Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
CALLIE
One minute the asshole is leaping toward me with that big-ass knife and the next minute Mr. Smoldering Eyes grabs the guy’s arm from behind, slamming his fist into his elbow at the same time, ensuring that arm isn’t going to be raising that knife or anything else until it heals.
The jerk spits on the floor in front of me. “I’ll be back for you, sweetheart.”
Four strangers surround him, two of them grabbing the guy who slapped my butt by the arms, and another picking up the knife with a gloved hand and dropping it into a plastic bag.
I point to the door. “Get out.”
The sexy stranger puts a hand on my lower back, guiding me back to the table with the others while Bill hovers, texting on his phone. “Are you tattling to my sister?” I ask, more to distract myself from the spine-tingling sensation of the stranger still heating my skin while guiding the way.
Bill looks up from his messages. “You could have gotten yourself killed. Why you insist on working in a bar when you could have chosen…”
My eyes narrow in warning. How many times I need to have this conversation with him and my sister I do not know. “You and Linda do not get to make my choices.” My voice softens a little knowing he’s just worried. “Go home, Bill, make sure Linda knows I’m okay so she isn’t up worrying. I’ll be there when things die down. The fishermen are still coming into town by the droves. As long as they have stories to tell, it’s going to be a late night.”
Glenn comes out of the kitchen wiping his hands on his long apron, a scowl creasing his forehead as he walks over to our table. “You okay, Callie?”
I give my boss a wide smile. “You better believe it, Glenn. That guy’s jaw hurts like hell about now, and his arm? I think this guy broke it right in two for me.”
Dawson gives him a friendly punch and I grin like a fool at the handsome devil.
He gives me a smile I bet the smooth talker reserves for all of the women. “Right place at the right time.”
Glenn gives him a nod and a wink. “Good work. I’d offer you a free beer but they’re on the house tonight anyway. Callie, I’m going to finish up. Lock up tonight, will you?” he says before returning to the kitchen.
Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome pulls up an empty chair, gesturing for me to slide in next to him, while he pours me a beer.
I hesitate for a moment. “I’m technically working but officially volunteering. I was almost knifed in the process.” I take the beer and gulp down a big sip. “I’d say I’m entitled.”
He laughs, showing me a mouthful of perfectly bright white teeth, taking a drink of his own.
I lean in close and don’t miss the glance at the bauble lying in the center of my neckline. “In case I didn’t say it back there. Thank you. I’ve seen my fair share of fights, even partaken in a few but I’ve never come this close to being flat-out knifed for no reason at all.”
His eyebrow arches as I take a sip of my beer. “For no reason at all?”
“Well, maybe I shouldn’t have slugged him, but the jerk had it coming.”
He lowers his voice. “I can’t argue that, but next time you get the desire to slug someone, you be prepared for them to draw a gun or a knife, or any number of things that you don’t expect will come.”
I take a long draw of beer, sizing him up. “You’re bossy. Who are you and where did you come from?”
Blake hears it and laughs. “Callie, this is Gabe. One of our best friends.” He gestures to the four. “Gabe, Dawson, Grady, and me. Couldn’t separate us growing up, still can’t. Gabe and Glenn actually go way back. He’s the one that…”
I don’t miss the quick shake of Gabe’s head, or the way Blake takes a drink of his beer before changing the conversation. “Anyways, Gabe likes to fish and came in for the tournament. We’re recruiting him to help us haul some more ice, water, beer, tables, and chairs over to the tent they have set up tomorrow. Sounds like they were running low today, and more people are registered for tomorrow. Semi with ice will be here early.”
“Absolutely. Fresh air and a little exercise, I’m in,” Gabe says.
I give him a genuine smile. “Thanks. We can use your help with all the heat this time of year. There is a ton of ice to unload and load. The semi is dropping it here because it would cost Glenn another five hundred dollars to have it delivered down by the riverbed.”
He leans in close and whispers into the shell of my ear. “We both know I’m going to be helping you with far more than that before this night is through, Callie.”