Page 80 of Tattered and Torn

Gabrielle touches her fist to Maya’s. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Ruth sets two pitchers of beer on the table. Teddy, one of her employees, sets down a tray of glasses. “Beers are on the house this evening, guys,” she says. “To a job well done.”

Most everyone is still full from dinner, but Ruth brings out two platters of appetizers. She comes to join us for a few minutes, taking the empty seat at the head of the table.

Maya leans across the table. “Hey, Ruth, who’s the hottie sitting at the end of the bar?”

Of course everyone turns to look. Sure enough, there’s a dark-haired man sitting back in the shadows, holding a shot glass in his hand.

Ruth shrugs. “No idea. I think he’s new in town. Not very talkative, though. He keeps to himself, doesn’t say more than he has to, and always pays in cash.”

“I’ll bet he’s some kind of cop,” Maya says.

“I’d know if he worked for the sheriff’s office,” Ruth says.

“No, not that kind of cop,” Maya says. “I’m talking federal, like he’s some kind of agent. Maybe he’s undercover.”

Travis shakes his head. “Maya, you watch too much TV.”

“I’ve seen him in here before,” Killian says.

Maya pours herself a beer. “Everyone be cool. He’s looking this way.”

Of course everyone looks, but the mystery man doesn’t appear to notice. Or, if he does, he’s not showing it.

Ruth rises from her chair. “As long as he behaves himself and pays his tab, he’s welcome to sit there as long as he wants.”

Maya stands, too. “Come on, Gabrielle. Let’s go see if they have any music from this century on the jukebox. I’m getting tired of listening to country music from the eighties.”

Gabrielle laughs as she stands. “I’m not sure I’ll be of much help, but I’ll go with you.”

Jennie and Hannah join them, and the four girls crowd around the jukebox.

“How you doin’?” Killian asks me.

I shrug. “Fine. Why?”

“Just askin’. I’m just not used to seein’ you socializing. I’m glad you’re here.”

Suddenly, there’s a commotion coming from across the room. We all turn to see a young blond-haired guy wearing jeans and a red plaid shirt standing at the jukebox.

“Back off, asshat,” Maya says, loud enough to be heard throughout the bar. “We’re not interested. That means you need to get lost.” Then we clearly hear her threatening to break his arm if he touches her again.

Instantly, my pulse shifts into high gear. The men at our table shoot to their feet. At that same moment, I notice the stranger at the bar stands, too, his laid-back posture gone in a flash.

Before I can even take a step toward the jukebox, the guy in the red plaid grabs Gabrielle’s hand and pulls her into his arms, clearly trying to coax her into dancing with him.

Oh, hell no.

And then I’m on the move, followed closely by the rest of the guys.

Chapter 26 – Gabrielle

Well, that escalated quickly. One minute I’m hanging out at the jukebox with my friends, looking for some good songs to play, and the next, this obnoxious blond guy starts crowding us. He smells strongly of alcohol. Obviously he’s intoxicated.

“Hey, ladies,” he says. He’s wearing a red plaid shirt, blue jeans, and a big shiny belt buckle. “How about a dance?” He zeroes in on Maya. “What’dya say, sugar?”

“I am so not your sugar, pal,” Maya says, turning her back on the guy.

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