Page 30 of Armed ’N’ Ready

Eric chuckled. “You exercised great restraint. I’m proud of you. Personally, I would have mashed my fist in his face.”

“Do me a favor, and follow them outta here.”

“My pleasure.” Eric headed out the door.

Andi rested her hand on Kara’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”

The young waitress nodded. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

“Are you sure?” Andi asked, concern evident in her eyes.

Kara nodded. “I did just what you trained us to do if male customers start harassing us or try to get physical. I kept calm and gave him the opportunity to back off.”

“I know. You did great,” Andi reassured her. “But remember, you don’t ever have to accept a customer pawing you or making suggestive comments, and I’ll back you up every time.”

“Thanks. I was about to kick him in the nuts.” Kara gave her a quick grin. “Like how you said we could.”

Nick held back a snort. Andi was telling her staff to kick sleazy customers in the nuts? His admiration for her was growing every day. She had even more guts than he’d given her credit for.

After the waitress headed back into the dining room, Andi turned on Nick, giving him an undisguised look of irritation. “I appreciate you stepping in to help, but you didn’t have to be so aggressive.”

“Yeah. I did.” He met her stare with a hard one of his own. Without waiting for a response, he turned and went back inside.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, customers began clapping and cheering, including Zoe, Kara, and Marty. As he made his way behind the bar, the clapping died down. He picked up his sandwich, which had turned cold. Figures. No good deed…

Andi came behind the bar. “We need to talk. In my office. Now.”

He took a deep breath and let it out. Great. He followed her into the little office off the kitchen.

“Close the door.”

He did, and when he turned back, she got right in his face.

…

“I agree that guy deserved to get thrown out of here.” Andi sat on a corner of her desk, then pointed a finger at herself. “But I would have taken care of it, and not so violently. Do you think this hasn’t happened before? I’ve never had to resort to launching a customer out the door with enough force to land him in the next town.” She jabbed a finger in his direction. “The way you handled him was unnecessary and bad for business.”

“The asshole had it coming.” Nick leaned back against the door, crossing his arms, drawing her attention to his thick biceps. “Trust me, once guys like him think they can get away with forcing themselves on a woman, they’ll never stop.”

She sighed. “I don’t disagree with you on that, but we’re not on the street, and you’re not here to police the place. This is exactly what I was afraid of, that you’d scare customers away with your storm-trooper attitude.”

“Do you have any idea how terrifying it is for a woman to be held against her will?” He pushed from the door and moved closer. “No, you don’t. But Kara does, and so do the thousands of other women who get assaulted every year in this country by bullying trash like him.”

She stared up at him as he loomed over her. “All I’m saying is that I can handle guys like him. I don’t need you—”

His arm shot out, hauling her against his chest. His other arm angled across her back, holding her immobile. She tried pushing away, but he held her so firmly she couldn’t wedge her hands between their chests.

Her breath came in quick gasps. She gripped his waist, feeling the solid muscles bunch beneath her fingers. Her heart pounded as his face inched closer to hers. Before he said the words, she understood what he was doing—teaching her a lesson.

“You want to be in control all the time, but you can’t be.” His nostrils flared as he stared down at her. “Doesn’t feel so good, does it?” Warm breath washed over her face, and she breathed in his scent.

Actually, it does.

As it had behind the bar when she’d slammed into him, his touch made her skin tingle and her breath come in short, desperate gasps.

Don’t let him get to you like this. He’s only playing you.

Long, strong thighs pressed against her. His chest was rock hard. Steely, defined muscles flexed as she twisted his soft gray T-shirt in her hands.