Tamed

Shane stood up, shoving his way out until he seemed to take up most of the space around the booth. “Who are you?”

“You on a date with her?” Jeff barked out a harsh laugh. “Dude, you should run. This one is—”

“That’s enough.” Shane didn’t even raise his voice. Didn’t have to. The vibration of menace would have been tough to miss.

Jeff took a step back. “You going to fight me?”

“You do not want that.” Shane shook his head as he eyed Jeff up and down. “Trust me.”

The mood in the diner changed. People openly gawked and the waitress backed away from their table. Blame it on testosterone or whatever, but a battle was brewing and clearly everyone felt the danger. Except Jeff. He didn’t back down. He outweighed Shane by at least thirty pounds, but Shane was all lean muscle and lethal fighter.

This would be a bloodbath, and while Jeff deserved to be pounded into the floor, she didn’t want to witness it. “Shane, stop.”

“Listen to the woman, Shane.”

“One more time. Who are you?” Shane’s voice dripped with disdain.

“Just one of the men she screwed over.” Jeff threw out an arm in her direction, nearly hitting her.

She pulled back just in time. “You can’t blame me. You’re the liar.”

With each word, her anger rose. She seethed with it. This guy had tracked her down, showed up at her house more than once. He’d been in the wrong and now pretended to be the victim. She despised him and everything he stood for.

Jeff’s face flushed red and he took a threatening step toward her. He reached his arm out but never touched her. Shane moved with lightning speed to stand between them and pushed the guy back. Kept pushing over Jeff’s protests and swearing until his back hit the wall. Shane held Jeff there with a hand around his throat. That was it. One hand had him pinned.

Shane didn’t even move as Jeff punched at his arm and moved his whole body, trying to break loose. When two men got up at another table, Shane held up a hand. Didn’t say a word, but the gesture was enough to get them sitting back down again.

Makena’s heart lodged in her throat and wouldn’t slip back down again. She wanted to stop the madness, but it had spiraled so fast and so furiously and she could only stand there, openmouthed and stunned.

“We seem to be having a miscommunication issue here. Let me be clear.” Shane’s voice sounded deadly cold and even. “You don’t go near her. Not to talk with her or touch her. Ever.”

Jeff tried to pry Shane’s hand off but failed. “She’s been asking for it.”

“That is the line said by every abusive male on the planet.” Shane’s grip tightened. “She dumped you. Move on.”

The idea of dating Jeff made her stomach roll. “That’s not what this is about.”

Jeff scoffed. “As if I would date that piece of—” His words choked off as his eyes bulged.

“Last warning.” Shane leaned in closer to Jeff. “If you think I won’t rip you apart in front of an audience, you’re dead wrong.”

“Tough talk from a guy who doesn’t even know what’s going on.”

It was as if Jeff wanted Shane to kill him. She couldn’t believe Jeff missed the rage simmering there. That he couldn’t see the darkness in Shane’s eyes.

After a beat of silence Shane let Jeff go, but not before shoving his head back and knocking it against the wall. “Explain it to me.”

Jeff doubled over in a coughing fit. It took him a few minutes to regain his composure. When he did, anger thrummed off him. “Ask your girlfriend. She’s the one causing trouble.” He scowled at her. “You going to turn on this guy, too?”

She hated being put in the role of bad guy. Jeff took no responsibility for his bad choices. That shouldn’t surprise her, but it did. “Shane’s not a liar.”

“Makena, don’t help,” Shane said without moving his gaze away from Jeff.

“That won’t work. She’s ruthless.”

Shane pointed at Jeff. “And you’re done talking to her or about her.”

He batted the hand away. “You’ll find out. Just wait.”

Makena watched as Jeff stomped off. Pivoted around the tables, ignoring all the stares and the waitress rooted to the spot with the coffeepot dangling from her hand. The noise of the diner muffled. Makena could hear the creaking of chairs and the clanging of silverware, but it all sounded so distant.

Shane dropped back into his seat and stared at her. “So...”

“I never dated that guy. I would never date someone like him.” She wanted that clear from the start.