Page 26 of Encore
“I’ve seen how you two are.I know chemistry when I fucking see it.”
“Wow.You’re crazy, you know that?”I stepped back from the bar.Screw the drink, I wasn’t sticking around for any of this insanity.
“Hold up.”Keegan grabbed my arm before I could retreat.“Just tell me why.Whyhimand notme?”
“Let me go.”I tried to shake his grip, but his hand tightened on my arm.
“Just tell me.”
Blood whooshed in my ears, and it felt like the whole world slowed down.My vision crept in, and suddenly I couldn’t move.Oh god.He was so strong.And I was so small.
Oh god.
A flash of light snapped me out of my trance.Bits of the self-defense class I’d taken years ago came back to me.In one smooth motion, I wrenched my arm through his fingers, driving my elbow into his shoulder.
“Son of a bitch,” Keegan bit out.He stumbled, and I took advantage of it.I slammed my foot into the back of his knee.As he toppled, I kneed him in the face on the way down.
Stools went flying as he collapsed.
Everyone in the vicinity turned to look at the commotion.
I could see our bartender and two bouncers making their way over to us.
But before they could reach us, I bent down and hissed in Keegan’s ear, “Now you know what I’m capable of.Backthe fuckoff.We clear?”
“Everything okay here?”the bartender asked as he set two drinks down on the bar.
I stood up and pulled my wallet out of my back pocket.Laying two twenties on the bar, I said, “We’re good.He’s just klutzy.”
And before the bouncers got to us, I grabbed both drinks, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.
“What the hell?”
Of course, it was never that easy.
My shoulders slumped as I faced Lark.Her eyes were wide, concern written all over her face.
“He tripped?”I took a slurp of one of my drinks like that would make my statement believable.
“Girl, you’re crazy.We should tell Harper.”Lark swung around, searching the club.
“No, I don’t want to make another enemy at work.Noah already hates me.I don’t need that rep.It’s good.I swear.We both know who we’re dealing with now.It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine!”Lark roared.“You’re vulnerable.He’s bigger than you.What if he corners you in a storage room or something?”
“I think I just proved I can take care of myself.Keegan isn’t that stupid.”
“You emasculated the man in a public place.I’m pretty sure you’ve made an enemy for life.”
I shrugged and set one of my drinks down while I clutched at the other like a lifeline.“What’s one more?”
“Oh my god.Be serious.We need to tell someone.”
“Leave it, Lark.It’s not up to you.”
“How about it’s not only your safety we’re concerned with?Keegan just proved himself to be the kind of ass who will put his hands on a woman in public.What about the rest of the women on the crew?What about them?”
Shit.She was right.
