the wall by booth fifteen, his rank breath coating my face like mist. “Carl, you’re drunk and need to go lie down. Now.” I’m scared but keep my voice steely. This is Carl. He’s my friend. Hell, he’s almost family. And I have a moment of hope that he’s going to listen to my bartender boss voice that brooks no argument.
He leans in, nuzzling into my neck, and I think he sniffs me before leaning back to look in my eyes. “I was gonna ask you out when you were ready, but you kept telling everyone you weren’t dating so I waited. Res-resch-respecting what you wanted. But that asshole just comes in here, slamming cash and flashing dick, and you let him lead you out like a fucking puppy. Fuck that and fuck you, Maddie.”
His quiet, lost little boy voice gets louder and louder, turning up my fear level with every decibel. I push against his chest, hoping he’ll lose his footing, stumble, and let me get out of the cage he’s created for me with his bigger frame. But he’s drunk-strong, feeling no pain.
“Yeah, fuck you, Maddie.” And with that declaration, Carl dives for my neck again.
I cry out, truly terrified now and pressing against him with everything I have, no longer holding back. “No, Carl. No. Leave me alone!”
There’s a loud bang on the front door and Carl yells over his shoulder, “We’re closed. Come back later.” But whoever’s knocking doesn’t listen, thank goodness. With one more crashing sound, the door bursts open and Scott stands there. My knight in a custom-made suit. And this time, I’m so fucking glad to see him.
“What the fuck?” Scott yells, but he’s already running across the room, charging at Carl. He lands a punch to Carl’s gut as Carl swings wildly.
“You have fucking everything . . . why her?” Carl roars. Scott answers, but it’s not with words. Instead, he lands one more wallop of a punch to Carl’s jaw, knocking him out clean on the floor.
Scott turns to me instantly. “Are you okay? Oh, my God, Maddie. Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head, burying my face in his dress shirt. I’ve never been a damsel in distress before, and in fact, have argued that fact with the man holding me right now. But in this moment, I want to be the rescued princess because I’m done, stretched to my limit with shock and horror at what just almost happened. ”I’m okay. Just please. I need to get out of here. Get me out of here.”
Scott nods crisply. “Of course. Hang on.” He walks over to Carl, and for a second, I think he’s gonna punch him again, but instead, he rolls his unconscious body to his side, tilting his head so he won’t choke if he pukes. College Drinking 101 in action, I think oddly. But when Scott wraps me back in his arms, puts me in his car, and drives me home, all of my thoughts blank. At some point, I think he gives me a bath because I feel warm water and smell lavender. But all I remember are cool sheets and Scott’s warm body as the darkness takes me and I dream.
Chapter 24
Scott – An Hour Before
I sit in my armchair, staring out over Bane, replaying today’s meeting over and over . . . my dad’s words, the look on his face, and then my semi-makeup with my brother and sister. We’re not magically all golden and perfect siblings now, but our apologies are a start toward something better. And it’s because of her. My Madison.
I watch a car drive by on the road below me, heading somewhere, and I wonder if it’s too early to head to Stella’s. She’d told me it’d be a busy night and she didn’t need to be distracted by my sexiness taking up a paying spot at her bar, so I’d promised to work late and pick her up at closing time.
Eventually, I finish the single scotch I’ve been sipping on for the last half-hour and decide that I can always help Maddie clean up so we can get out sooner. Cleaning up the bar with her last time worked out pretty well . . . other than the tattoo freak-out. But since we’re well past that, I’m sure she’d love the help. And I’d love to get her home and on my cock as soon as possible.
The drive over is smooth and seamless, but all that goes to shit