Page 25 of The Bad Boy Prince in Love
“Hallie!”Rob’s voice reached her before she even saw him making his way through the crowd.
He was dressed in a plaid shirt and blue jeans for the occasion; the clothes were simple, but they suited his powerful figure.He pulled her into a strong hug, and she responded in kind.His friendship meant a lot to her, even if she was trying her best to move on with her life.
“How are you, officer?”she asked.“Been arresting some criminals?”
“Nothing more than a DUI,” he responded.“How’ve you been?I haven’t heard from you in ages.”
“Well, you know, I’ve been looking for jobs in Austin.”
“I see you’ve brought a date,” Rob said, “good for you.Don’t worry about me.I’m real jealous, but I’ll get over it.”
Rob had admitted he was into her pretty soon after she graduated from high school, but Hallie had never felt the same way.
He was a very handsome guy and something of a hero with his police work; lots of the local women would have been proud to date him, but somehow Hallie never saw him as anything but a friend.
“Rob, this is my boyfriend, Luke,” she said, and the two men shook hands.
“It’s a real pleasure to meet you,” said Rob.“I hope you’re taking good care of Hallie.”
“Of course,” Luke replied, putting on his ‘sensitive guy’ persona.“She deserves nothing but the best.”
In the next moment, Rob looked away, distracted by voices raised in anger somewhere in the crowd.As a police officer, whether on or off duty, he seemed to have a sixth sense about these things.
“Who invited Travis?”Amber wondered.
“He probably invited himself,” Rob said.“Excuse me.”He moved through the throng of dancing people to where a tall, muscular fellow was yelling at a group of three guys.Hallie recognized Travis, a local cowboy with a penchant for starting fights.
“What’d you say to me?”Travis was shouting.
“You heard me,” the other man replied, striving to push him, but held back by his two friends.
“No, I want to hear you say it.”
Rob was quick to arrive and put himself between them.“All right fellows, don’t make me work tonight.We all came here to have a good time, didn’t we?”
“Well, he better watch himself,” Travis said, his voice still raised, although he seemed reluctant to take on Rob.
“You watch yourself,” the other guy replied.
“Let’s all take a deep breath,” Rob offered.“Travis, you go this way.Ken, you go that way.I don’t want to see you guys fighting, or I’ll have to arrest you.Come on.”
The men moved off, casting evil glares at each other.
As Hallie took her attention off the brewing fight, she realized Luke had snuck off in the commotion.
He hadn’t gone far.There he was, chatting with Amber a little ways off by the barn wall, his lighter brown hair contrasting with her cascade of heat-straightened chocolate brown.They both had their cell phones out.Were they exchanging phone numbers?Unbelievable!
Hallie followed Rob’s advice and took a calming breath before she approached.She had to appear in charge of the situation.
“There you are, my lovely,” Luke said, as if she had been the one who wandered off.“Shall we dance?”
She had not expected him to be so pleasant.But of course, he was always playing his little mind games.
“I don’t know,” she said, “Amber, would you excuse us for a moment.”
Amber walked away, not seeming too upset.Maybe she had gotten Luke’s phone number after all.
Hallie took advantage of the fact that most of the people were dancing and no one would overhear them.
