Page 6 of The Irish Rogue

“Nah. Why would I? Everything I need is right here!”

Sean noticed that the man’s gaze flitted over to where Kennedi was now pulling out of the parking lot.

“Well, that’s a good thing, I suppose,” he lied. “No need to expand one’s perspective in any way, aye?” He added the Scottish word for “yes”, simply to reinforce that the man was truly an eejit.

Brody huffed a bit, shuffling his feet against the gravel parking lot. “Okay, she’s gone now. Why don’t you just let me get the hell out of here? Otherwise, I’ll call the police and tell them that you’ve kidnapped me.”

“I think that would be an excellent idea, Brody. I think that ye should definitely call the police or, even better, the sheriff. Why don’t ye do that right now? Let’s explain what almost happened here tonight.” His accent was completely gone now that Kennedi was out of danger. He didn’t give a damn about his personal safety, and perhaps some smart psychologist would have a field day about that. But for the moment, Sean wasn’t concerned about his lack of life-longevity.

“Go to hell, you arrogant bastard!” Brody snapped.

Out of the corner of his eye, Sean saw the woman’s tail lights fade turn a corner and vanish. “Just a few more minutes and then you can be on your way.”

Brody’s fury broke loose as he realized that he had no way of catching up with Kennedi. So he took a furious swing. Fortunately, Sean had grown up as the bastard son of the wealthiest man in the village. Too many kids had tried to pick a fight with him, so he knew how to fight, mean and dirty. Brody’s fist was easily caught in Sean’s left hand.

“There now,” Sean murmured, trying to soothe the man’s temper. “No need to go on with all that.”

“Brody Daniels!” a new voice rang out, this one filled with authority.

Brody turned and Sean relaxed his hold on the man’s fist, sensing that the man’s anger had suddenly dissipated.

Flashing blue lights suddenly lit up the night sky.

“What the hell are you doing?” A tall, dark haired man demanded as he emerged from the sheriff’s cruiser. “How many times do I have to arrest you for being an idiot before you learn your lesson?”

“I didn’t do nothing, Mick!” Brody whined, backing up. “This prick wouldn’t let me get to my car. That’s kidnapping, right?”

The sheriff was already pulling out his handcuffs. For a moment, Sean wondered if he’d end up in cuffs, but it was Brody that the sheriff cuffed.

“Damn it, now I have to add ‘making a false statement to law enforcement’, Brody! Why don’t you just shut up!” And then the sheriff read him his Miranda rights.

“Do you want to file a formal complaint, sir?” the sheriff asked, holding Brody with one hand while he turned to Sean. “I saw Brody take a swing at you. It’s all caught on my dashcam. So it’s pretty much an open and shut case.”

Sean considered that for a long moment, more to piss off Brody than because he had any intention of pressing charges. “Not necessary,” he finally replied. “However, I think you should have a long chat with him. He has a thing for the pretty brown-haired waitress that works here. The man was about to follow her home.”

“Kennedi?” the sheriff asked, then sighed when Sean nodded. “She’s not a waitress. She’s the supply manager, but she helps out whenever someone calls out sick. Tom called me a couple minutes ago, letting me know that Brody was harassing Kennedi.” He turned to face Brody. “We’ve already discussed you stalking the ladies, Brody. Why do you keep deciding a woman wants you to the point you just won’t believe her when she says no?”

“Hell, Mick! You know that some of the ladies want a man to convince her. No is–”

“No meansno!” the sheriff and Sean snapped at the same time.

The flashing blue lights from the sheriff’s cruiser revealed the flush staining Brody’s cheeks at the dual admonishment.

“Come on, you jackass!” the sheriff said, jerking Brody’s arm to get him to start walking towards his cruiser.

“What the hell, Mick? You’re going to take the word of a stranger?”

The sheriff rolled his eyes. “All on video. Plus, I don’t know the other guy, but I do knowyou. And whenever there’s trouble, you most likely started it.” He pushed Brody into the back of the cruiser, protecting the man’s head as he ducked into the back.

Once Brody was confined to the back of the cruiser, the sheriff turned to Sean. “Thanks for stepping in. Tom mentioned that you rescued Kennedi earlier tonight too.”

“Not a problem.”

The sheriff shook his head, pressing his thumb to the brim of his hat to push it back slightly. “Brody’s a bully and intimidates people. He gets off on it. So stepping in to help Kennedi was dangerous. Brody tends to lash out first and ask questions later.”

“Bullies usually back down when they are confronted.”

The sheriff sighed, nodding his head. “Yeah, but Brody isn’t smart enough to back down. Especially when he’s been drinking.” He stuck out his hand. “Thanks for watching out for Kennedi. She’s a good woman.”

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