by Jennie Marts
Good for her.
Charlie pointed her fork. “You guys in for pizza tonight? Zack’s buying.”
Stan nodded. “Heck, yeah. I’m always up for a free meal. The usual? Six-thirty at The Pizza Shack?”
“Yep. Cherry and Taylor are meeting us there and bringing Sam.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Cash? You in for the usual? Pizza at six-thirty?”
This was as good a chance as any. A way to get Emma and Stan together. And without him around, she’d be more likely to spend time with the only other single guy in the group. “Nah, I can’t make it tonight. I’ve got other plans.”
He hated the pained look of disappointment that passed across Emma’s face. But she’d only know more disappointment if she let herself get involved with him. Stan was a much better choice.
Charlie stared at him with skepticism. “What other plans? We all do pizza together every Friday night at The Shack. Those are your plans.”
He shrugged. “Not tonight.”
“Well, I’ll be there,” Stan said. “But now I’ve gotta get back to work. See you tonight.” He slid out of the booth and headed back to the kitchen.
“Yeah, me too,” Emma said. “But I’m excited for pizza later.”
“It’ll be fun,” Charlie said.
“I’ll bring you your check.” Emma stood and brushed down the skirt of her dress then smiled proudly at them. “But the pie is on Stan and me. Our treat.”
Cash couldn’t help but smile back, she was so pleased with being able to treat them. But he didn’t care for the way she said “Stan and me.”
What the hell was wrong with him? One minute he’s pushing her toward the guy, the next he’s jealous that she would use his name in connection with hers. Get a grip, man.
He shook his head at Emma. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I know. But I want to. It’s the least I can do. For the way you both have helped me and all.”
“It’s no trouble.”
“Then quit arguing with me, and let me buy the dang pie.” She grinned as she teased him, then turned to follow Stan into the kitchen.
Charlie chuckled. “She has a point. It’s just pie.”
“I know,” he grumbled. “But it’s her first day. And I don’t think she has a lot of money. She doesn’t need to be spending it on buying us dessert.”
“If you’re so concerned about her, maybe you should come to pizza tonight.” Charlie cocked an eyebrow at him. “Oh wait, I forgot, you’ve got those big ‘plans’ for tonight. What were those plans again?”
“You know I do have a life. I could have plans.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I think your ‘other plans’ are bullshit. I think the only thing you’re planning is how to get Emma and Stan together.”
Busted.
He shrugged. “So what if I am? It seems like she already likes him. From what I’ve seen, she doesn’t warm up to people easily. But she’s comfortable around him, and that says a lot.”
“I think you’re reading too much into it. It’s easy to be comfortable around someone you consider a friend. It’s being around the one you really like that can make you feel uncomfortable. Like all nervous and jittery and butterflies in your stomach kind of feelings, ya know?”
Oh, yes. He knew all about those kind of feelings.
“Kind of like the way she acts around you.” Charlie waited a beat. “And the way you act around her.” She laughed as he playfully nudged her foot under the table. “Just sayin’.”
Her laughter turned to an expression of alarm as her gaze flicked to the front door of the café.
He turned, and his hands balled into fists as he watched Earl and Junior Purvis saunter across the diner and drop onto the stools at the counter.
Chapter Seven
“What the hell are they doing here?” Cash asked, already scooting out of the booth.
Charlie put a warning hand on his arm. “Simmer down, cowboy. This is a public place. Maybe they’re just here for a burger.”
“Like hell they are.”
“I know Taylor went out to see them yesterday and told them to steer clear of Emma. Maybe they don’t even know she works here.”
“Oh, they know.” He spoke through gritted teeth as waves of anger rolled through him, but he heeded Charlie’s advice and stayed at the table. For the moment.
“Well, I know that you going over there and picking a fight with them isn’t going to help anything.”
“It’ll help me. Slamming my fist into Earl’s smug little face will help me a lot.”
Charlie lowered her voice. “It won’t help Emma.”
Shit. She had a point.
He eased back against the booth, still keeping his eye on the two brothers as Sara, the teenage waitress, handed them menus and poured them each a cup of coffee.
He glanced at Charlie. “Are you all right? Have you seen Earl since—you know—that thing this summer?”
“That thing where he assaulted and tried to rape Sophie and me?”
“Yeah, that thing.” Thinking about Earl Purvis laying a hand on either Charlie or his goddaughter only added fuel to the already furious fire that was burning inside him.
“No, this is the first time I’ve seen him. He really is a slimy guy. Look at his jeans. He’s got a big grease stain on his leg.”
Cash wasn’t looking at his attire. He was watching the arrogant expression on his face as he slowly pushed the full coffee cup off the side of the counter. It crashed to the floor, coffee and broken china spraying across the linoleum.
Emma came hurrying through the doors from the kitchen, but stopped in her tracks as she saw Earl and Junior sitting at the counter. The lighthearted smile that had been on her face fell, replaced with an expression of fear.
“Wait.” Charlie put a warning hand on his arm.
He shook it off as he slid from the booth and crossed the diner.
Like hell he would. Wait for what? For them to do something else to Emma?
Not on his watch.
“Hey there, sis. Sorry about the cup. It slipped,” Earl was saying as Cash walked up behind him.
“Mine, too,” Junior said as he pushed his cup off the other side of the counter then cackled in laughter.
Emma stood frozen in place, her eyes wide in fright, her mouth set in an expression of dread.
“You better pick that up, Emma. You don’t want to get in trouble at your new job.”
Emma pulled over a trash can then stooped to pick up the broken glass.
Earl’s mouth formed an evil grin as he tipped his glass over. Water and ice cubes spilled across the counter and splashed onto her shoulder and hands before hitting the floor where she worked.
“I think that you need to pick that up then apologize to the lady.” Cash’s voice was steely and hard, as he tried to suppress his rage and stay calm.
It wouldn’t do anyone any good if he lost it and let the beast inside of him loose. Least of all Emma.
He’d lost control before, and it hadn’t turned out well.
“Yeah, who’s gonna make me?” Earl twisted on his stool, his cocky grin falling from his face as he looked up, way up, at Cash. Obviously ignoring Cash’s stern expression, he turned back to Emma who was still picking up the pieces of china off the floor. “Who the hell is this guy? You got a new boyfriend already? You sure do move fast, sister.”
“I’m not your sister,” Emma said quietly as she picked up another chunk of the broken cup. Water dripped to the floor next to her from Earl’s spilled glass.
“Leave it alone, Emma,” Cash said. “Earl’s going to pick that up himself.”
“Like hell I am.” Earl turned back to Cash, a vulgar sneer on his face. “Who do you think you are—telling her what to do anyway? You trying to be her new boyfriend? You boss her around in the sack too? You probably have to. She probably lies there like a dead fish—I bet she’s a terrible lay.”
He didn’t stop to think, his body just reacted.
Reacted to the insult to Emma, to the rage boiling inside of him. He grabbed Earl’s arm and pulled it tight up behind him, dragging him from his seat and pushing him to his knees. “I told you to pick up the broken glass and apologize to the lady.”
“Holy shit. You’re hurting me, asshole.” Earl pushed against his hand. He was a big guy, strong from working on the farm, but his strength was no match against the anger-fueled Cash.
“Hey, get your hands off my brother,” Junior said, but stayed in his seat, his weak threat meaningless.
“Pick it up,” he said through gritted teeth. He applied more pressure to Earl’s arm.
The other man grunted in pain. “Fine. Whatever.” He picked up the last two pieces of glass and tossed them in the trash can.
He let Earl stand up, but kept a firm grip on his arm. He squeezed it a little tighter. “Now, apologize.”
Earl sneered at Emma, his tone holding an undisguised threat. “I’m sorry, sis. Just like you’re gonna be when you don’t have your new boyfriend around.”
His fury boiled over, and he let go of Earl’s arm, hauling back his fist to throw a punch into the other man’s face.
A strong hand clamped down on his arm, and Taylor’s voice spoke from behind him. “Calm down, friend. What seems to be the trouble here?”
Earl jerked a thumb at Cash. “This guy is assaulting me, that’s what going on. Practically broke my arm.”
“Really?” Taylor asked. “It doesn’t look like he’s even touching you. What’d you do to provoke him?”
Betrayal and embarrassment crossed Earl’s face as he must have realized he wasn’t going to get any sympathy from the sheriff. “I didn’t do shit. I slipped and spilled my coffee, and the cup broke. It was an accident.” He stared at Emma, a warning look in his eyes. “And accidents happen, don’t they, Emma?”
What the hell? Was this guy really threatening Emma? Right in front of them?
Cash felt Charlie put a hand on his arm. He knew he couldn’t punch the guy out right in front of the sheriff. Even if Taylor was his friend, he’d still have to uphold the law and take him in for assault. Although a day spent in jail might be worth it if he could get in one good punch and knock out a couple of Earl’s tobacco-stained teeth.
“I thought I told you boys to steer clear of Emma. Didn’t we just have that conversation yesterday?”
“We didn’t even know she worked here. We just came in to get us some lunch. Is that a crime? You gonna arrest me for ordering a burger?”
“I think right now I’m just going to ask you to leave.” Taylor’s tone was firm.
“You can’t do that. This is a public place. We haven’t even ordered yet.”
“We’re out of burgers,” Stan said. He’d come from the kitchen and stood next to Emma, a supportive hand on her arm.
“Then I’ll order something else.”
“We’re out of that, too,” Stan said. “We’re out of whatever you order.”
Earl’s gaze flicked to Stan’s hand on Emma’s arm. “What the hell is this? You boning this guy too, sis?”
Cash felt a growl build in his throat as his hands balled into fists.
“Who I am or am not boning is none of your business,” Emma said in a small tight voice. The room quieted in shock at her statement. In the fact that she said anything at all.
Stunned, he looked over at her in surprise, then nodded his encouragement.
Good for her. She needed to stand up to these jerks. Keep going.
She straightened her back, standing taller, as if she took strength from his encouragement. “And I told you I’m not your sister. I am no longer married to your brother, and I don’t want anything more to do with your family. I don’t want to see you again. I want you to stay away from me, and leave me the hell alone.”
Speechless, Earl looked at her in slack-jawed surprise. “Who do you think you are? You can’t talk to me like that. And you don’t just get to throw our brother away, like he’s a piece of trash.”
“Yes, I do. Because that’s how he’s treated me for the past ten years.”
“You heard the lady,” Taylor said. “She said she wanted you to leave her alone.”
Earl turned to the sheriff, an ugly sneer on his face. “I don’t see a lady.”
Holy crap. He couldn’t believe it. This guy didn’t know when to quit. He was like a wild animal trapped in a corner, baring his teeth and lashing out. A wild animal that needed a muzzle and a cage.
“It’s time to go, Earl,” Taylor said, taking a step back but resting his hand on his gun as he gave Earl and his brother space to leave.
“You going to make me, Sheriff?”
“If he doesn’t, I will,” Cherry said, stepping out of the kitchen. She must have come in the back door. “This is my place of business, and I have the right to refuse service to anyone in this establishment. And I’m refusing service to you and your brother. Now get the hell out of my restaurant. And don’t come back.”
He must have known he was beat, because Earl grudgingly got off the stool and nudged his brother. “Let’s go, Junior. Suddenly I lost my appetite. And I heard the food in this place sucks anyway.” He glared at Emma. “See ya around, sis.”
Taylor followed the Purvis brothers out of the restaurant, which was a good thing, because if Taylor hadn’t been there, he probably would’ve followed them out and beat them black and blue on the sidewalk.
Cherry turned to Emma. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. Are you okay?”
Cash could tell she was shaken. Actually, everyone could tell because her face was pale, her hands trembled, and she looked like she might faint. He took a step forward, planning to—he didn’t know what—catch her if she fell, maybe. Or maybe sweep her up into his arms and carry her out of there.
He didn’t have a chance to do either of those things, though. Instead, Stan stepped closer and put his arm around Emma’s waist. It tore a hole in his gut to watch her lean her head onto his shoulder. It should be him—his arm wrapped around her and his shoulder she was leaning on.
Damn. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually felt jealous. But he knew the feeling, and envy was rearing her ugly green head.
He stepped back, let Stan take the lead. This was the perfect opportunity for Emma to see what a great guy Stan is. Besides, this was what he wanted. Right?
Cherry spoke loudly to the few remaining customers in the diner. “Nothing to see here, folks. Everything’s going to be fine.”
He knew that it wouldn’t take long for the rumors to start flying about the Purvis brothers being in town and causing a ruckus over Emma in the restaurant.
“I think your shift is about over. Why don’t you get your purse, and we’ll take you back to Tucked Away,” Charlie said to Emma.
“You don’t have to,” she answered. “I’ve got my car.”
“You’re not in any shape to be driving. Just leave it here, and I’ll bring you back into town later when we come back for pizza.”
“Okay.”
Cherry grabbed her purse from the back and handed it to Emma, who followed Cash and Charlie out of the diner. His truck was parked at the curb, and he opened the door and helped Emma into the cab. Charlie slid onto the bench seat after her, and he closed the door.
Climbing into the driver’s seat, he buckled his seat belt and tried not to think about the way Emma’s leg rested alongside his or the way her bare arm brushed his as they bumped along the road out of town.
She let out a heavy sigh and relaxed against his side, leaned her head slightly onto his shoulder.
“You okay, darlin’?” he asked, sneaking a quick glance at her.
She sat up and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I am. I’m really okay. I think I might even be pretty good. That’s the first time I’ve ever stood up to those guys. I’m afraid I usually just kind of let them walk all over me, because I don’t want to cause a scene or make a fuss.”
He chuckled. “I’d say you made a pretty good fu
ss this afternoon.”
She grinned. “I did, didn’t I? And nothing terrible happened. In fact, I feel like something good actually happened. I certainly feel pretty good about myself, instead of the way I normally feel. Which is awful and that I acted like a coward.”
He patted her leg. Damn it, he couldn’t help himself. He just wanted to touch her, to reassure her. And surely a friend could tap another friend on the leg. “You should feel good. You did great. You said all the things that Taylor told you to tell them. I’d even venture so far as to say you acted brave. Just like you thought you could.”
She smiled up at him. “I did act brave. I remembered what you told me all day today, but especially with Earl and Junior. I imagined that I was brave, then I acted like I was.”
“And it worked,” he said, smiling back. “I’m proud of you.”
“I’m proud of me, too.”
He could hear the pride in her voice, and he liked that he had a small hand in helping to put it there.
Tucked Away was only a few miles out of town, and he pulled the truck into the driveway and parked in front of the house.
Rounding the front of the truck, he opened the door and helped Charlie and Emma out. “I’ve got to see to a few chores this afternoon. But I’ll check in with you all later.”
Charlie tucked her arm under Emma’s and gave him an encouraging nod before they headed up the porch steps. “Thanks. I’ve got this. But you let us know if your ‘plans’ fall through, and you can join us for that pizza.”
“Yeah, I’ll be sure to do that,” he said to their retreating backs.
But he knew he wouldn’t.
…
“Thanks again for the inviting me to have pizza with you all. It was really fun. And the pizza was delicious,” Emma said as she and Charlie stopped on the sidewalk in front of the diner later that night.
It was close to nine, and the streets of the small town were deserted and quiet.
Cherry’s family had left earlier to put Sam to bed, Stan had given Sophie and her friend a ride to the movie theater, and Zack had offered to pay the bill and bring the truck around while Charlie walked Emma back to her car.
