Stormy Nights (Red Hook 3)

Jasmine raised her hand. “That would be me, not that anyone here cares.”

“I care,” Drake argued. “I know who he is and he will pay, along with Nancy.”

“Your ex?” Adam looked confused but still upset. He hung on to Holly, rubbing her back in a soothing manner.

“She is not my ex,” Drake yelled loud enough for the whole bar to hear him. “Jesus. I dated her a few times. It was casual. Do I need to take an ad out in the paper?”

Ray stopped his arguing with John when he heard Drake yell out loud. He walked up to Drake and playfully pushed him.

“No need.” He chuckled. “Millie’s brother, Gordon, called me and told me my sister was fighting with some cowboy. I had no trouble believing that so I headed down here before the parents found out, or Alana.”

“Jackie Sanders called Faith and said there was a riot at the bar and Holly was injured and had caused it.” Adam snorted. “I called Noah but he was clueless. He was busy snuggling with his wife.”

Noah looked at Matt and Drake. “My deputies should have called me right away. I thought all was under control.”

“John called me.” Matt admitted. “We were going to call you but we had no idea what was going on. It was all over by the time we arrived.”

“We didn’t want to ruin your day off until we knew what was going on,” Drake spoke up.

Holly repeated the whole story without interruption this time. Adam looked at Noah. “Can you arrest Nancy?”

“I doubt it. There is no law against being a jealous bitch or I would,” Noah answered with a resigned sigh. He looked at Drake.

“I’ll take care of Nancy,” Drake said through gritted teeth. He could not believe she would go so far to hurt Jasmine out of jealousy. They never had a serious thing going. She just couldn’t stand being the center of attention. Jasmine was pretty enough to get attention from the single men in town.

“Of course. Who cares that I’m the one molested? All you care is about your stupid girlfriend.” Jasmine informed him coldly.

“Did you just get hit on the nose?” Noah asked. He pulled a chair up to her and tilted her face into the light. She had dried blood on her cheeks. Her hair was tangled and she looked exhausted.

“I got shoved a few times and my breast hurts. I’m pretty sure that asshole left it bruised. Holly said my nose isn’t broken,” Jasmine answered in a low voice. “My head hurts but I think it was all those shots of tequila.”

Noah looked at Drake with murder in his eyes. “Who was it?”

“Donald Allen,” Drake replied. “I let him go so Matt wouldn’t kill him. I know where he lives.”

“I don’t know how I am going to get home. I think my aunt’s store is close by. I’ll just crash there tonight.” She stood up and looked at Alicia. “I had a blast, girl—up until the end, that is—but you sure are fierce.”

Alicia laughed. “We’ll have to do it again. We can call ourselves the Bad Girls Club.”

Everyone groaned loudly and Alicia grinned. “We’ll go to Austin and you and Holly can pierce your belly buttons. Red Hook men will freak.”

“I’m squeamish,” Holly apologized. She pulled away from Adam and gave Jasmine a hug. “Sorry about how things ended tonight but I had a great time. Don’t forget to call me.”

“How can you be squeamish, Holly? You’re a nurse,” Alicia interrupted.

“If it’s other people’s blood I can handle it but if I bleed, it’s all over.” Holly looked at Matt shyly. “Thank you, deputy, for being so patient. I was shaky. I have never been involved in anything like this. I wasn’t sure what to do.”

“Keep hanging with my sister and it will become the norm,” Ray muttered.

“My name is Matthew Smith.” He smiled gently, ignoring Ray’s complaining. “I work for Noah. Can I walk you to your car?”

Adam didn’t seem to like the look in Matt’s eyes. He pulled Holly closer to him. “

She has been drinking. Faith wants her at our home tonight. I will walk her to my car.”

Holly gave Matt one last smile before leaving with Adam. Matt stared at her leaving with a gleam in his eyes. Drake shoved him. Finally, something humorous out of this shitty night. “Did Cupid’s arrow just shoot your ass?”

Matt chuckled, scratching his chin in a reflective mood. “Maybe. I feel weird. How come I never seen that golden angel around town?”