Rose kept her gaze fixed on him but for a brief glance out to her car, parked at the curb. She decided she’d run out to it as soon as the man rounded the corner of the house. Once she was away, she’d call Lucas to tell him what was happening. She didn’t want him to show up unaware of the man who clearly was looking for some kind of trouble.
Her stomach churned as she stood up, slowly. He didn’t seem to notice her while he looked around as if trying to remember where he was and why. The heavy, cloying scent of too much beer hit her like a wave on the next breeze.
Suddenly, his bleary gaze shot to her and he demanded again, “Who’re you?”
“A friend of Lucas’s,” she said, keeping her voice low as she moved carefully toward the steps.
The man snorted. “He don’t have friends. No-good bastard…”
Instinctively, Rose wanted to defend Lucas, which would clearly be a mistake, since the man obviously was furious with him. She had to clamp her lips shut to keep from speaking, though.
So maybe she shouldn’t wait to get to her car, Rose thought, and eased down the few steps to the paved walkway. He watched every move she made, and Rose almost wished it would start raining again. She would take every distraction she could get. “Well, I’ve got to leave now, so…”
She stepped off the walkway into the still-sodden grass, trying to keep distance between them. But for a swaying, unsteady drunk, the man moved quickly. He was suddenly at her side, holding on to her arm with an iron grip.
“Jus’ wait a damn minute here, girly. You know Lucas.”
“Yes,” she said, holding her breath as much as possible. The stench of alcohol was much harsher now. And his breath was horrifying. As was his tight hold on her arm.
He was big and angry and drunk.
Not a good combination.
“You could talk to him. Tell him to not fire me.” He leaned in closer, lost his balance and almost took them both down before somehow finding his footing again.
Rose’s arm hurt where he held her, and her nerves jangled like sleigh bells. She tried to pull away, but the man was so much stronger than she was, she didn’t have a hope. She still clutched her phone and as unobtrusively as she could, lifted it so she could see the dial pad.
“Hey! No phonin’ him,” the drunk told her and knocked the phone from her hand.
She glanced down at her phone, lying on the wet grass, and felt her heart slide down into the pit of her stomach.
“Let me call Lucas. He’ll come talk to you,” she urged, her voice as placating as she could make it, despite the fear. “Straighten all this out.”
“Yeah?” He looked hopeful for a moment, but then his fingers tightened around her upper arm until she winced with a fresh wave of pain.
Then he shook his head. “No. He won’t. Damn Kings. Once they make up their minds…”
“I can help.” She tried again because really, what choice did she have? “Just let me try.”
He thought about it for a long minute. Frowning, he staggered in place, caught himself, then finally nodded and released his grip on her arm. The pain of release was almost as sharp as it had been when he held her.
As soon as she was free, Rose bolted, leaving her phone on the grass. All she could think about was getting away. Getting help. Something. As she ran, she fumbled in her purse for her car keys.
Behind her, she heard the man shout “Hey!” and then the heavy pounding of his footsteps as he came after her. He was too drunk, too unsteady to move fast, though, she told herself. She had the advantage, if only she could—
Headlights flashed in her eyes and she threw one arm up in defense. A car screeched up to the curb behind hers and a moment later, Lucas was jumping out of his SUV.
“Rose? What’s wrong?” His gaze shifted to the man coming after her. Instantly, Lucas pulled Rose to stand behind him, placing his body between her and any danger. “Warren, what are you doing here?”
“Came to talk,” the man shouted. “Your lady there was helping me.”
Even in the glare of the bright lights, Rose saw Lucas’s features tighten into a mask of pure rage.
“Damn fool,” he muttered, then looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you all right, Rose? Did he hurt you?”
“No. I’m fine.”
He took a breath and released it as he nodded. “Good. That’s good. Go to the house. Wait for me on the porch.”
“No. I just want to go home, Lucas. I’m leaving.”
He checked on Warren again, then took one moment to cup her cheek briefly. “Please. The porch.”
Rose looked from him to Warren and then back again. She saw anger in Lucas’s face, but she also saw worry, so she nodded. Heck, she was too shaken to drive anyway. Rose walked a wide circle around Warren and then hurried to the porch, pausing only long enough to snatch up her phone. From her safe vantage point, she watched Lucas with the other man.
Fisting his hands on his hips, Lucas said, “Warren, you shouldn’t have come here.”
The man scraped one hand across his face and to Rose’s mind, he suddenly looked more miserable than scary. “Din’t have choice. I can’t lose my job,” he said and dropped to the grass, cupping his head in his hands.
Lucas still looked furious, but there was also something of pity in his face as he looked down at the man. “If you were looking for a second chance, coming to my home, drunk, and threatening my woman aren’t the ways to get it.”
His woman?
Those two little words punched at her heart. Rose shivered, then before she could make too much of it, told herself it meant nothing. He was talking to a drunk. Making a point. And still those two words reverberated inside her like a shout into an echoing canyon.
“Din’t hurt her,” Warren muttered. “Wouldn’t hurt a woman.”
“That makes this your lucky night,” Lucas told him and pulled out his phone. He glanced up at Rose as if satisfying himself that she was safe, then he made a brief call before tucking the phone back into his pocket.
“You stay right there, Warren,” he ordered. “I swear, if you move from that spot…”
Warren didn’t even flinch. Just sat on the wet grass cradling his head and murmuring to himself.
Clearly disgusted, Lucas walked to Rose, pulled her into his arms, then set her back from him and held her face between his palms. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. He didn’t really hurt me. Just seriously creeped me out.” She gave a quick look to the now-moaning man on the lawn. “Who is he?”