Click (A Night Fire Novel Book 2) by TM Watkins Read Free Book Online Page B

reluctant to let them in. If they came in, it meant the fight was over. Not that it had really started, it was rather one sided. Austin saw the cops and landed another hard jab, this one onto the side of his nose. It sent the idiot to the floor, landing a few steps away from Austin. He laid on the floor, out cold as the cops broke through the people. Austin walked to them swiftly, pointing to the unconscious man on the floor and then to me.
    One of them walked over, sizing me up as he drew closer.
    “Good evening miss, I am Barney Molloy the chief of police for the island. Austin tells me that the man assaulted you, is that correct?”
    “Uh, yes. He grabbed me and wouldn't let go when I asked him to.”
    He nodded and scribbled something into his little notepad.
    “Do you wish to press charges?”
    “No.” I frowned. “Not unless he tries something against Austin.”
    The cop smiled at me, one that made me think that there would never be any charges laid against Austin. This was a small town and I think that a certain barman got away with a whole lot more than he should.
    With all the excitement that had happened with the fight, we had missed the first and the second bus. There were a few people that had missed them as well so the bar staff were kept busy for the entire night. Monique and I were sitting on our perch at the end of the bar, the view was pretty damn good. Not just Austin, the other barmen were easy on the eye as well. The excess of people had robbed me of a moment to thank my brave hero who had defended me and fought off what could have been a real problem.
    He wouldn't take no for an answer, he didn't care what I wanted. You've seen those kinds of guys before my mind whispered. You've seen the tears that follow. I turned and smiled at Monique, she returned it but it was forced.
    The pain was resurfacing. It wasn't an exact replication of her own nightmare but it was pretty damned close. A guy that had been friends with her family since she was in nappies, a good friend and with a little time a boyfriend. His ugly side was the reason for all of her wild behavior now, the reason she drank, the reason she only ever had one night stands. She didn't want to get close to anyone ever again, she kept everyone at an arm's length. Well, except for me and her parents of course.
    “I don't want to be a pill Ab, but I'm pretty tired.”
    “It's cool, I think I've had enough excitement for today.”
    Austin glanced in my direction and I waved goodbye. He frowned for a moment and then glanced at his watch. With two large strides he was at our end of the bar.
    “Give me five minutes?”
    “Sure.”
    He put two beers onto the counter to keep us occupied, quickly returning to the crowd that were hounding them with their orders. Five minutes had passed and the crowd had not relented, I caught Austin's attention. He said something to one of the other barmen who looked pretty pissed but didn't say anything. Austin rounded the bar, ignoring the complaints of those that were waiting and made his way to me. He took my hand and led me into the back corridor that held the doors to the bathrooms.
    “You're going?”
    “Monique's tired. I can't say as that I'm all that lively either.”
    “About before.” He sighed. “I'm not that aggressive, I just can't stand men like him.”
    “It's okay but I never got to thank you for sticking up for me.”
    A dark grin crossed his face as I leaned on the wall, pulling his shirt to make him move closer.
    “And how are you going to thank me?”
    “One kiss tonight and a promise of more tomorrow?”
    “Sounds good.”
    Austin pressed me against the wall, the kiss had begun slow but as the seconds passed it started to heat up. He pulled me off the wall slightly, wrapping his arms around my waist. One hand moved over my hip, pulling my leg around his waist.
    “This dress is scandalous.” He whispered as he trailed his lips over my skin.
    His head dipped to the curve of my neck,