Page 6

Chapter Five

F illing a tumbler I moved to the viewing glass. Whiskey had never tasted so good and the burn spreading through my body only intensified the longer I stood pretending I was watching anything other than her.

A small smile threatened to pierce my steely exterior when I thought about our two interactions to date. One resulting in a fist to the stomach and the other ending with a drink on my shoes and a tumble which was surprisingly cute. Both I would usually find oddly irritating, yet there was something about the softness of those knowing eyes that told me there was more to her. And in the surprise of the century, she made me smile, on more than one occasion, something which most people struggled to do in their lifetime.

Shaking that peach like arse to the music had my dick twitching and I wondered if someone had ever evoked such a visceral reaction from me. She was wearing a pair of gold heels which only lengthened those lean legs, a strap wound up around her calves. Her dress enveloped her perfectly and her head was thrown back as she sang along with the music, laughing with Arna as they pointed at each other. I glanced towards the bar to check that nothing there required my attention, but no matter how hard I tried, I kept returning to the brunette beauty in purple.

“Marlee,” I enunciated to the empty room, feeling her name move around my mouth.

There was something there and I let my thoughts wander because I couldn't remember the last time anyone garnered my attention.

I wondered why she’d been staying with Andy and why he seemed evasive when any of the boys asked about his new house guest. After meeting her, it made sense why he’d dodged hosting poker night for a while now – I wasn't sure anyone would be focusing on their hand with her around all the time.

Unless it was holding their dick.

Christ, I needed a release other than the gym and a jog along the beach with where my mind kept going.

Twirling my drink, the tinkering of ice against glass pierced the silence as I took another sip. It was smooth with the familiar subtle burn down my throat, the woodsy remnants settling on my palette. I’d have to let Coop know this was a good one.

I’d always enjoyed scotch but when he opened his distillery eighteen months ago it reinforced the dream to open my whiskey bar. He’d been my mate for as long as I could remember and was there when the days were long and the nights cold. One who I trusted without question, and I was proud of him and his achievements despite growing up with the boundaries his dad placed on him. From as young as I could remember he was destined to work for his father. His own interests and skills be damned. And like any young man who felt pressured, he rebelled, doing anything and everything he could to not only piss off his father, but garner some kind of attention.

It was something we had in common.

My dad had left me too. He was alive somewhere but absent all the same, probably wishing he didn’t have kids, lost in the dregs of a bottle.

Weak, undisciplined and capricious – all the things I despised.

I never could understand what kind of man would have children and then leave his wife to raise them alone. Leave them to grow up without a role model with no explanation.

But like Coop, it only reinforced I would never be like him. I would command nothing short of mastery in all aspects of my life, because it meant nothing took me by surprise and I didn’t let anyone down. Every act and consequence was intentional.

Thoughts of vanishing parents and resulting trauma were suddenly eviscerated when Wayne lunged towards the women, my first indication something was amiss.

They directed their attention beyond his shoulder to someone shoving their way through the crowd and for a second I lost sight of them. Wayne’s eyes darted in the direction of my office and I knew this was an unbidden signal that shit was about to go down.

Leaving my drink, I rushed for the door knowing there would be hell if Andrew Gloss’ most prized possession was caught up in whatever was brewing.

By the time I got down to the floor, Wayne was standing in front of Arna, one arm behind him gripping her wrist, in both a protective stance and to keep her at bay. I was relieved to see she appeared unhurt, however, the daggers shooting from her eyes could set a weaker man alight. Most of the patrons nearby thankfully hadn’t even noticed something was wrong and were still dancing to the Amy Winehouse track blaring through the system. But it wouldn’t take long and if people recognised the fiancé of Andy Gloss involved in the drama, my club would make the press for all the wrong reasons. Again.

A purple blur in my peripheral seized my attention, and I flicked my gaze to the left to see a man with his hands wrapped far too tight around the upper arms of a woman – Marlee .

I stilled, swiftly assessing the situation. Her stance was rigid, hands hanging limply by her side in surrender. Her lips were parted slightly, eyes fixed on Arna in a silent plea – for what I wasn’t sure. The man was unkempt and it was incalculable that he was even granted access given how slovenly he appeared. He was speaking to her, too quiet for me to hear exactly what he was saying, but he was anything but calm. His eyes darted between Marlee and Arna - who was turning all shades of red trying to unsuccessfully get around Wayne.

I didn’t know Marlee from Eve, but she was clearly uncomfortable with the arsehole who had the audacity to grab her in my club. As if hearing my thoughts, her gaze shot my way and the tears in her large green eyes flipped a switch within me. An unexpected fire shot through my chest, ears ringing as I took a step forward, stealthily flicking my head to Wayne signalling he remove Arna immediately.

The last thing I needed was Andy on my arse and if shit wasn’t sorted soon, that was a certainty. Moving to stand behind Marlee, I easily pried one of the slimy prick’s hands off her arm, replacing it with my own. He was shorter than me by a good few inches and I knew a weak piece of shit when I saw one.

He was desperate, likely intoxicated, and most notably he was hurting her.

“I’m going to ask you once and once only, take your hand off her and get out of my club.” I kept my words tight and to an outside observer, I appeared calm, my voice intentionally void of emotion, my face blank. I’d perfected the art of nonchalance but I also knew there was a fine line between faux composure and diabolical anger and if this jerk didn’t listen quickly, I would be dancing on that boundary with no thought to consequences.

I was aware of my security team, observing yet providing me the respect to manage the situation myself. In the four years I’d owned the club, I’d never involved myself in any altercations with patrons and my only justification now was to prevent an entire football team causing me a headache.

Although that was debatable.

The leggy brunette whose skin burned under my touch was unintentionally drawing me to her. Even if Wayne hadn’t called me down, I’m not sure I would have stayed away much longer.

I could see the irresolution emanating from the bastard who still had one hand on her, blood-shot eyes darting about. A trapped animal looking for a means of escape without losing his prey. He tightened his grip causing her to flinch, the first movement I’d seen from her since she looked in my direction, but otherwise she didn’t react. Didn’t demand he remove his grip. Didn’t offer any form of fight.

The realisation was sobering. She was resigned to this behaviour. Afraid yet resigned.

“You’re coming with me!” There was something about the way he dictated her next move that told me more than I wanted to know. It also reaffirmed that she was not going to be leaving with him under any circumstances.

Her head hung low as she emptied her lungs of a deep breath.

“No. We’re done. Now let me go.” Her voice was soft but firm, holding none of the carefree humour I saw moments ago as she danced. I’m not sure I would have even heard her if I hadn’t been standing so close.

Suddenly, her body thrust forward, the space between us unexpectedly cold as I lost her body to him.

Instinctively lurching forward and around Marlee, I grabbed him by the back of the throat, the surprise causing him to release his grip on her arm and reach for my own.

Positioning her behind me, I swung him around to face me and swiftly shoved my fist straight into his face. Any attempt at keeping this low-key out the window as people scattered.

Her short gasp from behind was the only thing preventing my hand from coming through for a second punishing hook. Regardless of who this scumbag was to her, I didn’t need to make things worse – especially in my own fucking club.

“Him - out!” I ordered the guards to my left, turning back to Marlee and guiding her through the crowd.

Get her away from him – a song on repeat in my mind as adrenaline pressed me forward. I could hear his pathetic pleas as he fought for her attention. Fought to salvage control of a situation he never should have instigated, but to my relief she didn’t look back.

I couldn’t help but notice how that fucking tight dress wrapped around her but when I looked up to find her shoulders still slumped and her head bowed despairingly any lust I may have felt was instantly sobered. Walking ahead of me, unsteady on her feet, far more intoxicated than the current bar tab depicted was a shell of the woman I’d seen a few minutes earlier.

Bypassing the VIP area along with plenty of other places I could have stopped, I opened the back door that led outside, needing more space. The confinement of what I always thought was a spacious club, too tight, too small, for her – me – this .

I ushered her outside but her steps were heavy, her docile obedience disconcerting.

Ironic given how naturally I sought dominance – but never like this.

The crisp air was a welcomed slap to the face, the adrenaline fading the further we moved away. I remained close to her, knowing she was drunk, upset or a strong mixture of both as I silently held the door open waiting for her to step into the street. Even with her hand pressed to the door frame in an attempt to gain some sturdiness, she stumbled down the small step. Instinctively, as if we were in tandem, I reached out, steadying what was almost a nasty injury.

We both froze at the contact.

Her arse fit perfectly against me and I moved my arm around her stomach to stabilise her while I tried to think about anything other than how fucking warm she was.

The door behind us swung open, the beat of the music intensifying for a second before Arna was in front of us pulling Marlee from me and into her arms.

“I will kill that mother fucker,” she spat, her arms protectively tight around Marlee, her eyes staring ahead in a rage. Her love for her friend was fierce and it cooled my own anger knowing she had someone like that in her corner.

“He’s gone,” Wayne said, appearing behind Arna, both for my benefit and the girls.

Arna was whispering reassuringly while simultaneously pulling her phone from her bag.

“No,” Marlee asserted, taking a step back, “you know you can't miss this, it's your annual conference. I’m okay. I promise.”

“Marls. I will call in a sick day, they will understand. I don't want to leave you.”

I turned to Wayne avoiding openly watching their whispered discussion of apologies and reassurances.

“Damn work!” Arna bellowed before softening her tone. “I don’t want you to be alone,” she pleaded and suddenly, I was inserting myself into their business.

“You can stay with me,” I said to Marlee, before adding, “I have a spare room.” In case my statement was misinterpreted.

Apparently I was a fucking hero now. A hero who couldn’t stand the sadness on her face. The lingering fear reminding me that she was scared of that prick and that was enough of an extinguisher to whatever else I felt.

“Thank you, but I’ll be okay,” she replied meekly and Arna, looking from me to her nodded, as if she had come to a conclusion.

“You don’t want me to call in sick, which I am more than happy to do, but I don’t want you to be alone. I’ll go, only if you agree to stay with Seb.” She folded her arms and something told me she wasn’t someone many people said no to. If I wasn’t still awash with fury I might have found her determination impressive but as it was, I was struggling to keep my own wrath in check.

Marlee looked over at me, the pain in her eyes only fuelling my anger, yet I held my face blank. My rage was the last thing she needed.

“I will be fine. Your place is CIA secured,” she said clearly trying to lighten the mood but Arna only crossed her arms.

“I’m not leaving you alone so you either let me stay or you stay with him,” she tipped her head towards me, “either suits me but I do know Andy will vouch for Seb.”

Marlee appeared to contemplate the idea before resignedly sighing. “Fine. I’ll stay with ,” Turning to me she added, “Thank you.”

“One of these days I’m going to say no to you though.” Marlee said to Arna who only scoffed.

“You know I love you,” Arna said before turning to me with narrowed eyes and a finger thrust in my face.

“If you don’t look after her I will put you in a bodybag!”

“She is safe with me.” I stated plainly, and I meant it with every fibre of my being.

Marlee peered over at me and I wondered what she was thinking. Was she apprehensive coming home with me or curious over my intentions? The latter I couldn’t assist with because even I didn’t know but I could guarantee her safety.

“Okay, well I’m calling a cab as my plane leaves in an hour.”

“Wayne will take you,” I asserted and he nodded gesturing towards the car parked in front of mine. The girls said their goodbyes and with another threat from Andy’s semi-crazy fiancé, she and Wayne left.

The air was quiet and with a slightly awkward ambience I studied her face. This close, I noted the vivid depths to her eyes, clearer now some of the tears had dried. A darker ring moving into clear emerald and framed by soft brown lashes. She swayed a little, taking a step towards me, her wide gaze directly on mine as a hiccup escaped.

“Oops,” she said, one hand moving up to cover her mouth, the other reaching to steady herself on my upper arm. “Marlee is clearly surviving, not thriving.” She sniffed, grabbing hold of me with both hands now. “Shit, your biceps are huge.”

“Do you always speak in third person?” I asked, ignoring the way her compliment made my insides tighten and reached for the passenger door of my car, mindful that fucker could swing back looking for her.

“Marlee does not usually speak in third person, no.” She slumped into the passenger seat, but I didn’t miss the way her eyes darted around quickly, still searching for someone who wasn’t here. I reached over to buckle her belt and did my best to ignore the way my hand grazed her thigh or the sharp intake of her breath when it did.

Why the fuck was I buckling her belt like a child and why was she letting me?

Walking around to the driver’s side with only a quick glance back to the club, I opened the door and got in.

I knew my team would be good to finish without me, it was why I had such a stringent hiring process including rigorous security checks, to ensure they could manage anything that may arise. But I was usually there and liked to give the place a final once over to ensure things were ready for the following day.

Tonight, my priorities had unexpectedly changed, and it had everything to do with the leggy brunette with the big, curious eyes. Ignoring the way my car now smelt like coconut and passionfruit, I hit the accelerator, wondering how the fuck I came to be sitting here acting like altruism was one of my strengths. I didn’t need a mess and this seemed complicated, but I wanted to be around her longer and that meant she was going to enter a place I hadn’t ever taken a woman.

Why I wanted any of these damn things was a question I would navigate tomorrow. For tonight, I would continue to play the role of the hero when I was anything but a saviour.