door.

“Yeah,” I keep my eyes dipped, not wanting to get into a conversation with the woman. She seems like she always wants to ask me questions, but I don’t ever give her the chance.

I take a sip, letting the hot water burn its way down my throat, and try to relax. Leigh leaves me alone, tending to the guys at the other end of the bar. The muffled music from the jukebox blends with the low hum of conversation, and I start to unwind a little.

When my cup is empty, I thank Leigh quietly, leave a dollar on the bar, and slip back out into the night. The wind has picked up, and I hug myself tighter, wishing I had another layer on. My feet drag as I head back toward where my camper and car are broken down, the entire time, my thoughts still stuck on the man in the coffee shop. One day I’ll forget about him. I just need to get my car fixed and get the heck away from this town. The sooner the better.

* * *

The bar is busier tonight, but Leigh still greets me with a small smile when I slip inside. I rub my hands together, trying to get the feeling back into my fingertips, and order my usual hot water.

It’s warmer in here than outside or in my camper, and I linger by the end of the bar, sipping slowly, savoring the heat seeping into my bones. I’m trying not to think about the café or the wayhekeeps creeping into my thoughts when I’m supposed to be focusing on fixing the mess I’m in. I need to figure out how to get a job. And save some money so I can fix my car. Not thinking about a man I’ve only spoken to a couple of times, whose name I don’t even know.

“Hey, Leigh, are you hiring here?” I call out when she moves toward me to grab a bottle of something.

She glances in my direction and shakes her head. “Sorry, doll. They just hired a dishwasher, so we’re a full house at the moment. I’ll let you know if anything opens up. Have you bartended before?”

It’s my turn to shake my head as my heart drops. I’ve never had any real job before. Filling out an application is daunting in itself. I don’t even know my Social Security Number. In reality, the only two things I really know how to do are garden and steal. And I don’t think I’ll find a job growing vegetables anywhere around here. Even though I can grow some pretty dang good stuff.

If I had room in my camper to grow some plants, I’d try. I could probably sell some veggies on the side of the street or something. But not only is the space too cramped, the lighting is terrible, so every time I’ve tried to plant seeds, they do nothing.

Which leaves stealing. As much as I hate it, I’m nearly to the point that I just might have to go pickpocketing again to get some money to fix my car. I need to get out of this town. Drive somewhere warmer. And get as far away from the gorgeous, tattooed beast who has been taking up way too much space in my mind.

When my cup is empty, I thank Leigh as she fills a paper to-go one for me, and I slip out into the night. The air hits me like a slap, cold and sharp, and I hunch my shoulders and squeeze my cup. The walk back to my camper is a bit longer than the one from the café. At least the hot water is helping. I take a soothing sip and start my trek home.

As I’m crossing the gravel lot, I hear raised voices. A man’s harsh growl followed by a woman’s muffled whimper. My heart kicks up, and I pause, trying to pinpoint where it’s coming from.

There, just beyond the edge of the lot, near a busted fence. It’s dark, but the bar’s neon light flickers enough to cast a glow on them. The guy is big, looming over the woman, gripping her arm hard enough that I can see the way her body jerks when he shakes her.

“You think you can just walk away from me?” he snarls.

The woman tries to pull away, but he grabs her shoulders, shaking her harder.

Something flares in my chest. I can’t leave her. She deserves help. Before I can second-guess myself, I’m moving toward them, my steps loud enough on the gravel that the guy glances up.

“Hey!” I shout fiercely. “Let her go!”

He sneers, not even bothering to release her. “Mind your business and get the fuck out of here, bitch!”

Every word out of his mouth is slurred, and as I get closer, I swallow thickly. He’s even bigger than I thought. Husky and tall. He looks like he could be a linebacker. In a high-security prison.

I try not to judge people by appearances, but I can’t help it with this asshole. Café guy might look like he murders people, but I’m pretty sure this drunk dude truly does kill people.

That thought should stop me and force me to back away, but instead, I swallow the fear clawing up my throat and square my shoulders, taking another step closer. “Let her go,” I repeat, voice firm. “Right now.”

The woman looks at me with wide, terrified eyes, shaking her head at me, and the guy just scoffs, turning back to his victim.

That’s it. I can’t just stand here and do nothing. I tighten my grip on the cup and fling my hot water at the man, aiming for his face.

He screams, stumbling back as the scalding liquid hits him. “You crazy fucking?—”

The woman uses the distraction to jerk free, clutching her arm. I put myself between her and the guy, glaring up at him even though my hands are shaking.

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