Page 32 of Call it Reckless

I saw her eyes move to my braid that was draped over my shoulder. Her hand reached out again, but I was ready this time. I grabbed it, and in three seconds, had her arm pinned behind her while I dropped her to the ground. She struggled against my grip, but I held firm. “I’m not a helpless dog,” I growled in her ear. “And I warned you not to touch me.”

“Get off me,” she hissed. “You’re no better than that mangy mutt.”

“There a problem here?” a now-familiar voice said nearby.

“Oh, bloody hell,” I mumbled.

“Reid, she’s hurting me,” the woman whined.

I kept my eyes on her. I knew she’d play dirty given another chance.

“Let her up, Bristol.” His words were surprisingly calm.

I released my grip, but not before I gave an extra hard squeeze. When I stood, I saw that we had gained an audience. A group of women whispered behind their hands. A couple of young guys looked disappointed they’d missed a full-on girl fight.

But I really hated to see Lexi standing a few feet behind her dad, holding on to a grocery bag with wide eyes.

The woman stood and made a show of pointing at me and crying. “Arrest her, Reid. She attacked me for no reason. I want to press charges.”

I swung worried eyes toward Reid. He already believed I was trouble. I waited for him to pull out handcuffs or something, but I wasn’t ready for his next words.

He frowned. “I’m not arresting anyone, Nora. And you won’t be pressing charges, either.”

“What? She…I…”

But Reid shook his head. “Plenty of people here saw you go after Ms. Allen first.”

“But she grabbed me!”

“In self-defense.”

“She insulted me first! You weren’t there. You didn’t hear what she said inside—”

“You don’t want to go there, Nora. I saw what happened inside the store. And I saw you push her first. There are too many witnesses to your attitude. Get your stuff and go home. I’m not going to ask again.”

I guessed Nora heard the finality in Reid’s tone because, after a final sneer at me, she grabbed her cart and flounced off, the cheers of a few people following her. No one offered to help as she struggled with her beer cases. Moments later, she peeled out of the parking lot.

“Thanks, I…”

Reid shook his head as he swung his attention from the parking lot back to me. “Trouble just finds you like a magnet, doesn’t it?” He closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the sky. “All I want is one time where I see you that I don’t have to step in.”

“Hey!” I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at him. “No one asked you to step in. I had things under control.Sheattackedmefirst, and I decided to teach her a little lesson.”

“You couldn’t just walk away?” he challenged.

“After she hit me? I’m not some flower who’s going to wilt in a confrontation, Reid. I can take care of myself. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to let her hurt some poor, defenseless creature.”

“What creature?”

“She was going to kick an innocent dog just because he was in her way. He ran off when she turned on me instead. And I don’t care what you say. I won’t sit back while someone else gets bullied, especially an innocent animal.” For good measure, I poked him in the chest.

Damn. He must work out; those pecs are like rocks.

“Geez, woman, would you quit poking me? I’m not trying to pick a fight.”

It was then that I realized I’d stepped closer to Reid as I defended myself. Close enough I could smell the subtle scent of spring freshness from whatever fabric softener he used mixed with something a little spicier, but not overpowering. It was a pleasant change from the cheap body sprays a lot of the guys I worked with used to cover up the pungent smell of motor oil. It was manly but comforting at the same time.

“She was going to kick a dog?” Lexi asked, astonishment making her voice shrill.

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