Page 75 of Pros Don't

“Has this guy messed with you before?”

“What? No!” Her eyes widen when she looks at me, and I check my expression. I relax my face but don’t take my eyes off of her. She sighs. “Not him. But there was another guy. A while back.”

My fists ball up again, all on their own, finger nails slicing into the skin of my palms. At first, I don’t think she’s going to say anything else, but then she closes her eyes and leans her head back.

“I was dating the owner of a golf course in Florida. He was from old money. His family took over ownership of a course, and I was all set to be their golf pro. I was young, but I was good. I had recently passed my qualification exam. Anyway, one of his dad’s rich cronies had quite a bit to drink at the bar on the course, and I was alone on the practice green when he came stumbling out, asking for a private lesson.”

The cinnamon roll I ate earlier threatens to come back up.

“I could tell he was drunk, and I tried to keep my distance. I told him I was done for the day and that I would be glad to reschedule him for a time I had available. But he pawed at me and said if I was done, then we should go back to his place and have some off-the-course practice.”

“Mallory—“

“Nothing happened,” she cuts me off. “Nothing bad, anyway. It was a lot like this guy.” She motions to the cart path. “He grabbed my butt and pressed himself against me, but I was able to wiggle away. I fled into the clubhouse and found my boyfriend. The guy had enough wherewithal not to follow me. I told my boyfriend everything that happened, and…”

She clamps her mouth shut.

“He didn’t believe you?” My blood, which has been at a steady simmer just under my skin, is now working its way into a rolling boil.

She shakes her head sadly. “He did. That’s the worst part. He knew this guy was an inappropriate drunk. He said that’s how hewas, and I shouldn’t worry about it. I told my boyfriend it was unacceptable behavior and that I refused to work with him again.

“Brevan said they’d make arrangements, but then, next thing I knew, I was being called into his office, where he and his dad sat on one side of the desk, and I sat on the other, and they told me that they’d decided to go in another direction with the golf pro position. They appreciated everything I brought to the table, but they said I was too much of a distraction and not enough of an asset.”

I curse. I want to do a lot more than that. I want to fly to Florida, find this guy and his dad, and give them a piece of my mind. I want to call up my contacts in the golf world and figure out a way to blackball their course.

Mallory shrugs. “Now you know. Yes, this sort of thing has happened before. No one took my side. That’s why I’m extra careful about mixing business and personal. I’ve been made a fool before, and my family’s financial security is too important to me to make the same mistake again.”

There’s a lot to unpack in what she told me, but I want her to know one thing straight away.

“I’m taking your side in this,” I tell her. “I am always on your side, Mallory, and I’m going to talk to Cy and get that guy’s name. He will never be allowed back here.”

Mallory bites her lip and nods. “I don’t want that creep around anyone else out here.”

I nod and tap out a brief message to Cy, explaining what happened.

He responds almost immediately.

Cy

Jarret Doogle is his name. Guy blew through here a minute ago. Demanded his money back. Said you were aggressive and that he was going to get the police involved.

I type back a quick message, telling Cy not to worry and that I’ll talk to him when I get back to the clubhouse. I ask him to get in touch with Collin, the county sheriff and a friend of mine.

Cy

On it. Is Mallory okay?

I glance over at her. Her spine is stiff, and she’s studying the tee box in front of us like it’s theMona Lisa.

I answer my old coach honestly.

Holland

I don’t know.

His response is immediate.

Cy

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