Page 11 of Bearly Sassy

“You’re mine later, got it?”

She blushed but leaned in, resting her chest against his arm.

“Deal but upstairs, that twin bed is horrible.”

“Not up for a challenge?”

“Yes but not that kind. Upstairs.”

He laced his other hand around her hip and pulled her snug, making her aware of his need for her.

“Hey mister, don’t start something you can’t finish right here and now.”

“Is that a challenge because I have no problem doing the deed no matter who’s watching and I guarantee no one would even notice, they’re all drunk.”

“Boy you’re awful sure of yourself huh?”

“I am when I know what I want.”

And he did know, he wanted her. He’d never felt that strongly about another person, ever. But he welcomed it. She was sassy and strong, totally independent but with all that, he still could see the scared side of her. She didn’t show it to anyone but when the alarm had gone off, he saw it. She was vulnerable and that was the human side of her. It made her well rounded and he knew she would make him a better person and bear.

As he learned in closer, their lips a hair apart, they were distracted by a commotion at a table across the room. Apparently, two guys were fighting over the same girl.

“I’m being summoned.”

He kissed her quick and left her wanting… hopefully.

As he approached the two men brawling on the floor, he caught a glimpse of a man in a hoodie and at once turned around in search of Mack. His hands were tied. He had a brawl in front of him he needed to stop before it got worse, but he was alarmed by the secret hoodie man and he couldn’t find Mack. When he turned again to search for the hooded person, he was nowhere to be found.

He pushed himself between the two sets of fists extending blows, took a few punches himself before he pushed them away.

“This is finished, do you hear me? Either sit peacefully, or get out. If I catch you again, I’ll put you outside myself.”

Damon was bigger than them both and they nodded in agreement.

When he was sure all was under control, he left the table to search for Mack first. Once he knew she was safe, he’d feel better about scouring the crowd for the man with the hoodie.

He found Mack working in the prep kitchen and was alarmed when he approached her in a hurry.

“Damon what’s wrong?”

“The guy in the sweatshirt with the hood is back. When I went over to the guys fighting, I caught a glance but then lost him. I needed to make sure you were safe.”

“Are you kidding? I’ve been in here cooking since I left you before the fight.”

“That’s good, can you please stay right here and don’t let anyone come through the bar? I want to go search around because the bastard is pretty cocky to be showing up with a full house and I promise I won’t let him get to you.”

Damon disappeared out into the crown and searched every table, nook and cranny but came up with nothing. The office door was still locked so he couldn’t have gotten in there. The bathrooms were clear, he’d even scared a few women when he came out of the ladies’ room.

“Damn it, where is he?”

The stock room was not accessible if Mack was at the bar and if he didn’t get in the office then the apartment upstairs was clear too. His only assumption was that the guy got away again or he was seeing things and the person wasn’t there. He went back toward the front door where he had a bar stool and he could see pretty much every part of the bar. There was only a few hours left of the night then they could close.

Later when the last person had left the bar, Damon locked up the doors and at once pulled the shades on the front windows. He didn’t need anyone watching her closing routine. He took his cue from Mack and started putting the chairs on the table tops so she could sweep the floor.

“What are we going to do about the hooded man?”

Mack stood behind him with the broom in hand.

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