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"What, exactly, did Sully tell you to do?"

Chapter 8

Sully

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The following day, I head to Beach Babe Burgers with more than a little trepidation. Last night, I received several texts from the guys stating that a couple of them had big mouths, and Violet overheard them discussing the fact I'd asked the guys to keep an eye on her whenever I wasn't able to.

It's not like the guys didn't frequent the bar already, so they weren't going out of their way. It just made me feel better to know that they knew to keep watch. And…maybe a part of me also did it to stake a claim on Violet so the others would think twice before shooting their shot and would leave her alone.

More than a few of the guys are single. And Violet is gorgeous. Yeah, she can be a storm cloud on a sunny day, but I know deep down it's bravado. It's protective armor. She is a good person who's been treated badly, but the high walls she's built around herself are scalable.

I think.

I search the wide order window as I approach the bus. I see Jasmine first, and she makes a face at me, warning me that now's probably not a good time. Yup, I'm in the hot seat for sure. "Hey, ladies. How are we doing today?"

I see Jasmine sigh and glance over her shoulder.

"I've got the bus," Jas says in a droll tone. "Just don't kill him. We don't have bail money, and the lunch crowd is due to start any minute."

A split second later, Violet storms down the bus steps, clamps a hand over my forearm and pulls me around the front of the bus and out of earshot of any customers. "Whoa, is this like seven minutes in heaven in a closet? Because I'm totally up for that."

"Who do you think you are?" Violet asks the moment she rounds on me.

I lower my chin and take in the five-foot-six bundle of fury glaring up at me. "Your friend," I say instantly. Then, because at this point the cat's out of the bag, so why not? "Future lover. Boyfriend sounds a little old fashioned," I go on in a light tone, "but I kind of like it, you know? Are you ready to go steady? I think the guys at the station have a bet going, and I'm pretty sure if you say yes now, Jameson Dean might win."

"Are you insane?"

I grin at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. "You know, that's not a nice word to throw around these days. Can't a guy have some hope?"

She plants her hands on her hips and inhales. "Sully."

"Sunshine," I say, matching her tone.

"I am not your— We aren't— You have no right having strange men watch me. No right to keep tabs on me. How dare you? Do you know how creepy that is? How controlling and stalkerish?"

"Babe—"

"Excuse me?" Her eyebrows hike high enough to disappear under a fringe of bangs.

I backpedal—just a bit—and point to the truck. "Says so right there," I counter, thinking fast. "You're upset, and I get it. I'm sorry. I should've told you."

"No, you should've asked me."

Her eyes blaze, but I surge ahead. "I could've done that, but you would've said no."

"And that doesn't tell you anything?"

"You told me enough," I counter. "Violet, I saw what that call did to you. You were not okay. I had to do something."

"You don't have the right to interfere in my life."

"Maybe not, but I do have reason to worry. Look, I didn't ask the guys to watch you as much as to watch out for trouble. Okay? To make sure you get to your car after closing or back inside after you take the trash out to the alley. It's no big deal."

"It is," she stresses. "How long has this been going on? Because if memory serves, one or two of the guys are almost always around."

"It's a local hangout. And Ty's part of the club. Of course the guys are there," I counter in a reasonable tone. "What did the prosecutor say when you talked to them that night?"