Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Shouting sounds from outside my office. Pushing back my chair, I rise to my feet. I’m not in the mood for a fight, but I’m grateful for the distraction from my thoughts. I walk out and stride down the hall, following the loud voices.
As I step foot in the bar, my gaze comes to rest on Cal who is in an argument with a familiar-looking man. I stride over to the douche in the pressed pants and a sport jacket, looking out of place in The Back Door where guys wear cargo shorts or jeans and T-shirts.
“Okay, Preston, what’s the problem?” I shove my hands into my front pockets and glare.
The other man meets my gaze, clearly not surprised to see him. “James. I heard you were managing this dump.” He scowls as he looks around the bar, which appears new and in great shape as far as I’m concerned. It just isn’t the country club bar.
I ignore the dig. I don’t give a shit what Preston the Third thinks of me or my occupation. “Why are you hassling my bartenders?”
I glance at Cal and tip my head toward the bar, indicating he can go back to work.
“Seems he’s looking for his girlfriend.” Cal shoots me a pointed look, one I accept with a nod.
After Cal returns to his place behind the bar and begins helping customers, I turn to Preston. “I wasn’t aware you had a girlfriend. Women you touch without permission, on the other hand, I could count those, but it would take me all night.”
“I’m not here to verbally spar with you. Where is she?”
“Where is who?” I deliberately play dumb. No way will I reveal Gabby’s whereabouts. She is safely tucked away at my house and this prick won’t find her.
Preston lets out a prolonged sigh, as if I’m wasting his time. “Gabriella, my girlfriend. Soon to be fiancée.”
“No idea who you’re talking about.” Though it’s interesting to see how certain Preston appears that Gabby is his girlfriend and will bow to her family’s demands.
“Gabriella has been missing for a week. Her parents and I were willing to give her time to get this little rebellion out of her system, but they’ve had enough. And so have I.” He straightens his shoulders, posturing as if he has a leg to stand on.
Holding back a snort of amusement isn’t easy, but I do it and remain silent.
“Do not make me call the police,” Preston says, stepping closer. “My father has pull with the chief, and we both know who he’ll believe. He’ll come search your home, and no doubt he’ll find my wayward fiancée.”
I raise my eyebrows but still don’t give the other man the satisfaction of a reply.
A growl of frustration escapes Preston’s throat. “Gabriella’s friends were here a few nights ago and saw her helping out behind the bar, talking to you and your workers. Or should I say slumming? You couldn’t hack it in the world of finance so you tucked tail and came here.”
Nothing the man says fazes me. Gabby’s so-called friends betrayed her. Then again, on the first night we met, she told me she didn’t have any friends she trusted. This just proves her instincts are solid.
And Preston is deluded in thinking she’s his fiancée…or anything else. “You just said she was your girlfriend. Now you’re claiming she’s your fiancée. Even if you got your lies straight, we both know she’s neither.”
Preston’s lips lift in a smug smile. “So you admit you know where she is?”
I fold my arms across my chest and glare at the man, barely holding onto my anger. “I know no such thing. Now get out of my bar, or I’ll call for the bouncer and have him show you the door.”
“And I’ll call the police.”
This asshole’s posturing is getting old. “Gabby—” I emphasize her preferred name. “—is an adult, asshole. You can’t make her do anything she doesn’t want to do. Which brings me to another point.” Stepping into Preston’s personal space, I walk forward until I back the man against the bar, bracing my arm at his throat. Not to hurt but to make my point about the way he attacked Gabby. “If you ever put your hand on her or any other woman again and I find out about it, I’ll put your pretty face through the nearest wall.”
Preston’s complexion grows pale. “You can’t prove a damn thing.”
“I don’t need to. I’ve seen you in action, and I’d trust the word of any woman over a piece of shit like you.” I drop my arm and step back. “I take it we have an understanding.”
Preston shrugs and fixes his collared dress shirt. “Her parents will never allow her to walk away.”
I snort. “You clearly don’t know her very well. Now get the hell out of my bar before I call the cops.”