Perfect Night

by Laine, Terri E.

  Josie came over with a drink order. “Emma, I’m sorry to have to put this on you, but that table of guys over there—” she nodded at table eleven.

  I knew who she was talking about. I didn’t recognize any of them. They weren’t locals. They likely worked on a nearby ranch or with a logging company just out of town. They were drinking heavily and talking way too loudly. I’d been keeping an eye on them worried about trouble.

  “What’s up?”

  She glanced down like she didn’t want to tell me. “The one guy with the shoulder length, shaggy hair keeps putting his hands on my ass. I told him politely to stop. Usually—”

  “Jack or my dad would have put a stop to it,” I finished for her.

  She nodded.

  “Mind the bar for a minute,” I said. I was the only bartender for the night.

  Dad kept two things under the bar. A baseball bat and a shotgun. The latter was in a hidden gun case that opened by fingerprint. Mine and his were the only ones that could unlock it as far as I knew. That was the one thing he’d invested money in. He’d told me he didn’t want to have to use it but wanted it easily accessible if needed. I wasn’t even sure Jack knew it was there. It was tucked under a lower shelf. If you bent down and saw it, it looked as if it was part of the structure of the bar, there for support.

  I didn’t get either and sidled over to the table with a wide smile. I made sure to stop at the corner of the table where said asshole she spoke of sat. “How are you boys doing tonight?” I asked.

  All eyes were on my tits, covered as they were, but it didn’t matter to them. My tank top was form fitting, and it didn’t hide my curves.

  “We’d be doing a lot better if you joined us,” the asshole said before his hand went right to my ass.

  I smiled and leaned down because I wanted to make sure he heard me loud and clear. He took my movement as invitation, grinning like a cat who’d caught a mouse. “If you don’t take your hands off me or any of my staff, you’ll come to regret it,” I said while still smiling before I knocked his hand away not so gently.

  The other guys around the table jeered and pointed at him with their peanut gallery comments. It was too bad the asshole’s ego was too fragile and he put his hand back. In quick succession, I raised my arm and used my elbow like a battering ram against his nose. Blood squirted and the table got quiet.

  “You broke my nose,” the asshole whined.

  “You’re lucky I didn’t break your hand, which would put you out of a job. If you want to keep those fingers, keep your goddamn hands to yourself.” I didn’t curse often, but it felt appropriate here. Then, I sweetly announced to the table, “Don’t forget to pay your tab on the way out.”

  Before I got two feet away, he said, “I should call the cops.”

  I turned and grinned because his head was tilted back as he held his nose. “Please do because putting your hands on me and my waitresses is called assault and battery.” I pointed to his ruined nose. “That’s called self-defense. So yes, please call the sheriff so we can put it on the record.” When he just sneered at me, I added, “Or maybe you have a record.”

  By the hate in his eyes, I guessed he did. The kind that had probably had him still on parole and bringing the police would only put his ass back to jail.

  “Bitch,” he muttered. It was the best he could do.

  “Just pay the tab and get the hell out of my bar.”

  Some of guys who’d played football back when I was in high school came over. Big strapping guys that had been linemen back in the day.

  “You need some help, Emma?”

  I winced because I really didn’t want the asshole to know my name, not that it would have been hard to find out. Still. “I’m fine,” I said. “We’ve come to an understanding. They are leaving right after they pay their bill.”

  It was important that the town knew I could handle the bar, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate four big guys folding their arms over their chests like sentries for the outsiders to do as told. I sashayed away knowing I hadn’t made customers for life and didn’t care.

  “Josie, take them their bill.”

  She nodded, “Thanks, Emma.” Though I’d handled it thoroughly on my own, I could tell she felt better the townsfolk had come to the rescue. I sighed.

  When the bar closed, I stood in the door and watched as my staff got in their cars and left. There was no sign of the asshole or his compadres in the parking lot. There was that. I went to Dad’s office and closed out the registers. Normally, I would leave a minimal amount in the drawer so it was ready to go the next day. But I had a bad feeling.

  Asshole and friends could come back and do damage to the bar. I wouldn’t leave them any cash to take with them even though the amount in the registers wouldn’t have covered the value of their tab.

  When I was finished, I checked the cameras. Again, something I wouldn’t normally do. But tonight, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

  Sure enough, there were now two cars in the parking lot. Asshole stood next to his waiting. His nose wasn’t taped up, but it didn’t appear to be bleeding anymore.

  Instead of dialing dispatch, I called Aiden. It was instinct.

  “Emma, is everything okay?”

  He sounded half asleep. It was late. “There’s trouble at the bar.”

  I hung up because there wasn’t time to explain. I had no idea how long he’d been waiting. He could have been across the street and had watched everyone leave except me. He was shifting on his feet, likely anxious and planning his next move.

  His mistake was thinking I was an easy target. My father made sure I wasn’t. I could handle myself and like everyone in the state, I was armed.

  I checked my gun but left it in my tote bag for easy reach. The thing about guns was if you pointed it at someone, you had to be prepared to shoot to kill. That was how my father taught me. Because I felt confident I could handle him by other means, the gun was a last resort.

  After locking up the office, I walked down the hall to the door, checking the camera on my phone as I did. I didn’t want to be blindsided. So far, he was still at his car.

  One last look at the phone, I dropped it in my bag in favor of my car keys. They were useful weapons in a pinch if you held them right. I opened the back door and made sure he hadn’t moved before I stepped out.

  “You should leave,” I said before he could make any vague threats.

  “Why? You’re exactly who I’m here to see.” His voice came out nasally, which I’d expected given the size of his swollen nose.

  “Looking for another lesson on manners?” I asked, taking a few steps toward my car.

  “You keep talking and I’ll make sure no one thinks you’re pretty anymore.”

  I stilled. “Is that a threat? I want to be clear on what you’re doing here.”

  “Call it whatever you want. But you owe me.” His lip curled in an ugly smile that went well with the ugly muddled coloring around his nose.

  “Owe you for what?”

  “For breaking my nose.”

  I was careful with my choice of words. “After you assaulted me.”

  “Whatever bitch. You prance around in your tight clothes because you want a man. A real man, not some small dick city pussy.”

  Did he know me? I studied his scruffy face, trying to recall who he could be and came up empty. He had a scar on his cheek, but that didn’t ring any bells either.

  “Last chance. Leave or you’ll regret it,” I offered.

  He chuckled not having learned his lesson earlier. I gave him my back and walked to my car. It was a risk. If his friends were somewhere hidden, I would be in trouble until Aiden or the cavalry arrived.

  As I guessed, he was as predictable as he’d been earlier. He did exactly what I wanted him to do. He rushed up behind me and wrapped an arm nearly around my throat. I dropped my bag and grabbed at his arm. Then, I bent, using his momentum to send him over me to land flat on his back.

&
nbsp; The air rushed from his lungs, leaving him stunned. I used my boot to pin his hand to the ground as I reached for my gun.

  “Stay where you are, or I’ll break every finger in your hand like I promised you earlier.”

  “You bitch,” he spat and started to move.

  I applied more of my weight on his hand and pointed my gun at his forehead as he stared up at me.

  “A bitch with a gun,” I said.

  Tires screeched, but I couldn’t look away or the asshole could get the drop on me. I had to hope the person who’d arrived was Aiden.

  “Emma,” Aiden said calmly, like he needed to talk me down and maybe he did.

  “This bitch is trying to kill me,” the asshole cried.

  Aiden came into view. His gun was raised, but not pointed at me. “You can put it away.”

  “Hey stranger,” I said. I winked, and I watched Aiden’s lips twitch as he tried not to smile. I might have rocked on my feet before I removed my foot from his hand.

  The asshole cried out. “Now she’s broken my fingers.”

  I hadn’t or at least I didn’t think so.

  “On your stomach, hands behind your head,” Aiden called out.

  “What the fuck man? She did this to me.”

  “I have video and audio of the entire thing,” I said, calmly. “He was waiting on me and made threats. When I didn’t back down, he came at me. I put him on his ass and his ego is bruised again. I’ll send you the video,” I offered.

  He didn’t answer me. He repeated his instructions to the asshole. The sound of Aiden’s gun cocking got the asshole moving. He rolled on his stomach and did as asked. Aiden had him in handcuffs in seconds. Then just as fast, he hoisted the asshole up and perp walked him to his SUV.

  “That ain’t no cop car,” the asshole complained.

  Aiden flashed his badge and got him in the back passenger side. He used another pair of cuffs to tether him to the headrest. With no barrier, I couldn’t blame Aiden.

  Then, he came back to me. “What happened?”

  I gave him the short version of events. “I may have video of the table incident, but I didn’t check. I do have the video of what happened here. And my doorbell will have the audio. We might have been out of view. But there will be audio.”

  “Send it to me on my office email.” He handed me a business card.

  “Official.”

  “Exactly. And go home. Call me when you get there.”

  “You don’t need my statement?”

  “Not tonight. The video and audio will be enough for now.”

  There I went again, wanting to kiss him. I fought against the urge. “Thank you.”

  “We’ve talked about this before. You don’t have to thank me.”

  “You were sleeping.”

  “I was dozing.”

  I licked my lips. “Thanks anyway.” I tore myself from his gaze and went to my car.

  “Call me,” he said, and I nodded.

  Aiden Faulkner would be the death of me if he didn’t kiss me soon.

  Chapter 18

  Aiden

  Emma’s asshole was all too familiar with me.

  “Billy Baker,” I said. “Didn’t take you long to violate the terms of your parole.”

  Because there was a restraining order against him by a former girlfriend, the Sheriff’s office was notified when he was released from prison.

  “That crazy bitch broke my nose and hand.”

  “She’s not a bitch and you know as well as I do you provoked her,” I said.

  “With words.” Spittle flew in my car as he was practically turning purple with rage.

  “I doubt that. She’s sending me video of the entire thing. You may want to rethink your statement.”

  “I want a lawyer.”

  “You’ll get one after you’re processed.”

  I pulled into the lot behind the station. Getting him out would be risky. That’s why I used two cuffs and not one. Good thing I kept them in my SUV for this very reason. I only had to remove one to release him from the car. If he made a run for it, he would still have his hands cuffed together.

  “Don’t add to your charges by trying to run,” I warned him before I got out.

  I braced myself before opening the back passenger door, but he didn’t do anything yet. I was vulnerable as I leaned in and released the one cuff. I left it hanging as I hauled him out.

  “Maybe I’ll tell my lawyer you did this to me, and I’ll get off.”

  I unlocked the back door and so far, he was compliant. I waited until we were inside before I said, “You do remember she has video, which would include me. There’s video all over the station,” I lied. “The timestamps will prove along with the video that I had nothing to do with your injuries.”

  “That bitch is lying.” He bucked against my hold for the first time.

  Wyatt appeared in the hall, and without words exchanged, he helped me get him in the cell.

  “I want a lawyer,” Billy yelled again.

  “After you’re processed. Thing about small towns, we don’t have overnight personnel to handle things like that. You’ll have to wait until the morning.”

  He yelled at the top of his lungs, and we left the cell area. He was wasting his breath. He would be heading back to jail rather prison with no ‘pass go’ card in the morning.

  When the door closed, Wyatt finally spoke.

  “What the hell happened?”

  “Emma called me about trouble at the bar,” I said and made my way to my office.

  Wyatt trailed me. “Emma called you and not the station?” I shrugged. “So the rumors are true?”

  “What rumors?” I asked.

  “People have seen the two of you together a lot.” He made a point to exaggerate the last two words.

  “People are always talking,” I said, dismissing it.

  “Maybe, but I know you and you’ve been sweet on her since high school.”

  Had it been that obvious to everyone? “She’s engaged,” I said.

  “Yeah. She’s a sweet girl, Aiden.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m just saying there are rumors about you and Darcy too. And I know how you two are together.”

  Darcy had come by with floor samples the other day. Apparently, that hadn’t gone unnoticed either.

  I felt my anger rising. “How’s that?”

  “You’d be with Darcy one minute and someone else the next. Then Darcy again.”

  “I didn’t cheat on her if that’s what you’re suggesting. Darcy and I broke up, a lot.”

  “Exactly. But you’d always end up back with her. Emma’s happy. Don’t play with her head if you aren’t sure.”

  I leaned back because I was glad someone was looking out for Emma. “There’s nothing going on with Darcy and me.”

  “Someone saw the two of you together in your house. Did they make that up?”

  I opened my mouth as it hit me. Darcy had made that move. I thought I’d heard something at the door that night, but then I was holding Darcy off and telling her the score. After Darcy left, I had gone to see Emma and she’d acted so strange.

  “They did see something?” Wyatt asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. “I’m just saying. You know how things were with my ex, Karlie. She almost came between Sadie and me. Don’t let something like that happen to you.”

  I checked the time. “I’ll be back and when I do, you can go home to your pretty wife. Deal?”

  “It’s my shift,” he said.

  “Yeah, and I have paperwork to do. There’s no point in both of us being here.” I checked my phone. Emma had emailed me the video. I’d send it along with the report later.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “I’ll be back.” I wasn’t going to answer his question, not with all the rumors going around. I could have waited until the morning. But more eyes would be on me. I pulled to a stop in front of Emma’s house. I jogged to the door and knocked. It wasn�
�t hard enough to wake the neighbors, but loud enough to hear.

  She came to the door, hair wet.

  “You didn’t call,” I said, though she had emailed me.

  “Oh.” Her lips curved, and I swear her name carved itself on my heart in that moment.

  “Can I come in?”

  She tightened her robe and then bobbed her head, taking a step back.

  Inside, a large bouquet of red roses was on the kitchen island.

  “Are those from Evan?”

  She blew out a breath. “Yeah.” She didn’t sound happy about it.

  “An apology or just because?” I asked. I did have my reasons for wanting to know the answer.

  “Neither.”

  “Is it none of my business?” I asked, keeping my eyes on hers.

  “I um—broke things off. This is his way of getting me back, I guess.”

  I held back a satisfactory smile. “You broke the engagement?”

  “I did.”

  “Why?”

  We just stared at each other for a long moment.

  “It didn’t feel right.”

  I switched gears with purpose. “Why were you mad at me last Friday night?”

  “I apologized for that,” she said, dodging an answer.

  “And I accepted. I’d like to know why you were so angry with me.”

  She shifted her gaze to the ground. I put a finger under her chin and lifted her head to meet my eyes. “Tell me.”

  She sighed. “I saw you…”

  I didn’t force her to finish. I had my answer. “If you’d watched a second longer, you would have seen me setting the record straight with Darcy. There is nothing there for you to be jealous about.”

  The innocent way she looked at me and then bit her lip, broke me. I leaned down and captured her mouth in a kiss that was a long time in the making.

  When she looped her arms around my neck, I walked her back to a wall and pressed into her softness.

  My cock responded and I pulled back before she felt the evidence of my arousal. She looked as crestfallen as I felt.

  “We have all the time in the world. I’m a patient man and I plan to do this right. When I have you for the first time, there will be no doubt between us as to where we stand. You will belong to me and no other man.”