Page 35 of Wrong Number

I laughed, taking a sip of beer and looking around the pub. It was pretty busy, as everyone was crowded around, watching the two large flatscreens.

Then my eyes tracked the movements of a girl with wavy hair who darted in and out of the crowd as if she was looking for someone.

“Tana just showed up,” I said to Greg. “I have to go.”

“Bring her over,” he said. “Maybe she’ll be good luck.”

I started to protest, then a dark swish took over my vision as arms flew around me. I was suddenly awash in a cloud of straight black hair as the tall girl hugged the daylights out of me.

Then she jumped back. “Sorry, boss junior. Just wanted to say goodbye.”

I quickly introduced Connie, one of my carpenters, to Greg and Dale. “She’s going on a two-week vacation, right when we need her most,” I laughed. “You’d better bring back gifts.”

She reached out to mess up my hair. “I’m going to bring you back some sun. You’ve been working indoors too much, Tyler. You’re losing your tan.”

Laughing, I turned to see Tana standing a few tables away. Her wide eyes were glassy as if she was holding back tears.

The second her eyes locked on mine, she flinched, ducking out toward the door. “Pay for my beer, and I’ll get you next time,” I said to Dale, taking off after her. There was a roar as someone made a big hit, and it took me a few moments to get to the door.

By the time I got to the front sidewalk, Tana had her back against the wall as a tall sporty guy had his hands against the bricks on either side of her.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

* Tana *

Rushing out of the pub, I think I bumped into someone’s chair but couldn’t stop. There was no way I could let Tyler see me cry right now.

I wasn’t even sure why I went to the pub in the first place. I couldn’t walk by his house, and I needed to see his face for one second.

Although I completely felt like a stalker, I needed one peek. Just to make sure that he was okay. Maybe if I saw him having a beer with his friends, I could envision him calming down and speaking with me when he was ready.

I hadn’t envisioned him hugging a tall girl so closely while they laughed together.

I was used to people leaving me the second anything got a bit tough, so I shouldn’t be falling apart this terribly.

It was logical for him to have a string of girls waiting in line for him. He was gorgeous, sweet, and ridiculously charming.

It was no surprise that my feelings were much bigger than Tyler’s. He’d been in relationships before. He was older, possibly wiser, and had a lot more life experience.

As I spun out of the doors, ducking around some people, I managed to make it about ten steps before slumping against the brick wall. My lungs felt like sandpaper. My eyes burned from holding back the tears.

“Hey, baby, do you need some help?”

I turned in time to get a face full of beer breath as a dude leered at me. He came right over, placing his hands on either side of me so that I was trapped.

Maybe it was the universe evening everything out. Tyler appeared when I was being harassed by a guy. The second I saw him with another woman so that I knew for sure that he was no longer interested in me, I was being harassed again.

A few people were glancing in our direction, but nobody came to help me. “Please leave me alone,” I whispered.

“No, I can’t do that, baby. You’re upset. Why don’t I take you back into the bar for a drink?”

My eyes fell closed as the tears really began to fall. Maybe he would see that I’m no fun, and not worth the hassle. Or maybe I could tell him off. I screamed at my dad yesterday. I could scream at this guy too.

“Don’t–”

“Get your hands off her.”

By the time my eyes snapped open, the gross breath was gone, and the creepy guy was staggering into a parking sign as if he’d been half thrown.

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