Encore Encore by Charlie Cochrane Read Free Book Online Page A

thrown everything all haywire. “No.” An ugly scowl darkened the other man’s features. “You’re not going off with him again, are you? I saw you arguing. I’ll be better for you than him.”
    “Hey, Shawn.” Paul, one of Ms. Tyken’s bouncers, sidled up a seat away from Joshua and rested one beefy arm on the bar.
    “You okay?”
    Joshua snarled when he turned to the bouncer. “He’s fi ne.” Paul barely glanced at him, raising one brow over the dark eyes fi xed on Shawn.
    Shawn glanced at Joshua, then back at Paul. “I think it’s time to call it a night.”
    Paul nodded and stood. “Right.” He landed one paw on Joshua’s shoulder. “C’mon, buddy, time to go.”
    “What? No, wait. Shawn! Wait—”
    By the time Paul had dragged the protesting Joshua to the door, Nick and his friend Jeff were at the bar to fi nd out what happened. Shawn told them, trying to keep calm.
    “I’d been worried about that one,” Nick sighed, his unmade face showing little sign of his fl ashier other persona. But the tenor and infl ection of his voice hardly changed. “You got someone to go home with you tonight, sugar?”
    “I’ll be fi ne.”
    Jeff, a very straight looking businessman, leaned on the bar.
    “Don’t dismiss him like that. He’s bigger than you, and he’s got that look in his eye.”
    Nick nodded. “Maybe you better let us see you home.” Shawn tried to ignore the fact that his heart was racing a mile a minute. “I’ll be fi ne.”

    ENCORE! ENCORE! 39
    They both gave him looks meant to make him rethink his words. He did, but, after taking some more calming breaths, came to the same conclusion. “I’ll be careful. I promise.” But he had a chance to be sorry for his decision an hour and a half later when he exited the subway and walked the few blocks to his apartment building. He rounded the corner, took a few steps, then froze. Leaning against a newspaper dispenser there on the corner in front of the liquor store, was Joshua. Because the man was already there meant he hadn’t followed Shawn. At least, not tonight. He already knew where Shawn lived.
    Bad. Very bad.
    As Shawn stood in indecision, Joshua spotted him. He stood up and waved, smiling.
    Against his better judgment, Shawn took the steps that brought him within speaking distance. The glow from the liquor store was welcome, the sight of a few people inside even more welcome. “What are you doing here?”
    Joshua ran a hand over his buzzed hair. “I know this looks bad. But I just want to talk.”
    “You know this is creepy, right?”
    The bigger man grimaced, glancing at the brightly lit liquor store window. “I’m not dangerous. If I was, I wouldn’t have waited for you out in the open.”
    That so didn’t make Shawn feel better. He took a step back.
    “Shawn, no, wait. I just want to talk to you.”
    “Talk.”
    “Can’t we go someplace alone?”
    For the fi rst time in a long time, Shawn was thankful that the area where he lived was relatively active at night thanks to a few all night stores, a diner and a scattering of bars and late-night coffee shops. If his street was dark and deserted, he’d have 40 Mykles ~ Much Ado
    turned tail and run. As it was, there was no one right at hand to overhear but there were people near enough.
    He dug his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
    “But, Shawna, I…” Joshua took a step forward.
    Shawn took two steps back. “Don’t. How did you know where I live?”
    Joshua swallowed. “I’ve followed you home. But only to make sure you were safe!” He glanced around. “This isn’t a safe area for someone like you.”
    “Someone like me?”
    Another step, hands out, palms up. “Shawna, please…”
    “Yeah, that’s it. Get away from me and stay away.”
    “Shawna!” Joshua’s voice trailed after Shawn but he didn’t follow.
    Shawn stopped at the subway entrance and glanced back over his shoulder. No Joshua, at least not in