Page 18 of Heartbreak Hero

“Why?” She sighed, the last thing she wanted was to wake up her friend when she had little kids to watch all day. Glancing at her watch, it was just after four in the morning.

“Because…I figured she could help?” Kevin offered regretfully. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.” She reached across between them and gripped his hand that was resting on the seat. “Thank you, Kevin. You saved me.”

He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re welcome.”

Mandy was indeed awake and watching for them through the front window. The woman rushed out on the front porch when they pulled up and grabbed her in a tight hug when she got out of the car.

“Take some time off, I’ll handle the bar,” Kevin said and ran a hand over her head and hair.

“Thank you,” Mandy said and Sara echoed her friend.

They made their way into the house and Kevin drove off after the door was closed and locked.

“What happened?” Mandy wailed in a harsh whisper.

“Two perverts behind the bar caught me when I was taking out the trash.” Her hands shook as she followed Mandy up the stairs and into her room.

Mandy shoved pajamas and a clean towel at her and ushered her into the bathroom where Sara scrubbed her bruised legs and the rest of her body as well as washed her hair beneath the warm water.

She didn’t shed any more tears. The time to cry was over. She was just grateful that Kevin had heard her screams. And she reminded herself that she had fought the men before any permanent damage could be done. Kevin had rescued her, and for that she was eternally grateful.

Mandy was there and tucked her under the covers before crawling in with her.

With her friend there beside her, she was able to get some sleep.

The Friday night event turned out to be an engagement party held at the City Club in San Francisco.

Sara had half a mind to cancel after the attack on Tuesday, but she really wanted to go. She was doing okay and had been able to go to work the day before. Kevin forbade her leaving the inside of the lounge after arriving, and she gladly agreed.

Kevin told her from now on that Jim could take out the damned trash and if he was off for the day, one of the male waitstaff was in charge of it.

Kevin’s hand at her elbow as they walked into the event was a bit annoying, but she endured his touch for now. He seemed to take her attack as an okay to start touching her in small ways. She was grateful to him, but she wasn’t going to encourage him in any way.

She glanced at the large picture of the couple on the poster out front of the party room. Sara didn’t know either of the two people getting engaged, but when she entered the area, she did recognize several blue bloods from her previous exposure as a younger adult. Her parents never missed an opportunity to parade her and Shane through the throng of the wealthy class.

“I need to speak with someone,” Kevin murmured, lifting his phone with a smile.

After a nod, Sara wandered farther into the large party room while Kevin backtracked outside.

Snagging a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, Sara sipped at it while gazing around.

The decor was done up to the nines and reeked of money. Tables were draped with white lace tablecloths and each adorned with frilly napkins and crystal vases containing gold dipped roses. It could have been a wedding instead of an engagement party. At the front of the room, a grand white trellis with gold and white roses had been fashioned, and red rose petals littered the floor.

Dance music played softly overhead, and couples were dancing in a carved-out section of the room.

“Well, as I live and breathe,” a woman said, and Sara turned to find Missy Bradbury.

Missy laughed and caught at her hands. “What brings you here? Get tired of no sunshine?”

Sara grinned. “Sort of?” She wasn’t going to talk about what had sent her running from Seattle with Missy. She had met the woman at a few events her parents had put on back home. Missy was nice and a friend, but not a good friend by any means.

“You look gorgeous.” Missy eyed her gown with envy and drew her close to do an air kiss on one cheek. “Is that Nili Loton?”

“No, it’s Carolina Herrera.” Sara smiled, returning the air kiss.

“Seriously?” Missy gaped at her before eyeing the eight-thousand-dollar little black number Sara had pulled on.

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