I straighten up.
I tell him, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave, now.”
“Oh, is that right?” He shoves me with the heel of his hand on my shoulder.
I don’t say it, but I’m thinking it. ‘Thanks for the opportunity, bud.’
I drive a hard, straight arm punch, square into his nose. Real fast. As his head tips back, I wind my arm back, cocked and ready to slam another one into his chin.
He stumbles back down the incline. His arms windmill and while he tries to recover his balance, he’s winding himself up for a run at me. I’m thinking, Yeah. Come on, asshole.
He runs at me, hauling all that weight up a slope. I take my time. I wait until he’s on me before I fire off an upper cut. It slams clean and hard under his jaw. I follow through and he arcs back. Lands with his head making two bounces on the cement.
I step forward, outside the gate but still covering the entrance. With a breezy smile I tell him, “Sorry about that, friend. You okay?”
Scrambling up onto his elbows he snarls but I don’t think he’s coming back for more.
He doesn’t take my offer of a hand to assist him up.
Still with the smile, I tell him, “You shouldn’t have shoved me. Feel free to do it again, though.”
The smile in Jessica’s eyes is worth every moment of this so far. She’s holding back a laugh. The jiggle in her tits would be worth barrels of gold.
I tell the asshole, “If what the lady says is true, and there’s a restraining order, I have to call the police. I will give you twenty seconds before I do that, though.”
“No need,” Jessica tells me, “I’m calling them now.” She’s holding her phone to her ear. She says, “Jake, you know I have a copy of the order with me. I take it everywhere. You don’t want to be here when the police arrive.”
As Jake scrambles to his feet, I notice Jessica scuttles back several steps, real fast. Like its instinct. Mimi is behind the railing on the porch. I moved closer to him. I don’t like guys who make women and little girls afraid.
He sneers, “How fast you think they can come, little sis?”
I ask him nicely, “Would you like them to find you conscious or unconscious?”
“Man, you really do want to get yourself a beating. I’ll find you later. Don’t worry. I’ll give you what you need.”
As he turns to shamble away, he makes a lunge at Jessica. It’s obviously just a jump to make her scared. And it has that effect. Accidentally, I stick a foot between his legs. He stumbles. Then he turns, real slow.
“Man, I am so looking forward to our next meeting.”
He leaves, making it obvious he is in no hurry.
“If he sees or hears the police coming, he’ll pick up his pace fast enough.” I tell her.
“Thank you.” She says, looking up into my face. “You din’t have to do that.”
“All part of the service, Ma’am.” I give her smile, make a gesture like a cowboy tipping his hat. She lets out a little laugh.
She says, “He’s an ass but does tend to mean what he says, you know?”
“I very much look forward to a rematch.”
“Jake isn’t brave, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gathered a little posse to help him out.”
“If they’re anything like him, it would be a posse of pussies.” Then I quickly add, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. Dealing with a guy like him…” I’m yammering, “Not what I expect at the Lil’ Blossoms.”
“I get it,” she touches my forearm. As the cool tips of her fingers land on my bare skin, a bolt like electricity shoots through my body. “Thank you.”
Chapter 2 Jessica
I hate violence. I hate the idea of it. But I loved watching Christian demolish Jake. It felt like justice. I would strip and climb his body now if I thought it would do me any good. What I wouldn’t give to be wrapped around that hard body.
He’s tall, dark, broad, and hot, like he could have stepped out of an action movie. He gives me an ‘Aw, shucks’ smile and my panties are drenched. I sigh, wishing I could have a man like him in my life. Or a man even half as good as him.
He says, “It’s nothing. Mimi’s a lovely kid.”
I feel like I should take that as a compliment, but she’s not mine. I want to explain it all to him, but I have to go. I’m late. Like I’ve been late everywhere today.
“I’m sorry,” I say, “And it’s my fault it happened,” Mimi has run down to grip my hand in both of hers, and she’s beaming up at my new hero. “If I hadn’t been late, we’d have gone before he got here.”
I’m late too often. Getting away from the restaurant on time at the end of my shift is always hard. Gordo the chef always dumps tasks on me at the last minute. I’ve told him over and over that I have to collect Mimi, but he knows I can’t afford to lose that job. Worst thing about it is, the shifts don’t leave me time to find another job.
“Christian,” he holds out a hand. I’m not sure if it’s a question but then he says, “That’s my name. I’m happy I was here to help.”
I take his hand all too fast. When his hand closes around my fingers, a sensation of power and security washes through me like a splash of liquid electricity. My knees shake. I want to stay. But I have to go.
He moves with the grace of the dancer and the power of a fighter. He has a hunter’s eyes.
“Jessica,”
