Page 23 of The Devil in Blue Jeans
She left her friends behind and headed for her office, leaving Willow and Aubrey to get to their opening duties. Seated at her desk, she read through her inbox. After the purge of emotions, she realized she didn’t regret last night with Jaxon. She had felt beautiful and wanted, and the passion had been addicting, if she was honest with herself.
Perhaps she did need to let herself off the hook. The life she had in Phoenix was over. She was evolving—and maybe that was okay...
Right as that thought slid warmly through her, she heard raised voices coming from the bar area and quickly rushed out of her office.
When she spotted Willow standing next to a booth with trembling hands and fearful eyes while being insulted by one of the cowboys, a fury surged through Charly like never before.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Eli—Jaxon’s friend—sliding away from the booth where he’d been sitting alone. Instinctively, she waved him off and marched toward the table with fists clenched tight.
“What’s going on here?” she demanded, sliding up to the table.
The cowboy’s eyes roved her body, pausing at her breasts before snapping back to her face. “You’re doing a crappy job running this place,” he said arrogantly.
“Interesting,” Charly replied icily. “I don’t seem to recall asking for your opinion.”
He tried to smirk, but it came off as more of a sneer. “You’ll lose customers if you don’t listen to me, sweetheart.” His gaze wandered back to her chest, as though it was his right to imagine touching her.
Anger boiled within her as she snapped her fingers in his face with force. “My eyes are up here, buddy,” she growled. She pressed her hands against the table as she leaned into his face. “Listen,sweetheart,” she drawled out sarcastically. “I know we’re the only bar in this town. That means we’re the only bar you can come to and put your sleazy moves on some desperate woman who can’t see how pathetic you are.” She watched with satisfaction as the vein in his forehead bulged dangerously. “You’ve got one chance to apologize to Willow or you can get up and leave and never be allowed back in again. Do I make myself clear?”
The other man at the table coughed, obviously trying to hide his laughter.
The one facing Charly snorted. “I’m just trying to give you some advice.”
“We’re not asking for any,” she said and pulled away from the table, crossing her arms.
He stared her down for a full minute before glancing at Willow. “Sorry, ma’am.”
Willow attempted a smile. “It’s fine.”
But Charly could tell by Willow’s trembling and haunted expression that it was anything but fine. She wanted to sock this jerk in the face. “Do you want a beer, or do you want to leave?”
He took a quick look menu. “I’ll have the Foxy Diva.”
The only craft beer they currently had in stock. “Great,” she said to him. Glancing to the others at the table, she said, “And for the rest of you?” They all chose the same thing, so Charly nodded. “Coming right up.”
She followed Willow and sped her steps until she was standing next to her. “Go take a break at the back.”
Willow nodded before rushing off to enter the backroom.
“Is she all right?” Aubrey asked as Charly made it behind the bar.
“Just shook-up,” Charly answered before adding exasperatedly, “Why are they always mean to her instead of me?”
Aubrey chuckled. “Because you’re intimidating.”
Charly grinned softly. “Good.” She reached inside the fridge and took out three beers with one hand while observing Eli stand in front of the table in similar fashion as Charly had done earlier.
The cowboy held Eli’s gaze but leaned back as if he wanted to stay away. The others sitting around the table and looking on were still, not moving a muscle. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it was clear Eli wasn’t being friendly.
Eli left the table, returning to his seat and his beer and Willow emerged from the backroom with her chin held high.
“Are you okay?” Charly asked, when she sidled up next to her.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Willow replied with a nod. “Just the intensity, you know, it brings me back to...”
To her attack and thirteen stitches...
Charly grabbed Willow’s hand and squeezed tight. “Of course, it would.”
