AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey, handsome,” I say when I reach their table. In true Luke fashion, he snags my wrist and pulls me onto his lap to kiss me. I melt into him. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of him dragging me onto his lap for a kiss or just to snuggle. I temporarily forget my reason for coming over here in the first place, but I manage to clear my head. “I need to talk to you about Bo.” Luke pulls back to look into my eyes. He can see I’m very serious.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, “Did he do something?” I shake my head.
“Not yet.” I sigh. “I know he’s a bit of a playboy from the way you guys talk about him. I probably shouldn’t be sticking my nose in his business, but when it involves my friend, I’m going tosay something. He seems to be interested in my friend Shelby, and I’d be all for it, if I didn’t think he’d break her heart. She’s a sensitive soul, Luke. She hasn’t dated much, and I don’t want him to hurt her.”
Luke nods. His eyes seeking the couple out on the dance floor. He frowns, so I twist on his lap to see what he’s seeing. Bo and Shelby seem to be arguing. She slaps his face and runs toward the bathroom. I’m on my feet, following Bo’s retreating back as he chases after her. What the hell did he say to her?
I catch up to him outside the bathroom. He is knocking on the door and calling Shelby’s name. I slap his back hard. “What the hell did you do?” I demand angrily. Bo spins around looking like a deer in the headlights of a car.
“I swear I didn’t do anything!” Bo declares. He runs his hand through his hair. “I just tried to kiss her, and she freaked out on me. Fuck!” He roars in frustration. “I didn’t mean to upset her.” I can tell he means it. He looks very concerned.
“Let me talk to her,” I say softly. “She’s not been treated well in the past, Bo. It isn’t your fault. You just triggered a bad memory for her. I’ll smooth it over. I promise.” He nods and steps back from the bathroom door.
I knock on the door. “Shelby?” I call to her. “It’s me, Marley. Let me in, please?” I can hear her sniffling on the other side of the door. It takes a minute, but she eventually opens the door a crack. Hearing the door open, Bo moves closer, hovering just behind me. She looks up at him and starts to shut the door again. I put my hand up to stop her before glaring at Bo over my shoulder. “Back off!” He complies but looks at Shelby with trepidation. I ease into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind me.
“What’s going on Shelby?” I ask in a soothing tone. She has her hands resting on the counter with her head drooped. I can hear her shaky breaths as she fights to get control. She finally turns to me, swiping the tears from her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Marley,” Shelby apologizes. “I don’t mean to ruin your night.”
“What? You aren’t ruining my night!” I exclaim. “You’re my friend, Shelby, and I just want to make sure you’re okay. You want to talk about it?” She shakes her head, turning back to the mirrors. “Come on, I want to be here for you.” She takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
“Bo is really hot, and I can’t think straight when I’m around him,” Shelby admits. “He might be a nice guy; I don’t know, but I’ve been treated like shit before by guys just like him. I can’t let him get to me, Marley. I won’t be the butt of another joke.”
“Bo wouldn’t do that to you,” I declare with certainty. “He is a playboy, so I’m not going to say he might not break your heart. He’s known to be the king of one-night stands, but he would never treat you badly. He’s very up front about the kind of relationship, or lack thereof, he’s willing to participate in. He really is interested in you. It might just be for a fling, but not to make fun of you.” Shelby stares at me. Her lips are pinched into a tight line. She gives a single nod before she splashes some cold water on her face.
“I’ve made such a fool of myself. I can’t face him, right now,” Shelby whispers. “Could you get him to just leave me alone for the rest of the night?”
“Sure. I’ll go talk to him,” I assure her. I open the door to find Bo, Luke, Rosco, and Enos deep in conversation in the small hallway. They all turn to me as I step out.
“Is she okay?” Bo asks with apprehension. “I’m so sorry, Marley. I never intended to scare her or offend her.” I give him a reassuring smile.
“Like I said before, Bo. This isn’t your fault. Shelby has been treated badly in the past. She doesn’t trust easily,” I divulge to him. “I know your reputation, and Shelby isn’t that kind of woman, so just leave her alone, okay?” He frowns at me, determination flaring in his eyes.
“I know you all think I’m incapable of having feelings or a meaningful relationship,” Bo growls, looking around at myself and his brothers. “But that’s not true. I just haven’t met anyone I wanted a meaningful relationship with before, but Shelby is different. I won’t hurt her Marley if she’ll just give me a chance.”
“That’s for her to decide, Bo,” I reply. “For tonight though, just give her some space. Give her time to get to know you before trying to make a move, yeah?” His jaw is ticking with annoyance, but he nods concession anyway.
“Will you at least tell her I’m really sorry for upsetting her?” he asks, looking fearful. I agree. Bo walks down the hall and back into the bar. Rosco and Enos, follow shaking their heads in wonder at the change in their brother. Luke reaches out for me. I lean down to press a kiss to his lips.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell him. “I just need to get Shelby to leave the bathroom.”
“Okay baby, I’ll wait for you at our table,” Luke agrees. I kiss him again before turning back to the bathroom as I see Luke wheeling down the hall. Once inside, I notice Shelby is much calmer than she was when I left.
“Bo asked me to apologize to you for upsetting you,” I relate to her. “He agreed to give you some space, but I think you should give him a chance. Just get to know him and go from there. I’m not saying you should jump into bed with him, but you could at least be friends, maybe?”
“I don’t know, Marley,” Shelby admits. “I’ll think about it but not tonight. I think I’ll just head on home.” I start to protest, but she interrupts me. “Please don’t be upset or let this ruin your night. I’m just not the bar scene kind of girl, okay?”
I don’t like it, but I have to respect her feelings. “Okay, but you’re still coming to the wedding, right?”
“Of course!” Shelby manages a real smile for me. “I wouldn’t miss your big day!” I hug my friend tightly as the bathroom door opens. Shelby and I turn to leave when I see who’s entered thebathroom. It’s Kristen. My mouth drops open in shock. What is she doing here?
“I wouldn’t miss your big day either.” Kristen sneers at me. “Although your big day isn’t the one, you’re thinking of.” Her laughter is sickening and cold. A shiver runs down my spine. Shelby stiffens next to me. She’s getting the same bad feeling I am about this situation. I grab Shelby’s arm to urge her to get moving. I have no desire to be around Kristen any longer than necessary. Just as we reach the door, it flies open with a bang as Kristen hits me from behind.What the fuck??
A male version of Kristen is blocking our exit from the bathroom. He’s flanked by two Arabic looking men. Panic surges through me. The man grabs me as one of his companions seizes Shelby. I try to scream, but he clamps a hand over my mouth, shoving me against the wall. Shelby is in a similar predicament. The men zip tie our hands and tie gags over our mouths. Kristen pokes her head out of the bathroom door.
“The coast is clear.” She throws over her shoulder. “We need to go, now!” The men drag us from the room and down the hall toward the back of the bar where the employee parking lot is located. I try to look back toward the interior of the bar, hoping Luke or one of his brothers will see what’s happening, but before I know it, we are out the back door and being shoved into the back of a black van. Kristen and her accomplice join us, while the other two men sit up front. One of them driving the van. Who are these people, and what do they want with us?
LUKE
