Page 23 of Tucker
“I’mon my way.”
Ignoringthe commotion at the bar, I order another drink from the waitress who gives mea commiserating smile when she brings it. “Ditching your date?”
“Wouldn’tyou?” I scoff, gesturing to where the cops are patting him down, looking forthe handcuff key.
Didhe just? Yep, he swallowed it.
Thecrowd laughs and cheers, thoroughly enjoying the night’s entertainment. “This hasto be the biggest first date fail ever,” I groan, draining my drink.
Thewaitress blanches. “It’s the first date?” She lays a hand on my arm. “Countyour blessings, honey. Better to find out he’s crazy now.”
“You’reright,” I laugh. She walks away and the music starts back up as if that willdistract from the sideshow going on at the bar. It seems to work since thedance floor fills right back up.
Thecops must not have a handcuff key to fit his cuffs since they’ve brought in asmall tool and are sawing at the narrow wooden beam he cuffed himself to. Screwthis. It’ll take Tucker a while to get here. I’m dancing.
Chapter Six
Tucker
Ifhe’s done something to hurt Leah, I’ll tear the guy apart. She didn’t tell mewhat’s going on, just that she needs a ride because the date “didn’t work out.”That could mean a million different things.
Ihated that she was going on a date, but I knew I had no right to say anything.Still, it was all I could do to stay in my room until she left and not go outand scare the guy away. She’s not mine. I can’t have her, and she deservesbetter anyway so I didn’t want to chase away her chance at finding happinesswith someone.
Ishould’ve listened to my instincts.
Theplace is packed, and my heart rate doubles when I see two police cars parkedright in front of the doors. Pulling my truck into a spot, I rush inside.
Oncemy eyes adjust, I see her, alone, dancing to the music. She isn’t alone forlong when a guy approaches her and she nods at him. He grabs her waist and theystart to move together. Is that the guy she came with? Is she trying to be niceuntil she has a way out?
There’ssome kind of commotion at the bar, but I ignore it as I elbow my way throughthe crowd to get to her. She notices me and says something to the man she’sdancing with before fleeing the floor. Sweat glues a strand of hair to herforehead, and one look at her glassy eyes tells me she’s been drinking.
“Hey!”She rushes up to me. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
“Wasthat him?” I ask and she looks confused for a second before she shakes herhead.
“No,I don’t know who he is. Just some guy. Do you want to have a drink?” she asksstill moving her hips to the music.
Rightnow, yeah, I could use a drink. Anything to keep me from dragging this woman tosome dark place and fucking her until she begs me to stop. “Just one. I came todrive you home, remember?”
“Yep.”She leads me back to her table where a waitress takes my order and brings me abourbon.
Leahsips on another drink, wiggling in her seat like sitting in one place iskilling her. “So, what happened?”
Shenods towards the bar where… “What the hell are they doing?” I ask, watching astwo officers appear to be removing part of the bar.
“Hehandcuffed himself to the bar,” Leah mumbles.
“Whythe hell would someone do that?”
“Theywere using Styrofoam. Apparently, he has a real hard on for the environment.”Crimson fills her cheeks.
Whywould she be embarrassed unless…
Environment.The realization hits me and I can’t stop the laughter from escaping. “That’shim? Your date?”
“Notanymore,” she grumbles.
“So,he-he brought you here, and chained himself to the bar because they use Styrofoam?”Laughter makes me stutter through the words.
