Stand By Your Man: (Three Bad Boy Romance Novellas) Read online

  “No worries.” Shane puts his hands up. “We’re leaving.” Shane looks at me one more time as I watch him and his posse walk out the bar.

  Colton puts his arm around my waist. “What was that all about?”

  I push his arm off, despite how good it feels. Then I look at him. “None of your damn business. I have work to do. Leave me alone.” I walk away and head toward the bar.

  “I’m glad you asked him to leave,” says Monica. “I remember all the trouble he caused you. You okay?”

  I look at her. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks, hon. Ah . . . I need to go to the office for a bit.”

  “No problem! I’ve got it under control here. Do what you need to do.”

  “Okay, Monica, thanks.”

  I step inside my office. I can’t believe Shane had the nerve to show up here, after all these years, and then he thinks he can just saunter in here and buy my bar? Who the fuck does he think he is? Yeah, taking this bar off my hands would eliminate all of my problems, but then what? When I opened this bar, it was my dream. I’m not about to give up on my dream because things are horrible right now. I can save this bar. I know I can.

  I look over at the doorway; there’s you know who again just staring at me and looking way too good for any man to look.

  “Can I come in?”

  I sigh. “Yes, but just for a minute.” I watch him walk in. “What do you want?”

  “What do I want? I want to take you out.”

  I laugh. “That again? Well, guess what? I don’t have time to go out with the likes of you. I have a business to run, and I’m very busy these days.”

  Colton steps closer. “You sure about that? You had time for me last night.”

  He’s got that smile on his face. The same smile he had when I met him. It’s killing me. I look him dead in the eyes. “I was horny. It had been a long time since I had a man. You came along. So I took care of it.” I brush my hand at him and look away. “Any man would have been fine.”

  “Is that so?”

  I look back at him. “Yes, that’s so.”

  “This bar is closed on Mondays.”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “I got something going on this Monday, but next Monday, I’m taking you out. Be ready at seven.”

  I look at him again, laughing harder than usual. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Who the hell am I? I’m Colton.”

  “Look, Colton. I don’t have time for this. I have a business to run. Please leave.”

  Colton takes a card out of his pocket and places it on my desk, the same desk where we fucked last night. “Call me.” he taps the card, smiles at me again, and then walks out. I can’t help but stare at his broad shoulders, his strong back, and his firm, tight ass.

  I stand in one spot for a moment, and then I walk over to the card. I can’t help it. It’s as if my legs are moving without my help.

  The card is solid black with the initials C and L large in gold. Under the initials is a phone number. That’s it. So mysterious.

  I grab the card and throw it in my pocket. I’ll keep it, but I’m not calling him. I can’t call him. I’ve got serious issues to deal with here, and I don’t have time for a bad boy. Not again.

  Ten

  Colton

  So I gave Abby my card and told her we’re going out next Monday. It will happen. I’m not worried about that.

  But something is going on with her. That character who was talking to her tonight meant business. I could see that. But I’m sure the more I get to know her, the more she’ll open up to me. If she’s in trouble, I want to be there to help her.

  In the meantime, I don’t know what restaurant I want to take her to. All the places near here are for shit.

  Maybe I’ll take her to Spiaggia. Show her that a guy like me can get cleaned up and handle myself in a fancy Italian restaurant. In fact, I think I’ll buy her a dress. I got connections with fashion houses in New York. I’ll have one of my partners rush one over. I know her size. I’ve got every inch of that body memorized in my brain.

  Then I’ll take her back to my place and introduce her to my bed. It’s time they got acquainted.

  Eleven

  Abby

  I’m back home after another night at the bar. I should be in bed, but I’m not tired yet. I’ve taken a shower, and I’m sitting here in front of the TV. Only it’s not on. I’m just staring at a dark screen.

  I can’t get that guy out of my head, no matter how hard I try. It’s been four days since Colton handed me that business card. Honestly, I can’t stop looking at it. As much as I don’t want to call this guy, I want to at the same time. I can’t help it. Life is so stressful for me right now.

  The thing is, he hasn’t been back at the bar since I saw him last. Maybe he’s moved on, and all my agonizing is a waste of time. But maybe he hasn’t?

  I don’t know where he lives and I don’t know what he’s about. I don’t know anything about this guy. When I asked him what he does for a living, he told me “this and that.” What the hell is “this and that”? They’re the words of a criminal, that’s what. I need to leave this guy alone, but I can’t.

  I pick up my cell and stare at it, feeling more pathetic than I’ve felt in a long time. But this girl who’s got an albatross of a bar to look after needs to feel good again. I type in the number and send him a text. It’s easier if I just text him instead of calling him. That way I’ll feel less like a loser.

  U still free Monday?

  I put the phone down, but before I can get up to get a drink, Colton answers my text.

  Can I call?

  So now Colton wants to talk to me. I don’t feel like being a faker right now. I want to talk to him too. I’ve wanted to talk to him again since the last time I saw him, even if I was a bitch to him. When he finally walked out that door, I didn’t want to see him go. Of course, I didn’t tell him that, but that’s what I was thinking.

  Yeah.

  Immediately after I type the word, my cell rings. I answer it. “Hi, Colton.”

  “I’m glad you called me. I want you ready at seven on Monday, cool? Write it down.”

  I roll my eyes. “You want me ready? Is that some sort of order?”

  “What’s your address?”

  He doesn’t answer me. He just assumes I’m going for it. But the thing is, I am going for it. I want to go for it. “You can just meet me at the bar.”

  “What? You don’t want me to come by your house.”

  “No, not right now. I don’t know you. You’re probably some thug or something.”

  Colton laughs. “But I’m a hot thug, though, right?”

  “So you don’t deny it?”

  “I’m dropping a present off for you at the bar tomorrow,” he says, not answering my question.

  “What present? I don’t need presents.”

  “I’ll see you later, babe.”

  And then he hangs up. Just like that. I’m supposed to be ready for him on Monday at seven, and he has a present for me. Whatever. I’ll go out with him on Monday, and then that’s it. He can get lost for all I care. I don’t need this drama in my life. I have enough drama.

  The next night, I putz around the bar, checking things that don’t really need to be checked. The bar is in order. That’s not the problem with this place. The problem is I don’t have enough customers. I know that if I were busy, running around the bar like I used to do, my mind wouldn’t have time to think about all the stuff that’s bothering me.

  I keep staring at the door. Colton says he’s coming by to drop a present off for me. What present? What is he talking about? I wish he would just show up so that I can stop thinking about him.

  “Hey, can I get another Bud? You keep ignoring me.” An elderly man shouts at me from down the bar’s counter.

  I shake my head. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m a little distracted. What did you say you wanted?”

  “A Bud! Same thing you gave me last time. Jesus!”

  �
�Sorry.”

  I grab the man’s glass and fill it with Budweiser. God, I’m such a mess. I’ve got to snap out of this, and I’ve got to snap out of it now.

  Soon after I give the guy his second Bud, in walks Colton carrying a black bag. I turn my back after I see him, trying not to let him know I’ve been thinking about him, all day and into the night. I don’t know why. I guess I just can’t help myself. I can’t let myself get honest about this guy. Not right now.

  When I turn around for the second time, there he is. And yes, you guessed it; he still looks as hot as ever. He hands me the black bag.

  “What is this?”

  He smiles. “Open it.”

  “Here? No. I’ll open it later.”

  Colton shrugs. “Fine, suit yourself.” He walks toward the door, but then he turns to point at me. “That’s what I want you to wear on Monday. I’ll be here to pick you up at seven. Don’t be late.”

  Before I can say anything else, he’s out the door. And I’m standing here holding this bag. The guy at the counter is staring at me and grinning. “You gonna open it?” he says.

  I don’t answer. I just put the bag under the counter.

  My heart is pounding like crazy as I stand outside locking the doors to the bar. In fact, my heart feels like it’s going to pound right out of my chest. I’m not going to lie to you. I can’t wait to dive into this damn bag. Earlier, I did peek inside the bag, but whatever is inside he’s got it packed up pretty good. As soon as I get home, I’m ripping this package open.

  But before I can make it to my car, there’s Shane, and he’s standing there with two of his thug buddies. He approaches me. His two thug buddies stand in place as if they are his bodyguards or something. It’s two in the morning, and obviously, it’s dark out. This is not a scary part of town. I never feel unsafe here. That’s one of the reasons I opened a bar here. But now, with Shane standing in front of me, I do.

  I don’t speak. I don’t want to encourage him or give him an easy opening, so I just glare at him, waiting for him to spit it out. He doesn’t seem to find it hard but I guess I didn’t expect anything else.

  “You think any more about what we talked about?” Shane says, his face clearly visible under the streetlight.

  I study him, my jaw tight. He’s still as cocky and arrogant as ever, but he’s lost that mocking smirk he had last time. His expression’s hard and cold. Damn, he’s really serious about this now. I decide I’m not going to let on that I know that or give away how nervous it makes me. “I don’t know what you mean. We didn’t talk about anything.”

  “The bar. I want to take it off your hands.”

  “Oh, that. You really should stop wasting your time, and I wish you would just leave me alone, Shane. I’m not selling my bar to you.”

  He takes a step closer to me, and his goons follow at his side. “I’m not asking.”

  “What do you mean you’re not asking? This bar is mine. Not yours. Not anyone else’s. You can’t buy what I’m not selling, get it?”

  “You can’t handle it here. This place is as dead as dirt, and I know for a fact that you’re a good 100 grand in. You’ll never dig yourself out.”

  Fuck! How the hell did he come across that gem of information? I want to deny it, tell him that he’s full of shit, but I know he’s already read the surprise and horror on my face. Sometimes I’m just no good at keeping my feelings to myself. I try to bluff it off anyway. “How do you know anything about that? Leave me alone.”

  Now that mocking smirk is firmly back on his face. He wasn’t just fishing. He knew it was true. My heart is racing even more than it did before. If I stick around, he’ll see that he’s actually scaring me and that’s the last thing I need. He’s a fucking predator, and if I show any sign of weakness, I’ve had it.

  I spin on my heel and stride off to my car, trying to make my steps angry instead of looking like I’m scampering off like a terrified bunny rabbit. I’ve turned my back on Shane, and I don’t know how smart that is, but I don’t hear him following me. I reach the car and pull the door open in a rush, throw the bag on the passenger seat, climb in, slam the door and pull out. I don’t look behind me, and I won’t look behind me. All I want to do is get home.

  Twelve

  Colton

  We’re at Jagger’s house, sitting on lawn chairs in a circle in his garage. The door to the garage is closed.

  “I’m telling you guys,” says Jagger. “There’s no way we can’t pull this off. I got the van all set and ready to go. We’ll crash into the place, grab all the shit we can, and get the hell out.”

  Jagger lays out a plan to rob Wilson’s jewelry store next week. We’ve been studying the security of jewelry stores in the area for the last two weeks. The folks at Wilson’s are idiots. The place is just waiting for someone to rob it, and they’ve got some pretty nice stuff in there. When you make a point of having any woman you want, you learn a bit about jewelry. It helps a lot when you get the odd stubborn one that plays hard to get. I never back down from a challenge and don’t consider it cheating to use a little bribe now and again. The way I run my life, money’s pretty much easy come and easy go anyway. I don’t make a habit of it as most chicks aren’t worth it, but I know my way around my options.

  “Sounds good to me,” I say. “Some of those pieces are one-offs and will be hotter than hell for a while. You got someone for the fence?”

  Jagger grins. “I got that all figured out and set up too. I told ya, this is fool proof.”

  “Do we get to know who?”

  “You won’t know him but I can vouch for him, and that’s good enough, right?”

  Jagger’s question and stare are a challenge. I accept it and we’re at a standoff, or should I say sit off. Any minute, it could turn into a pissing contest. I could go for that but I might blow my place on this deal, and it sounds sweet. I decide to let it drop. If he says his guy is good, I guess I should trust him. I’m not willing to let it go that easily, though. I’ve got to at least make my point and not rollover too easy and look like a pussy.

  “Long as we split up the money fair. Count me out if we don’t do it fair.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” says Jagger. “I got you, Colton. Fair and square. Don’t you know me?”

  “Yeah, I know you. That’s the whole problem. I know you gypped Tommy out of all the money you owed him on the last job.”

  “He’s a fucking liar. He got everything that was coming to him.”

  “So you say.”

  “You want in or not?”

  I do want in, but I don’t want him to know how badly. “How soon can your guy turn rocks into hard cash?”

  “It’ll be real soon after the job. I told you, he’s good. So?”

  I pretend to give it some thought then finally nod slowly. “Yeah, I’m in.”

  “Good. Now let’s pick a date to do this.”

  After spending time discussing our next gig, Axel and I are catching a bite to eat. Ax and I have been close for a long time now. We’ve done a lot of jobs together, and I trust him over any of the other guys.

  “What you think about Jagger?” I say. “Think he’s on the level?”

  “Yeah, he’s cool and I guess that means I’d trust whoever else he brings in. He’s gotta have good judgment ‘cos he’s picked us and anyways, if he doesn’t give us our fair share we’ll just kill him, right?”

  I laugh. “Yeah, works for me.”

  The waitress brings the food to our table. I notice Ax is looking at her tits.

  “You think you could handle those?” I say to Ax after she leaves.

  “Always! I’ve never come across a pair yet that I couldn’t handle. In fact, I’d like to handle all of her, but the question is, can she handle me?” We both laugh before we dig into our food.

  “Speaking of which,” says Ax, “whatever happened to that bartender you ditched me for that night? You banging her?”

  “Sorry I left you hanging, buddy, but I had to have her. In fact,
we’re meeting this Monday. I’m gonna take her to a fancy Italian restaurant.”

  “You’re doing the whole dinner thing already? I thought she was just another one of your fuck ‘em and leave ‘em babes. What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know man. I can’t get her out of my head.”

  “She is hot I’ll give you that, but dinner after only banging her once? That’s just not you.”

  I give him a grin. “Yeah, but she was really fucking good.” If I’m hoping to distract him from the whole dinner thing it isn’t working.

  “Good enough to start dating? What if the first time was just a fluke and she actually sucks, and not in the good way?”

  “She won’t, but even if she did, I intend to find out after the dinner. It’s not just about the fancy food.” I give him a wink, but again he isn’t fooled.

  “Nope, there’s something more going on here. If she was that hot for it, she’d put out again without you shelling out. Spill it.”

  “If I knew what was going on here I’d tell you, man, you know I would. Truth is I don’t really understand it myself. Maybe I just want to show off, maybe not. I’m just following my gut on this one. I even called up a buddy of mine in New York, Demond, you remember him?”

  “Yeah, he’s that gay guy who’s got a house full of dresses.”

  “Yeah, the designer dude. I had him express ship one of his dresses to me. Cost me a fucking fortune, even with his discount, but I want to see her in it.”

  “Oh, no!

  “What?”

  “A fancy meal was bad enough, but when you start buying stuff for a chick, I know you got it bad. Let’s not forget what happened with Candy.”

  “Yeah . . . but I gotta confess, Abby has got a hold on me much stronger than Candy. She’s under my skin. All I know is I gotta keep seeing this girl. Plus, I think she might be in trouble with her bar. I want to protect her.”

  “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. You’ve known her all of five minutes. Besides, what makes you think she needs your protection? You saw how she handled that drunk. I’m pretty sure she can take care of herself. “