Chapter 4
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Coty
I was wrong. Having the live feed with the Roadhouse isn’t a good thing. It hasn’t helped to ease my mind at all. In fact, it’s making matters worse. Now, I have to sit here and watch men talk to her. Yes, I parked myself at a table with a direct line to the camera and a perfect view of the TV monitor.
She should be bartending here at the Den tonight so that I can keep a better eye on her. I mean things. I’m not controlling. I’m really not. I just have a problem with men with bad intentions talking to her. And yes, every man on this planet other than my trusted, loyal brothers has bad intentions. College guys are near the top of the bad intentions list. The Roadhouse is packed with college guys tonight. The sight of them makes me wish I could reach through the screen and punch them in the face. Can’t flirt if you have a busted nose.
“She’s fine.” Jack drops down into the chair next to mine and stretches one leg out. His eyes follow Lily as she walks into the kitchen.
“What?”
“You could just go to the Roadhouse.”
“My job’s here tonight.” I put my elbow on the table and lean the side of my head against my fist. My eyes remain on the TV screen.
“Nah, man. That’s an excuse.” Jack takes a sip of beer and glances around the Den. “You need to go up there and tell Kayla how you feel. You’re wasting time.”
I motion to him with one hand. “Pot.” I slap the same hand against my chest. “Kettle.”
He growls and shakes his head. “Waiting isn’t helping either of you.”
I stare at him like the fool he is. “Took you a minute to tell Lily how you felt.”
He holds up a finger. “True, but my ole’ lady was an angel. I had to walk softly.” He wiggles both hands. “And use soft gloves . Still do at times,” he mumbles the last part.
I can’t help but laugh. Lily informed Jack just how much she hated his soft gloves. She wasn’t prepared for the full force of Jack McLeod either. We’ve had years of training on how to handle and care for an angel. They need love, comfort, security, and emotional support. That training bleeds over into how we treat all women. Jack’s never loved a woman like he does Lily. She’s his forever. He’ll always treat her with a mix of his true self and with soft gloves if the situation calls for it.
My eyes drift back to the TV screen. Is Kayla my forever? Did I wait too long to see it? Do I want her so badly now because I can’t have her? It’s enough to drive a man insane just thinking about it.
“Tell her how you feel,” he says again.
“She won’t talk to me.” My head falls back. Whining is not my style.
“Maybe you’re not talking right.” Nana, Jack’s grandmother, sets a beer in front of me.
Jack leans forward, ducks his head, and tries to hide his laughter behind his hand. His laughter quickly dies when Nana sets a cup of coffee in front of him.
He looks up and narrows his eyes. “Nana?”
Nana points to the bar. Lily smiles and wiggles her fingers in a little wave. I swear she does stuff like this just to mess with Jack. Oh, he will drink that cup of coffee and enjoy every drop.
Nana places a hand on my back and raises an eyebrow. I should’ve known she wouldn’t let it slide. She doesn’t let anybody off the hook.
“Nana, I don’t know how I’m talking wrong. I can say hello, and she bites my head off.”
“Then talk without speaking.”
It’s my turn to narrow my eyes at her. “How do I talk without actually talking?”
“There are ways, Rodeo. So many ways.” Nana pats me on the back twice and walks away like she just solved all my problems.
I love Nana. She’s full of wisdom and offers great advice. Sometimes, well, lots of times, her advice doesn’t make sense, especially when it’s directed at you. Then one day, shockingly, it makes perfect sense. Sadly for me, it doesn’t tonight.
“Your grandmother is crazy.”
Jack’s hand slaps hard against my chest. “That’s my Nana.”
“I know.” I nod once and quickly add, “And I love her.”
“What are you going to do?”
“You know how to talk without talking?” I twist the top off the beer and take a sip.
Jack looks back toward the bar at his ole' lady. He grips his chin and lazily runs a finger over his lip. After a long moment, he turns to me with a split-eating grin. “Oh, yeah. I do.”
I shove him to the side. “I can’t do that.”
My best friend is as crazy as his grandmother. I’ll never say those words out loud. But yeah, his way of talking without words would be great, really great. I’d happily do that if I could. However, I can’t get close enough to Kayla to touch her, let alone kiss her, or other things. Whenever I get near her, she puts as much distance between us as possible. Speaking to her gets me yelled at or spoken to like I’m an idiot.
I look up at the TV screen again. Kayla is no longer behind the bar—just my luck. The moment I look away, she disappears. It’s a busy night. She probably needed a break.
“Jack.” Nick walks up with a small tablet in his hands, as usual. “We might have a problem.”
Jack and I are instantly on our feet. He takes one step toward the bar and stops. Lily is sitting on a stool between Granddad and Pops, laughing. The two old-timers are founding members of the club. We glance around the Den. Nothing is out of place. It’s loud. People are drinking, playing pool, or out back with the live band. We rang in the New Year a few minutes ago without any issues. It’s a normal club party.
If the trouble isn’t here? I snap my head toward the TV screen again. Hendrix is forcing one of the college guys out. The guy’s buddies jump up and follow them. A moment later, Bankz storms out the front door. That’s not good. The next movement on the screen paralyzes me. Emily and a woman I don’t know help Kayla onto a barstool. Parker pours a shot for Kayla while the woman lifts her shirt sleeve. Anger explodes within me like a bomb going off. College dude is mine.
“Rodeo, wait!” Jack calls out.
Nope. Too late. I’m already running to the side parking lot. I jump into my truck and jam the key in the ignition. Nothing happens. The key doesn’t fit. What in the world?
Jack opens the passenger door and climbs in. “Keep your head, man.”
“No!” I try the key again. Still nothing. “Ah, come on!”
Jack dangles a set of keys in front of me. “Wrong truck, man.”
Seriously? I glare at him and snatch the keys from his hand. Getting a truck almost exactly like my best friend’s was a mistake. A mistake I can fix later. Right now, I need to be at the Roadhouse.
I start the engine and back out. The front gate opens before we get there. Jack salutes Ross as we pass the guardhouse. He took over five minutes after midnight. Jack’s dad wants trusted patched members watching the gate during big parties.
“Whatever you do, don’t wreck my truck.” Jack pulls his phone out.
I glance over just long enough to catch Bankz’ picture on the screen. The call rings out. He tries Hendrix next. No answer. Somebody should answer their phone. This can’t be good. I press my foot harder on the gas pedal.
“You heard the part about not wrecking my truck. Right?”
“Yeah. I got it, man.” Driving fast, I can handle. My temper is another thing.
We’re in town in ten minutes. I pull up in front of the Roadhouse and slam on the brakes. I toss the keys to Jack and run for the door. Nobody is guarding the entrance. Bankz is slacking tonight. Hendrix is supposed to be at the door.
Ten feet inside, my eyes land on Kayla, still sitting at the bar. I come to an abrupt halt. There’s a large bandage on her arm. That’s more than a bruise. Anger turns to boiling rage. Nick can use the security footage to ID this guy. College dude will regret every touching my girl.