moved down the long stretch of hallway toward the restrooms. Not seeing Lara near, he darted into a side door marked “Employees Only.” Inside, he nodded at two of the cooks and Sue.
“Seen Lara?” he asked.
Sue nodded. “Went outside for a break a few minutes ago. Not in the back, but the side lot. It’s quieter there.” She frowned. “Tell her she’s due back inside. I need to make a phone call.”
“Sure.” He didn’t like that she’d been away from her job so long. Lara took her work seriously. She was a heck of a waitress, and had a genuine smile for the customers. She also didn’t take anyone’s shit—a fact that had nearly gotten her in trouble more than once. With Big J still doing his bouncer duties by the front, Lara had no protection from any assholes wanting to bother her outside.
Johnny hurried his step and exited the side door, only to see Lara in the grip of the preppy jerk.
Anger clouded his vision, and he headed right for an altercation that was sure to end with one guy in a bloody heap—and Johnny had no intention of being that guy.
* * *
“I said take your hands off me.” Lara’s words dripped with icy reserve, but they finally broke through to Ron.
“Sorry.” He let go of her shoulders but didn’t move back. “But I don’t think you understand what I’m saying.”
“I understand just fine,” she fumed. “I will not sleep with you to get my sister a bigger settlement. In fact, you and she are going to use your lawyers again.” What the hell was I thinking? That Ron might have developed a conscience since Kristin left? Right.
“That’s not a smart move. Not if you want to help Kristin and the kids.”
Lara could understand what her sister had first seen in the guy. Ron’s light hair and blue eyes framed a handsome face. He had the build of a tennis pro, as well as the wallet to hire one. He also gave to charities and encouraged his rich golf buddies to contribute. Looks, wealth, a giving heart—all outward appearances of being an all-around good guy.
And then, in private, the seemingly devoted husband took off his mask and opened his mouth.
Narcissistic with a capital N , Ron talked about himself and what he wanted constantly. As long as Kristin had been on board the Ron train, all had been well in the world. But when she’d stopped trying to please him, he’d acted like an immature, spoiled brat.
People rarely said no to him. As evidenced by his myriad flings throughout his marriage to Kristin, as they’d all come to find out. That Lara had not only rejected him but continued to do so must have made her special in his book, because he wouldn’t leave her alone.
He’d called and texted her until she’d blocked his number. That had been a few months into his marriage with her sister. Since he hadn’t tried to contact her since then, she’d thought they might be able to deal with each other in a civil way. She was wrong.
“Let me put it plainly,” she enunciated. “I told Kristin I’d talk to you about her legal situation because she, like you, wants to cut out your lawyers.”
“That’s smart of her.” He nodded, the patronizing SOB. Then he caressed her arm before she pulled it back.
“Look, Ron, you and I are not a couple and never will be. I wouldn’t sleep with you when you were married to Kristin, and I sure as hell won’t once you’re divorced. Period.” No misunderstanding that. At all.
He smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s only because you don’t know what you’re missing.” Then he dragged her into his arms and kissed her.
Wet, disgusting, and dear Lord, something she didn’t want to think about had grown in his pants as he ground against her. Even worse, he held her head still, making it difficult to sever the unwelcome connection.
She wrenched her mouth away and tried to push him back. “Get. Off.” Before she could knee him in his unimpressive balls, he was ripped away from her.
Charming,
“Seen Lara?” he asked.
Sue nodded. “Went outside for a break a few minutes ago. Not in the back, but the side lot. It’s quieter there.” She frowned. “Tell her she’s due back inside. I need to make a phone call.”
“Sure.” He didn’t like that she’d been away from her job so long. Lara took her work seriously. She was a heck of a waitress, and had a genuine smile for the customers. She also didn’t take anyone’s shit—a fact that had nearly gotten her in trouble more than once. With Big J still doing his bouncer duties by the front, Lara had no protection from any assholes wanting to bother her outside.
Johnny hurried his step and exited the side door, only to see Lara in the grip of the preppy jerk.
Anger clouded his vision, and he headed right for an altercation that was sure to end with one guy in a bloody heap—and Johnny had no intention of being that guy.
* * *
“I said take your hands off me.” Lara’s words dripped with icy reserve, but they finally broke through to Ron.
“Sorry.” He let go of her shoulders but didn’t move back. “But I don’t think you understand what I’m saying.”
“I understand just fine,” she fumed. “I will not sleep with you to get my sister a bigger settlement. In fact, you and she are going to use your lawyers again.” What the hell was I thinking? That Ron might have developed a conscience since Kristin left? Right.
“That’s not a smart move. Not if you want to help Kristin and the kids.”
Lara could understand what her sister had first seen in the guy. Ron’s light hair and blue eyes framed a handsome face. He had the build of a tennis pro, as well as the wallet to hire one. He also gave to charities and encouraged his rich golf buddies to contribute. Looks, wealth, a giving heart—all outward appearances of being an all-around good guy.
And then, in private, the seemingly devoted husband took off his mask and opened his mouth.
Narcissistic with a capital N , Ron talked about himself and what he wanted constantly. As long as Kristin had been on board the Ron train, all had been well in the world. But when she’d stopped trying to please him, he’d acted like an immature, spoiled brat.
People rarely said no to him. As evidenced by his myriad flings throughout his marriage to Kristin, as they’d all come to find out. That Lara had not only rejected him but continued to do so must have made her special in his book, because he wouldn’t leave her alone.
He’d called and texted her until she’d blocked his number. That had been a few months into his marriage with her sister. Since he hadn’t tried to contact her since then, she’d thought they might be able to deal with each other in a civil way. She was wrong.
“Let me put it plainly,” she enunciated. “I told Kristin I’d talk to you about her legal situation because she, like you, wants to cut out your lawyers.”
“That’s smart of her.” He nodded, the patronizing SOB. Then he caressed her arm before she pulled it back.
“Look, Ron, you and I are not a couple and never will be. I wouldn’t sleep with you when you were married to Kristin, and I sure as hell won’t once you’re divorced. Period.” No misunderstanding that. At all.
He smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s only because you don’t know what you’re missing.” Then he dragged her into his arms and kissed her.
Wet, disgusting, and dear Lord, something she didn’t want to think about had grown in his pants as he ground against her. Even worse, he held her head still, making it difficult to sever the unwelcome connection.
She wrenched her mouth away and tried to push him back. “Get. Off.” Before she could knee him in his unimpressive balls, he was ripped away from her.
Charming,
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