Page 105 of The Matchmaker Club

Rick looked Ben up and down and then focused on Lucas. “Nope, rich boy and I were just having a little discussion.”

Ben folded his arms across his chest. “What about?”

Rick gave a sly grin. “About how much the Reed women charge for a piece of ass.”

“Alright, that’s it!” Mack pointed to the door. “You three out of here.”

Lucas’s hands clenched into fists. “You and me. Outside.Now.”

“You’re on, soft boy.”

Shit.

Lucas stormed out the door and marched to the middle of the parking lot. Rick started towards the door, and Ben stopped his friends. “This fight is between Rick and Lucas. You fellas try to help out in any way, then you’ll have Mack and me to deal with. You got it?”

“Yeah, we got it.”

Thelma grabbed my hand, and we ran outside with the others who were watching.

I squeezed my fingers around hers as Rick stepped up to Lucas. I’d seen Rick fight but had never seen him lose. And I didn’t know if Lucas had ever been in a fight before. I closed my eyes, silently praying that he wouldn’t get hurt.

“You want a piece of me?” Rick pointed to his jaw. “I’ll even let you have the first swing.”

Lucas didn’t move, only stared him down.

“Did you know ya girl’s great-granny was a stripper? Taylor’s got good genes,” Rick taunted, and I almost wanted to take a swing at him myself.

“I bet she gives one hell of a lap dance.”

Within seconds, Lucas kicked his leg between Rick’s and punched him square across the jaw. Rick stumbled but caught his fall with his hands. Lucas held up his fists, ready and waiting.

My stomach must have flipped over ten times already. I dug my nails into Thelma’s arm.

“Ow!”

I let go. “Sorry. Just nervous.”

Rick stood up and stretched his jaw. “Alright, you had your free swing. Now it’s time you get taught a lesson.”

The two of them bounced around a bit, feeling each other out before Rick took a swing at him. Lucas moved his head to the side and gave Rick an uppercut to the chin. After a few more swings and misses, Rick kneed Lucas in the gut and immediately followed it with a punch in the face.

Oh no.

Lucas grabbed Rick by the back of the neck and planted a solid blow to his nose. Blood gushed down his face.

The guys from the mill reacted with a couple cheers and laughter, embarrassing Rick even more. He held his hands to his nose, and one of his friends tossed him a flannel shirt from inside his truck.

“You’re gonna pay for this, rich boy.” Rick hopped into his truck and slammed the door.

I ran over to Lucas. He flinched when I touched his arm. “You okay?”

“Fine.”

I reached up to touch a red mark on his cheek that was beginning to swell. “Come inside, we’ll put some ice on that.”

I led him out back and away from the onlookers who were now hamming it up about how Lucas had broken Rick’s nose. He was about to get famous in this little town.

Mack handed me ice wrapped in a hand towel. “You can take him to my office. Thelma and I will handle the front.”