“Hey, baby,” he said, joining his lips with hers.
“Mmmm, hi,” she replied against his mouth. “Did you have fun dancing with Morgan?”
“She wore me out. That girl is some kind of special.”
“Luke!” Embry said, slapping his chest.
“What?” He laughed. “I’m just saying y’all must have a really special bond, because that one’s a little crazy.”
Embry raised an eyebrow. “Was that a y’all I just heard?”
Luke shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Say it again!” Embry said, grinding against him.
“Say what again?” he asked innocently.
“Oh, come on. You know I love how you talk. It’s hot!”
“Is it, now?” he said, a devious glint in his eye.
“Darn tootin’!” She made a goofy face.
“Okay, I’m gonna have to put you in a time-out for that one,” he said, chuckling.
She smiled a sweet smile. “Why, baby?”
“You ruined the sexy,” he said, planting a wet kiss on her lips. “Go dance with your friend. I need a beer.”
Embry and Morgan continued to shake their asses on the dance floor, putting on a show for their men as they kicked back on the ottomans enjoying their beers.
After another song or two, Morgan tugged on Embry’s arm. “Bathroom!”
Embry nodded and let Morgan lead her toward the back of the bar. They rounded the corner to the bathroom and saw the long line. At least ten girls stood in the hallway, waiting for the single-stall toilet.
Morgan grabbed Embry’s elbow. “There’s another one,” she said conspiratorially. “I’ve been here enough times to know better than to wait on that line. Come on.”
She followed Morgan out the back door and down a set of stairs that wrapped around to the front of the building. Sure enough, underneath the overhang was another bathroom for the people who used the marina. They only had to wait behind one person.
As they waited, Morgan’s phone rang. She pulled it out of her clutch. “Hi, babe, we’re just downstairs. Babe? Can you hear me?” She huffed, shoved the phone back in her purse, and turned to Embry. “Bad service, I guess.”
The bathroom door opened, and the occupant left.
“Go ahead,” Morgan said, waving at the empty bathroom. “They’ll have a fit if they can’t find us. I’ll pop my head upstairs and let them know where we are, and I’ll be back by the time you’re finished.”
“Okay.” Embry watched Morgan walk back up the stairs before she entered the bathroom and locked the door. She took care of business and washed her hands then spent a few minutes fixing her hair and makeup. She flipped the lock and left the bathroom, looking for Morgan.
He came out of nowhere and slammed her into the concrete wall. She let out a startled cry and immediately began to struggle.
“Hello, Embry,” he whispered, holding her back against the wall with the weight of his body.
Her breath caught and her eyes filled with tears as she stared up into his hate-filled gaze. “Jack,” she choked out.
29
“You’re looking lovely this evening, Bree,” he said, leaning into her face.
She fought against him, trying for even a sliver of space, but he wouldn’t relent. “What are you doing here, Jack?” Embry bit out, continuing to struggle against his hold. His heavy thighs were crushed against hers, his body holding her flush against the wall, his hot breath coming down on her face. He smelled like a distillery.
“Well, it just so happens that my dad docks his boat here. Imagine that,” he sneered.
Embry’s mind spun, trying to grasp onto a single thought, anything to help her. She shook her head and continued her fruitless attempts to break free. Jack’s hands moved to the wall on either side of her head, freeing her arms. She took a deep breath, biding her time until she could catch him by surprise. “What do you want, Jack?”
“I didn’t get the chance to visit with you last night. When I saw pretty boy’s truck out here, I thought I should stop in for a chat.”
Jack turned his head slightly to indicate Luke’s truck, and Embry made her move. Summoning all the strength she could, she threw her arms up and out against Jack’s chest. She was quick, but he was quicker. Jack caught her wrists and squeezed, pushing her hands down to her sides. His grip was too tight, cutting off circulation and making her fingers tingle. Where were Morgan, Brett, and Luke?
“Jack, please. You’re hurting me.” She felt hopeless. Weak.
“I’m hurting you, Embry?” He let out a mirthless laugh.
“Let me go,” she pleaded as tears fell down her face.
“Not a chance,” he growled. “I want answers.”
Embry swallowed thickly. “To what?”
His expression softened infinitesimally, and Embry almost saw the boy she had once fallen in love with. Almost. He released her hands, but as soon as Embry made a move, he slammed her back against the wall. Her head bounced against the concrete, sending a wave of pain through her skull.
“You left, disappeared. How?” he demanded.
For just a moment, she thought he was actually hurt and asking how she could have left him. Then she remembered he was Jack Stowe, and he wasn’t capable of feeling any emotion other than anger. He didn’t want to know why she left him. He wanted to know how she’d pulled it off.
She trembled from head to toe, and shame swept over her, resting heavy on her shoulders. She couldn’t count how many times she’d thought about what she’d do if she ever saw Jack again. How she’d show him just how strong she had become. But when it happened, she fell right back into the same old pattern. Crying, scared, weak Embry. She was backpedaling into her past so quickly she wasn’t sure how she would find her way out.
She still hadn’t answered his question, but he didn’t seem to notice. His feral stare shifted and his eyes turned heated as he pushed his body harder against hers. His rough hands slithered up her sides, and he brought his face to her neck. She felt him inhale against her throat.
“Mmm, I forgot how good you—”
Jack was pulled off of her so quickly, she was nearly knocked over. Everything was a blur as Morgan dragged Embry toward the parking lot, but she didn’t miss the unmistakable sound of bones crunching as Luke’s fist met Jack’s face.
She winced as he used Jack as a punching bag. Her southern gentleman was keyed up. His hair was perfectly styled and his shirt sleeves were rolled up in typical Luke fashion, but his expression was one she had never seen. She’d gotten a preview when Jack had shown up at Thanksgiving, but that was nothing compared to the pure, unadulterated fury on his face. He landed blow after blow on Jack’s bloodied face, never giving him a chance to retaliate. A left hook sent Jack’s head snapping back and Luke went in for another punch.
Embry jumped forward, shouting, “No!”
She didn’t want that. She wanted Jack out of her life, but not like that. Luke couldn’t risk his future over him. Morgan continued to hold onto Embry as Brett stepped in, gripped Luke around the biceps, and pulled him back. Jack slumped down onto the hard concrete, listing to the side as blood dripped down onto his shirt.
“Easy, buddy,” Brett said. “You got him. Get your girl out of here. I’ll take care of this.”
Luke turned to Embry, the anguish in his eyes piercing her heart. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she gulped for air. “I’m so sorry,” she sobbed.
Luke kept his eyes trained on hers and shook his head. He approached her, nodding at Morgan, and grabbed Embry’s hand. “Let’s go.”
She gripped his hand loosely and followed him to the car. She looked over her shoulder and saw Brett grabbing Jack by the collar and pulling him so close they were nearly nose to nose. She didn’t want to see what happened next.