Rock Chick Rescue (Rock Chick #2)(16)
Author: Kristen Ashley

“No. He’s just… I… shit!”

I had to do it, I was in a slut outfit and Eddie was there.

As fast as I could, I told her my life story, leaving out bits and skipping over bits but essential y tel ing her about my confidence problem, my crush and what had been happening the last few months.

“What’s wrong with you?” Tanya said, staring at me like I lost my mind. “Get in there, girl.”

“You don’t understand,” I said.

“No, I don’t and I’m not pouring a beer on him, although I’d like to see that t-shirt on him wet. You look fantastic in that outfit and you shouldn’t be ashamed of that. Your new hair is kil er and he’s obviously here to see you ‘cause it’s clear he isn’t interested in what’s on stage. So, he should see you.”

“Tanya.”

“Un-unh.” She shook her head, gave me a “talk to the hand” gesture, grabbed her tray and strutted away.

Wonderful.

I got my drinks order and spent the next hour hiding from Eddie by walking far out of my way, putting people between us. I didn’t even look in his direction, although that took a super-human effort.

I was at the bachelor party, having unloaded another tray of drinks on them when I turned and chanced a glance at Eddie’s table. It was now fil ed with four guys, drinking beer, staring at the stage and adjusting their crotches.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Eddie was gone.

Thank God.

I was about to go toward the bar but stopped.

Eddie was leaning on the bar.

I had no time to react because he began to scan the room, looked past me, then his head snapped back and his eyes locked on me. Even in the dim light, I saw his brows draw together and he straightened away from the bar.

I realized then how I’d avoided him; it was the hair. He’d probably seen me but didn’t know who I was.

“Damn,” I said.

At that moment, my luck, never good, turned nasty.

I felt a hand go from the back of my knee, up my thigh, nearly to my mini-skirt.

I whirled around.

“No hands,” I snapped to Bachelor Number One, the one I’d clocked as the one to watch. He had greedy eyes and, at first sight, I didn’t like him.

“Hey babe, why aren’t you up there?” He motioned to the stage, “You’d be shit-hot up there.”

I started to walk away but was tagged by a hand at my camisole and pul ed back.

I turned around.

“I said, no hands.” I looked around for Lenny or one of the other bouncers but I saw none. The place was packed.

“You left without your tip,” Bachelor Number One said.

He held up a fifty.

A fifty was a f**king great tip and definitely worth the f-word. Even the dancers didn’t often get fifties.

I went to take it and he snatched it away.

He folded it in half, lengthwise.

“I want you to take it with your teeth.”

Then he held it at his fly.

What a jerk.

My eyes moved to his and I couldn’t help it, fifty dol ars or not, my lip curled.

“I don’t think so.”

I turned to walk away; he grabbed me by the waist, yanked me back onto his lap and curled an arm tight around me. With the other hand, he slid the fifty between my br**sts.

That’s the last thing he did of his own accord.

The next thing I knew, a hand wrapped around my wrist and Eddie jerked me out of his lap. The strength of the pul and momentum of my body threw me away from him several feet and I crashed into some guys who were standing around. Stil , I saw Eddie yank Bachelor Number One out of his chair by his col ar.

Then he held him by his col ar and he put his fist in his face. It was not pretty and I winced. You could hear his nose breaking.

The other bachelor party boys rose from their seats in defence of their brethren and al hel broke loose.

Several guys tried to jump Eddie but he had his eyes on the prize, yanking Bachelor Number One free of the clutch and, stil holding his col ar, slammed his fist into his face again.

That’s al I saw. I was being jostled and pushed back, teetering on my dominatrix shoes. Lenny got to me and pul ed me out of the rapidly growing brawl. It started with Eddie and the bachelor party and grew.

I saw one of the bachelor party boys get thrown on stage.

JoJo was dancing and he nearly col ided with her. She let out a screech and al the girls began running around and then disappeared into the back.

I wanted to try to get to Eddie but Tanya grabbed my arm, pushed my purse into my hands and tugged me out the front door. The other waitresses and some of the dancers were standing outside, taking the brawl opportunity to get a smoke break in and some of the customers were reeling out to get away from the pandemonium.

“Holy crap! Did you see that?” Tanya asked. “I watched the whole thing. You were in the way so your hot guy couldn’t see what was happening with the money. The minute that ass**le pul ed you on his lap, though, your man threw three guys out of his way to get to you. It was ace!” she shouted, clearly excited.

I felt a thril race through me that Eddie would do that for me.

Three squad cars pul ed up and the cops went in, the customers went out and we stood around waiting for the al clear to close down the joint.

Eddie came out with a man in uniform, scanned the crowd and hangers on and locked on me. He said something to the cop, disengaged and walked to me. He had blood on his white t-shirt but it didn’t look like it was coming from him, thank God. His eyes glittered, even in the dim light of the club sign and street lamps. When he got closer, I noticed his knuckles were bloody and I was guessing that some of it was his blood.

I didn’t think, I just snatched up one of his hands and stared at it, then looked up at him, stil holding his hand.

“We need to get you some ice,” I said.

Eddie didn’t get a chance to respond because Smithie lumbered up.

“How many times do I have to tel you bitches, no boyfriends?” he shouted at me. “Shit, girl. You are a f**kin’

pain in my f**kin’ ass. Do you know how much damage this badass motherfucker caused?” He turned to Eddie, “I knew you were trouble the minute you f**kin’ walked in.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I told Smithie and Smithie turned back to me.

“Bul shit. Jet, you owe me. I gotta replace broken f**kin’

furniture. Tomorrow night, you’re takin’ a pole.”

“One of your customers was al over her. Where were your bouncers?” Eddie asked, his voice strangely quiet which made it strangely scary.