Page 56 of Hard Knock Hero

“I’ll say whatever I like,” he insisted. “And you’ll listen.” His mouth puckered in a frown I knew well. I had known his civility wouldn’t last. And suddenly, I was done with this little reunion. I’d been willing to serve him lunch, but I had no interest whatsoever in anything this man had to say.

I grabbed his glass of ice water and dumped it over his head. Jeremy’s hands flew out, and he sputtered.

“Scarlett, get Mr. Rigsby a to-go container,” I said. “His lunch is on the house. He’s going to be leaving now.” I started for the kitchen, but Jeremy leaped out of his seat. I heard his footsteps as he followed me.

I’d been full of bravado and indignation, but now uncertainty was sneaking through again.Fear.

Jeremy grabbed my wrist. Forced me to turn around. “I was going to apologize, you little—”

The door to the diner flew open, bell ringing like an alarm. Aiden stalked inside. He crossed the dining room in two strides and grabbed Jeremy by the neck. Scarlett yelped. Instantly, Jeremy fought back, trying to yank Aiden’s hands away. But Aiden forced him down against the bar counter. Leaned in. Jeremy kept struggling.

“This is him?” Aiden asked me. “Jeremy?”

I rubbed my wrist where Jeremy had grabbed me. “Yes,” I said breathlessly. “It’s him.”

Aiden’s voice came out low. Steady. Dangerous. “You made a mistake coming here today, Jeremy. Not a good start to your return home.”

Jeremy grabbed at the hand squeezing his neck. “You’re the brother?” he choked out. “Is that who you are?”

“I’m the man who’s telling you that you should’ve stayed out of Hartley. I don’t carewhatyour last name is.”

I should probably put a stop to this, I thought.

Probably.

The bell jangled again. Owen ran into the diner, as if he’d been on Aiden’s heels but hadn’t been able to keep up. “Let him go, Aiden. Right now. This isn’t helping!”

Jeremy squinted, confused. He knew that Aiden wasn’t my brother’s name.

Aiden acted like he hadn’t heard Owen’s warnings. “I can throw you out, or you can walk out of here yourself. The second option will be a lot easier on you. Less fun for me.” Jeremy kept pulling at the thick fingers squeezing his neck.

Owen tapped Aiden hard on the shoulder. “I’mserious. Last warning.”

Aiden let go of Jeremy, shoving him toward the door. Jeremy stumbled. Scowled and opened his mouth. I still had no interest in what he might say, so I stepped forward. “Get out. You’re not welcome in my diner.”

Fuming, Jeremy banged the door open and went onto the street. I couldn’t see him anymore because of the plywood, and I was momentarily glad for that broken window.

My heart was shaking my ribcage.

Owen and Aiden were still facing off near the bar counter. “I like you, Shelborne, but I won’t hesitate to arrest you if you flaunt the law.”

Aiden walked forward until his chest bumped Owen’s, though his voice remained calm. “Arrest that asshole for violating his protective order.”

“I might have. Before you wrapped your hands around his neck. Now it’s better for us all if we let this go.”

“Let it go, like everything else going wrong in Hartley?” Aiden asked.

“That’s uncalled for,” Owen spit out.

“Next time I’m protecting Jessi from harm, don’t get in the way.”

“Next time you do something stupid, don’t expect me to stop you.”

I pushed my way in between them, a hand on each broad chest. “Enough. Stop arguing when Jeremy’s the one to blame, not either of you.”

Owen shoved his cowboy hat low over his eyes. He spun on his boot heel and left. Aiden turned and pressed his hands flat to the bar counter, looking down at it.

Scarlett blinked, watching me and Aiden.

---