Page 2 of Fearless Protector
She’s gone all-out tonight, her long blonde hair brushed to a high gloss, pink lips that match her high heeled shoes, and her little white pasties and panties to match.Now that Lacy’s no longer working here, Marla gets the lion’s share of the tips.I have no doubt she’ll be raking in the money tonight because these friends of Cole and Garrett’s make damn good bank working for one of the most ruthless crime families around the globe.
I’ve heard all about those boys who walk a fine line between right and wrong from Krissy and Lacy.I don’t know how those two got so lucky to have landed the good ones among the bunch, but they did.Cole and Garrett are solid.They love Krissy and Lacy with all their heart, but their friends and coworkers are a rowdy bunch at best.At least from what I can see.
A night of listening to them live it up, the wedding and a dance to get through tomorrow, and then they’ll all pack into that private jet they flew in on and go back to the desert and their Mafia crowd where they belong.Only for Lacy and her wedding to Garrett will I put up with this alpha macho shit.I glance at my watch just as my replacement walks through the door.I pour myself a beer and take a drink as she walks behind the bar.
Her kind old eyes raise in surprise.“Bad night, or just starting the bachelorette party before you get to the actual party?”
I grin.“Something like that.Thanks for covering for me tonight.I would ask Lacy if she weren’t the bride, and Kenny is over there with Cole and the guys.We appreciate being able to hang out with our friends tonight.It was very nice of you to step in.”
Lettie glances over at the reserved table.“Oh, be still my heart.If I weren’t married and twenty years younger, those young men would be in trouble.”I drink some more beer and watch the asshat they called Mason who keeps checking his phone, like he can’t wait to get out of this small town and get back home.Lettie clears her throat.“Maybe you can hook up with one of them and let off a little steam, my dear.You don’t want to turn into an old maid, who never had one bit of fun to look back on?”
I roll my eyes at the well-intentioned matchmaker in town.“I’ve had enough love ’em and leave them to last me a lifetime.No, thank you.Besides, I don’t need a man to have fun.I plan to let off a bunch of steam with the ladies tonight; no assholes needed, thank you very much.”
Lettie smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.I toss my apron onto the back of the counter and head out for the night without saying goodbye.I slide into the plush leather seats of my brand-new SUV.I don’t need a man to take care of me or to show me how to have a little fun.I can do that all by myself.I turn onto the main highway and head toward the outside of town where the party should be in full swing.
I may have missed having dinner with the ladies, but I don’t plan on missing any more of Lacy’s special night.The band is going strong, and the sound of the music reaches the parking lot as I head to the entrance.A strong lead guitar and drum set makes it almost impossible to hear anything other than the band as I walk in.
I make my way through the crowded bar until I see the ladies at a table closer to the band than my hearing will like.I stop by the bar and opt for pointing to the domestic on tap instead of yelling at the barkeep, who can probably barely hear a thing until this particular song is through.
He gives me a nod and pours the amber liquid into the tall glass.“Thank you,” I mouth, sliding some bills his way and heading toward the ladies before he has time to make change.“PJ, you made it,” Lacy says, pushing the pitchers of margarita and a tray of and half-empty shot glasses toward the center of the table to make room.The sight makes me glad I opted to stop for a light beer on my way in.A couple of those little drinks and I’d have a headache from hell tomorrow.
“I’m glad you could make it,” I tell Eileen, who smiles broadly.“Kenny and I had Lettie cover for us at the bar tonight.Hopefully the crowd won’t give her too much trouble, but she’s handled that group before with no issue.Everyone listens to what Lettie has to say in town.”
Eileen laughs.“They sure do, or they will regret the day they didn’t.At least Kenny’s there if anything comes up,” she says.
I watch Krissy laugh at Patti and Jules while those two tip back their second shot since I got to the table.“Those ladies are going to be in bad shape tomorrow.Glad Krissy could come.She looks like she’s having a great time,” I tell Eileen.
She nods.“Maddie’s watching the kids tonight at our house.I’ll go home here in a while and give her a hand putting them down.Kenny and I thought it would be nice for Cole and Krissy to have a little time to let loose.”
I grin.“She’s certainly doing that!”
Eileen sips her wine.“That she is.I’d be doing the same thing if I had two littles in the span of two years and pregnant with a third.I don’t know how she keeps up to them and all the stuff she does around their place, helping board the horses and everything.”
I take another drink, and Lacy leans into me.“Jules, Patti, me, are going to try some whiskey shots.Eileen’s going to behave herself tonight and go home early.
The band ends with a drum finale.“Don’t go anywhere, folks.We’ll be back after a short break.”
Lacy hands me a shot.“You promised to let loose and have fun tonight.All work and no play…” she sing songs, holding the shot intended for me up in the air.Patti and Jules, raise their own glasses, and Krissy raises her water glass, giving me a grin.Clearly you have to be pregnant or nursing to get out of this part of the night.
Lacy rolls her eyes at my hesitancy.“I’m only getting married once, and I’m going to enjoy every single moment and experience all the things, even an enormous frikken headache on my wedding day, probably.”
“Fine…” I tip my glass.“Let’s get this party started then.”
“Bottoms up,” Jules and Patti say from across the table simultaneously, bursting into laughter.“Jinx!”
We all hold our glasses up and toss back the shot of aged Deadwood whiskey.I gasp as it goes down, almost choking on the strength.“That is smooth…” Lacy says, holding out another shot and laughing at me the entire time.
It’s hard not to have fun when she is around, and contrary to popular belief, I don’t want to be by myself for the rest of my life, or not have fun.I do want to have fun; I deserve to have a little fun even.I reach for another shot.“Let’s show them how it’s done in Deadwood, because I use to be able to do this without any problems at all.”
The band comes back on, and Lacy pulls us onto the dance floor.I try to resist.“I can’t line dance sober much less after those shots.”She laughs, half dragging me to the floor before linking her arms in mine as the line of surprisingly in sync women begin to dance, and I try hard to follow along.
Chapter3
Mason
The pitchers of beer are making their way around the table, and everyone is having a good time, but someone has to keep their cognitive skills enhanced.I volunteered for that tonight.A couple beers early in the night was enough for me.A few Coca Colas later, and I’m watching the rest of the group living it up.And wondering where that cute little barkeeper with the fiery violet blue eyes went.
Jay gestures to Garrett and a couple of the guys who are in a heated battle of pool at the tables in the back.“Garrett’s running the table tonight.Cole doesn’t lose often at pool.”
