Chapter 2
Marry two men at the same time. That way, when you’re not talking to one of them because he was an idiot, you’ve still got another to carry out the trash.
Damaris Donovan
LARA
I heard the girls giggling and looked over the racks of clothing toward the back, where the curtained dressing rooms were.
Colbie was modeling a dress better suited for an elderly woman than a teenager, and I laughed when she reached up and patted the air around her head as if she were fluffing tight curls.
I couldn’t hear her comment, but whatever she said sent Quinlee, Nica, and Raylee into hysterics. They doubled over as they watched her parade by in sensible heels and layers of pearls.
The bell over the door chimed. I instinctively took a step back when I saw who was walking in, but then I squared my shoulders and frowned at the unwelcome visitor.
“Get out of my store, Jeremy,” I said firmly, picking my phone up from the counter and glancing down at it, ready to dial 911 if he behaved anything like he had the last time I saw him.
“Lara, come on! I just want to talk to you, and since I can’t come to your house, this is the only . . .”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m pretty sure I made that clear the last time we spoke. And the time before. And even the time before that.”
“Listen, it’s been a few months. I’ve had time to think about us, just like I’m sure you have . . .”
“I don’t have any reason to think about you. We broke up.”
“I think about you all the time, and I’m willing to do anything to make you happy.”
“Good. Leave. That is the only thing you can do that will make me happy.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“There you go lying again. But what else should I expect, since you admitted that’s something you do regularly?”
“I was angry when I said that.”
“Which doesn’t make it any less true.”
“Put the phone down and talk to me, Lara. There’s no need to call in the cavalry. I love you, and you’ll never need to be rescued from me.”
I scoffed and dialed 911. Looking up at him, I said, “This is your last warning, Jeremy. Stay away from my business, my family’s businesses, my home, my family’s homes, my vehicle, and, more specifically, me.
There’s no reason to call and no reason to visit.
This is me, officially and firmly asking you to leave and stay away. ”
“Lara, you’re being unreasonable about this,” Jeremy whined. He stayed where he was, so I hit the call button and held the phone to my ear, waiting for the dispatcher to answer.
I heard a motorcycle out on the street in front of the store and glanced over to find my hero riding in on his white horse to save the day.
Technically, he didn’t ride a horse, although I was sure his motorcycle had plenty of horsepower, but the white paint job made the description feel perfect anyway.
Just as the door opened, the dispatcher picked up and asked me to explain my emergency.
I could tell by the looks on both Shiloh’s and Jeremy’s faces that they were shocked - one because he’d walked into the middle of a drama he didn’t understand, and the other because I was following through with my promise to end this bullshit.
“My name is Lara Donovan, and there’s a man here that won’t leave my store, no matter how many times I’ve asked him to.
” I gave my address, the name of my business, and Jeremy’s name before adding, “I’m not alone now, so I’m not in fear, but I’m worried about what might happen if he catches me alone. ”
“Come on!” Jeremy groaned.
Shiloh didn’t groan. He growled. It sounded menacing to me, and I was on his side. I was sure that if Jeremy didn’t have so much self-control, he would have wet himself when Shiloh said, “Who the fuck are you, and why are you still here if she asked you to leave?”
Jeremy found a small shred of his earlier bravado and frowned at Shiloh. “I’m here to talk to my girlfriend.”
“It must be your imaginary one, because you’re not talking about Lara. She’s dating me now.”
Jeremy scoffed. “I’m sure you don’t know much, but that’s okay, grease monkey. No one expects you to keep up.”
“I’ve got a question, babe.”
“Uh huh?” I managed. Those were the only syllables my mouth would form. I’d lost the ability to speak, and maybe even breathe, when Shiloh glanced at me with fire in his eyes and stepped seamlessly into the role of rescuing knight.
“How many surfaces do you want me to bounce his face off as I escort Numb Nuts to his car?’
“Nine?” I blurted, though it came out more like a question than an answer.
Shiloh chuckled darkly. “Nine it is.”
Jeremy raised his hands. “If you touch me, I’ll have you sent to jail for assault.”
“Is that a threat?”
“You’re threatening me!”
“I haven’t even gotten started yet, but you’re throwing out promises like we’re going steady. Buddy, take a good look at me. Do you honestly believe I haven’t spent some time locked up before? Try again, but do better this time.”
“I’m leaving!” Jeremy said, stomping toward the door. Over his shoulder, he called out, “This isn’t over, Lara!”
“You better hope it is, fucker! You’re not gonna enjoy it if I ever see your ass again!” Shiloh bellowed.
Jeremy had just stepped out onto the sidewalk when a cruiser pulled up along the curb.
He turned and stared at me through the display I’d set up for the foot traffic, gesturing wildly and cursing.
I wasn’t sure what had prompted the outburst, but I didn’t care.
What mattered was that the officer getting out of the patrol car was witnessing the entire scene.
Hopefully, it would teach Jeremy a lesson about the simplicity of the word no.
“Do you have cameras in this place?” Shiloh asked as we watched Jeremy talking to the officer.
“I do, but they only work when I want them to.”
Shiloh sputtered out a laugh. “I’d appreciate it if you’d resist the urge to publicize my little conversation with your boyfriend.”
“Ex-boyfriend.”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot! I’m your boyfriend now, aren’t I?”
“You said it, not me.”
“Since I’m not a liar, I guess I’ll pick you up at six.”
“What?” I whispered in shock.
“Would seven be better?”
I couldn’t think of anything else to say but, “Sure.”
“Dress for the bike, Cupcake. It’s probably gonna get chilly out.”
“I don’t have a helmet.”
“You can use mine!” Raylee offered.
Shiloh and I both turned to look at the girls. For a split second, his eyes met mine, and I saw him smiling. “Thanks, Biscuit. Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes, sir, I’m ready. But don’t you have to talk to the cops first?”
“I avoid that whenever necessary,” Shiloh said with a grimace. “But I guess there’s no way outta here without doing that, huh?”
“Come with us!” Colbie urged, pointing toward the back.
“Go!” I encouraged, nudging Shiloh’s arm.
Shiloh leaned forward and gave me a peck on the cheek. “See you at seven!”
I watched the girls hurry toward the back of the shop with Shiloh close behind, still reeling from everything that had happened, when I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. Half a dozen people stood near the door, watching him leave.
“Who is that?” Javin, one of the stylists from next door, asked.
“That’s my future ex-husband,” an older woman I didn’t recognize boasted as soon as the door closed.
“No! I called dibs!” Javin argued.
The others laughed, but Jolie’s best friend, Cesar, walked my way as they drifted back into the salon. “What’s going on, La?”
“Jeremy came back.”
Cesar looked over my shoulder and scowled. “I see that.”
“And I had a gallant knight ride up on his motorcycle to rescue me.”
“I saw that too.”
“Now I have to talk to the cops, and they’re gonna wonder where he went.”
“Where who went? I’ve been standing here the entire time.”
I grinned at Cesar, and he shrugged. “Obviously, your date isn’t a fan of police interaction. As a favor to you and your non-existent, but hopefully about to get more exciting, sex life, I’ll step in and take the heat.”
“Jeremy’s going to tell them we’re lying.”
I looked back out in time to see Jeremy pointing his finger at the door and then poking it into the police officer’s chest. Suddenly, the officer grabbed his arm and spun him around before he slammed him down on the hood of the patrol car.
“Well,” I said, “my guess is that even if they believed him right now, they wouldn’t really care.”
◆◆◆
I walked into my apartment and, not for the first time, cursed the fact that all three of my nieces had big mouths.
Of course, two of them were fifteen and one was already sixteen, so I knew good and well they could keep a secret, or at least I could at that age, but they weren’t about to keep one when it came to telling the other women in my family about what had happened in my boutique this afternoon.
Or the fact that I had a date with my rescuer.
“Please tell me you’re not going to wear that on the motorcycle,” Lake said in disgust as she eyed the hangers of clothes I was carrying.
“I brought everything we’ll need to braid your hair, and I’ve even got a nice scarf you can use to minimize flyaways,” Jolie said from her spot at the end of the couch.
It was nice to see that everyone was comfortable, and I meant that in the most sarcastic way possible. Jolie sat curled in the corner, arms wrapped around her legs, while Lana and Lake stretched out side by side in a tangled heap. But there were a few women missing.
“Did Damaris and Kyla not get the memo? Where are the Traumatizing Toddlers?”