Page 84 of Wine & Dine

“I’m staying at Magnolia’s for a bit. I’m selling this place.” It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud other than to Garrett. The moment I walked into my little house, I knew I couldn’t stay here with him. While I have no doubt Garrett would be larger than life in this small space, there were too many other memories haunting these walls, and I didn’t want Garrett tarnished by them. I didn’t want us in the middle of them. Being at Magnolia’s would be better.

“Heard you were away. Come back with some guy,” James states. Rusty spits behind James, and James rounds on him. “You’re going to clean that up.”

James turns back to me, and I’m taken aback again by his knowledge of my whereabouts. He doesn’t seem like one for town gossip since he was once the center of it. The moment strikes me as unreal as James speaks to me like we’ve been best friends since second grade, which we had been.

“I did. I was. I mean, yes. I was in California, and I met someone. Someone special.” I chance a glance at Rusty, who slowly stands from the wood floor behind my couch. “We’re together.”

Rusty huffs, and James tips his head to the side, but only his eyes shift to Rusty. “Duly noted.” He’s making a statement to Rusty, warning him to stay away from me. “We’ll miss you at the club.” Rusty’s head shoots up, glaring daggers at the back of James’s head while I absorb the lie James tells. James will never miss me. He hasn’t missed me in years, but he’s also offering me this protection.

“Need some help here?” he asks, nodding at the bags, although I don’t know how James could help me on a bike. I’m about to explain how Denton is coming in his truck when Garrett barges in the door with a concerned Denton behind him.

“What’s going on here?” Garrett questions, taking one step toward me and gripping both my shoulders. James steps back, strategically placing himself between Garrett and Rusty. Denton enters farther into the space between my couch and front door, which is clearly too small for five adults.

“James?” Denton questions next, ignoring the presence of Rusty behind a seething biker.

“Long time, no see,” James says. He offers Denton his hand, and a silent conversation seems to ensue between two men who were friends long ago.

“What happened?” Garrett murmurs, not letting me go, and I draw my focus back to him. I lift my arms for his neck and step into him, closing my eyes against the glare coming from Rusty behind James’s back. “You’re trembling.”

“It’s nothing,” I lie, not realizing the level of my fear until I’m in Garrett’s arms. He moves as if to release me, wanting another look at me, but I don’t want to let him go, so he spins with me still clutching him. One hand removes from my back, and he shakes hands with James.

“Garrett Fox. Want to tell me what the fuck is going on here?”

“We were just leaving,” James’s roughened voice speaks. “Just checking in on our girl, but I see she’s in good hands now.” There’s more to James’ words. He’s releasing me to Garrett. Not that James has any hold on me, but the intention is clear. He’s going to keep Rusty away from us.

“You should stop by sometime. See your sister,” Denton interjects, and I slip in Garrett’s hold to rest my cheek against his chest. I avoid looking at Rusty but watch James as his expression hardens.

“I’ll consider it,” he mutters, but there’s no conviction to what he said. He won’t be visiting his sister anytime soon.

A silent nod of understanding takes place between James and Denton, and then James spins to tilt his head at Rusty as a signal to move. Without a glance back at me, Rusty passes his superior, anger still vibrating off him as he exits my house. James follows right behind him and tugs the front door shut.

With only three of us in my tiny entry space, it’s still too close quartered, but Denton doesn’t move.

“What happened here?”

I give an abbreviated version of Rusty’s surprise visit and James’s even more surprising appearance. Garrett holds me tighter to his chest, his lips lingering at my hairline. Denton stares at me, silently assessing me.

“I’m okay,” I whisper to both men.

With a short nod, Denton questions, “So where are we taking your stuff?” His voice is a little too high when he asks, and I’m a little shocked Garrett hasn’t already told him.

“I’m moving into Magnolia’s.”

Denton’s been rubbing his hands together, either to warm them or to signal let’s get busy, but the scrubbing palms come to an abrupt halt.

Then I add, “With Garrett.”