Page 61 of Rescued Love
He leers at me and pats his hair down at the back of his head, as if one strand could possibly be out of place with the amount of gel he’s slicked it back with. I don’t think even a category five hurricane could get his hair to move at this rate.
“Sorry,” he tries to placate me like I’m a fucking child, “I forgot how things go in backwater places like this. My name’s Marcus Mann. I’m a successful criminal defense attorney and I’d like to spend the night with you.”
Now it’s my turn to be shocked because there is so much to unpack in his little introduction.
Maverick snarls, “Backwater?” Marcus glances his way and when I look at him, I can see the rage in his eyes. “Christ, this guy is a fucking tool,” he mutters, but not very quietly.
I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing at the way Marcus puffs up his chest to appear more important than he is. Little does he know that shit won’t work with Maverick.
When Mav crosses his arms across his chest and stares the sleazeball down, clearly unimpressed, I almost lose it. Marcus looks toward me, trying to dismiss Maverick who I know won’t walk away from me right now, even if he has customers to serve.
Marcus moves to put his hand on me, probably my thigh, but I bat it away like I’m swatting a fly. His face starts to turn red, clearly my actions pissing him off, and I become uneasy in the situation.
When arms wrap around me from behind, I startle so hard that I almost fall off the stool before quickly realizing who is touching me and melting back into them.
“Marcus,” Nathan sneers, “what the fuck are you doing here?”
The greasy stain stares at the arm Nathan has wrapped around me and then my man, his eyes flashing with something vicious, which he tries to hide quickly, that has me gripping Nathan’s arm. Maybe it’s to stop me from slapping this asshole. Maybe it’s to stop Nathan from launching himself at him, which he clearly wants to do considering the way his body is full of tension.
“I was just having a conversation with this beauty,” Marcus tries to sound highbrow, but it comes out as more of a whine.
“No,” Nathan barks, gaining the attention of more people even though we already had an audience since Marcus sticks out like a sore thumb, “I wasn’t asking why you’re here in The Goose. I was asking why you’re here in Sweetwater Valley.”
That vicious look is back in Marcus’ eyes, and I give Nathan more of my weight, hoping to ground him. When I glance over, Clint is now standing next to Mav. While Clint is normally an easy-going guy, nothing about the look on his face is easy-going at the moment. He looks ready to launch himself over the bar as well.
I almost smile. If this is the asshole I think it is from my talks with Nathan, he shouldn’t be here. And Nathan is about to see just how a small town can have your back.
“I came to see you,” Marcus tries to sound smooth, but it just sounds like he’s trying to sound more important than he is. “The partners sent me to get you to confer on some things before Culbert goes to trial next week.”
I glance over my shoulder to find Nathan staring Marcus down with narrowed eyes. “You’re full of shit. If you were sent here, Nigel would have let me know to expect you. I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m on vacation. I won’t be working while on vacation and Nigel would have told you that. If you can’t mount your own defense for your client, that’s your problem and not mine.”
Nathan’s arm tightens around my waist, and I run my fingers over his arms, trying to soothe him. I can feel the anger radiating off him and it makes me want to wrap him in my arms and never let go. I’ll be doing it, just not right his moment.
“Wha-what?” Marcs sputters.
I look over to find Maverick and Clint watching Nathan with a look of approval on their faces. I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes. Men.
“You heard me,” Nathan’s voice is hard and uncompromising. He nods toward the door, “You need to leave. And let me be clear, you need to leave The Goose and Sweetwater Valley. Go home and do your damn job.”
Marcus’ mouth opens and closes a few times like a fish, and I cough to try and cover up my laughter. The slime’s eyes snap down to mine, hatred burning there. But I don’t care.
When I look at his hands, they’re soft and too damn smooth.
He’s not a man who can follow through. He’s a man who makes idle threats.
Just when I think Marcus is about to say something, Rhodes comes strolling up, his badge displayed on his belt even though he’s out of uniform. Without looking at Marcus, Rhodes kisses my cheek and then gives a friendly shoulder squeeze to Nathan.When he does look at Marcus, it’s with disdain shining in his eyes.
If I were on the other side of that look, I would be intimidated as hell, and it would have nothing to do with whether the man is carrying a gun or not.
“Nathan,” Rhodes nods at my man and then me, “Kimball, is there a problem over here you need help with?”
“Thank you, Sheriff,” Nathan emphases Rhodes’ title with a smile. I keep my eyes on Marcus who pales slightly while standing up. “This overstepping colleague,” he spits the word out like a curse, “was just leaving and going back to where he belongs.” He arches an eyebrow in challenge. “Right, Marcus?”
Marcus doesn’t even answer. He just power walks out of The Goose without looking back.
“That was fucking strange,” Nathan muses.
I don’t even get a chance to answer before my man spins me around and kisses me hard, not giving a single fuck that we’re in the middle of The Goose on a busy night or that everyone’s eyes were already on us because of that little confrontation. Nope. He doesn’t care in the least.