Chapter 31 #2
The patrons keep Cinder fairly busy, and it’s clear to me that she’s used to working hard. She doesn’t get flustered at all when some of the local drunks pester her.
I decide I like her, and her presence here makes me look forward to coming in on Saturday nights. Maybe the two of us could even form a friendship of sorts.
The two of us are chatting over the music when the voice behind me makes me still.
“Anabelle, it’s been a while. You’re a hard woman to track down these days.”
I turn to see Galen. He’s dressed in his sheriff’s uniform, so he must be on shift tonight. I do not feel like dealing with his bullshit. Why will this man not take a hint?
“Hi, Galen.” I give him a small smile, then turn back around to Cinder and continue our conversation.
Before I can say a word, he sidles up beside me, leaning his side on the bar and invading my space. “Where have you been? Every time I swing by your place, your brother says you’re out, but he won’t tell me where.”
“Well, maybe you should take that as a hint that it’s none of your business.” I give him a saccharine smile then lift my beer to my lips.
“Excuse me for a second.” Cinder walks to the far corner of the bar and pulls her phone out of her purse.
Really? She’s leaving me now to text a friend?
Galen chuckles as I figured he would, still too dense to see an insult for what it is. “Come on, Anabelle. When are you going to stop fighting this thing between us and admit that we should be together?”
The idea of being with Galen makes my skin crawl. I could never make myself vulnerable to him the way I do with Asher.
I spin on my seat to face him, hating how close to him I am.
“Let me make it clear once and for all for you. We are never getting back together. Ever. I’m not pretending to not want to be with you to be coy.
I don’t want to be with you. I never will.
You should move on and find someone who does want to be with you because it will never be me. ”
His eyes narrow, and I think that maybe, for the first time, he’s really heard me. “Is there someone else? Is that it? That where you been every time I go to your place?”
I sigh and close my eyes, praying for patience. Maybe I should just tell him where I am. Maybe that will make him back off. “I’m working at Midnight Manor. That’s where I am. And as for whether there’s someone else, that’s not the point. I don’t want to be with you. That’s the point.”
His eyes widen and alarm flashes across his face. “You can’t be there. What the hell are you thinking even stepping foot on that property, let alone working there. Did they force you?” He grips my wrist as if he’s about to yank me off the stool and run out of here with me.
Cinder comes back over to us. “I think she’s made it clear that she’s not interested, Sheriff.”
Galen directs his glare at her but doesn’t let my wrist go. “If I want your lip, I’ll rattle my zipper.”
Cinder blinks a couple of times, seeming surprised.
“Yeah, that’s right. I remember you from T&Ts,” he sneers.
T&Ts stands for tits and tassels, and it’s the nickname for the strip club just over the county line.
Cinder’s cheeks turn red and shame coats her features.
“Why are you such an asshole?” I say to him, trying to rip my hand from his grip to no avail.
“You can’t go back to that place, Anabelle. This explains why you’ve been acting so weird with me. What are they feeding into your head up there?”
“If you want to keep that hand, you’ll remove it from Miss Boudreaux right now.”
My head whips to the side, and I see Asher looking as if it’s taking everything in him not to pounce on Galen and attack. He’s a feral beast looking for any excuse to maim.
“Asher.” His name comes out breathy, but he doesn’t glance my way at all. He keeps his eyes on Galen.
“You have two seconds. Be thankful I granted you those.”
It’s then I realize that the murmuring in the bar has died down, and everyone is watching this exchange.
Galen lets my wrist go, and I pull back my hand. He saunters toward Asher, chest puffed out, hands on his service belt. “Not sure it’s wise for you to be sticking your nose into things that don’t concern you, Voss.”
Asher doesn’t move his eyes from Galen when he says, “Get your things together, Anabelle. We’re going home.”
Home. I hate that my chest warms when he refers to the place that is only a temporary refuge for me as home.
Grabbing my book off the bar top, I look at Cinder. “Thank you. It was nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she says in a low voice as though if we speak too loudly, we may set off the powder keg between Galen and Asher.
I slip off the stool and walk over to Asher’s side.
“If I see you touch her again, you’re going to lose that hand. Got it?” Asher arches an eyebrow.
“Not smart to threaten the sheriff in front of a bar full of people.” Galen smirks.
“Try your worst, LeBlanc.” Then Asher gently squeezes the back of my neck. “Got all your stuff?”
I nod. His gaze roams my face for a bit before he dips down and places a chaste kiss on my lips.
“You’re fucking him?” Galen booms. “Are you serious? How fucking stupid can you be? Didn’t take you for a slut.”
There’s no warning as Asher pulls away from the kiss and, in one fluid motion, cocks his fist back and punches Galen square in the jaw.
Galen stumbles back and ends up on his ass on the floor.
“Consider that a warning. Next time, there won’t be one.” Then Asher takes my free hand. “Let’s go.”
He leads me out the door, leaving behind a roomful of people gaping at our backs.