Bad Guys Don't Win (Janet Maple Series Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

wanting to apologize.
    Jess increased her pressure, twisting
his ear so hard it seemed about ready to fall off.
    “Okay, okay,” the guy pleaded. “I
apologize. I didn’t mean to grab you. I was just having a little fun,” he
squealed while his friend looked on in drunken stupor.
    “That’s all right. Gentlemen, we
appreciate your business, but I think it’ll be best for all of us if you take
your party elsewhere,” Mila said firmly. She braced herself, prepared for a
whirlwind of profanities, but none followed.
    “Thank you. You’ve got a lovely bar here,”
the guy with the bushy beard said, Jess still holding his ear tightly. “How
much do we owe you?”
    “Don’t worry about it. It’s on the
house,” Mila said, eager to get rid of them.
    “We’ll be going then,” he said
sheepishly. “Could I have my ear back now?”
    “If I ever see you in here again, I’m
going to chop it right off,” Jess hissed, tugging it one more time for good
measure.
    He raised his hands in horror. “You
won’t. I promise.”
    Jess let go, watching them like a hawk,
as the two drunks beelined for the exit.
    “I can’t stand losers like that,” Jess
spat when she got back behind the bar.
    “You handled it really well,” Mila said,
still a little shaken up. It was amazing how quickly one got out of habit of
dealing with scumbags. So far they’ve been lucky with their clientele, but
apparently that was going to change—fame had a price.
    “It’s nothing,” Jess replied. “I used to
have to deal with much worse at Red Door.”
    “I can imagine.” Mila shook her head.
“Thanks for having my back.”
    “Happy to do it,” Jess said matter-of-factly.
    “Happy to do what? What did I miss?” Amy
had joined them behind the bar stand.
    “It’s nothing,” Mila replied quickly.
“I’ll tell you later.”
    “What happened?” Amy persisted.
    “There was a little altercation and Jess
here saved my behind.” Mila quickly told Amy what happened, knowing her friend
wouldn’t back off unless she did.
    Amy whistled. “Wow, not only are you a
pro at mixing drinks, you can hold your own against drunks? Can I pick ’em or
can I pick ’em?”
    Jess blushed. “You’re making it sound
like something much bigger than it was. I grew up with three brothers and I
have a black belt in karate. Kicking a fat guy’s butt is a walk in the park
compared to that.”
    “That’ll do it,” Amy agreed.
    “Jess, your shirt is torn.” Mila
hurriedly handed Jess a napkin.
    “Oh, thanks, I didn’t realize.” Jess
clutched the torn cloth to her chest, which had a butterfly tattoo on the left
side, right above her breast.
    “Oh, a tattoo!” Amy teased her. “You’re
a wild one, aren’t you?”
    Jess blushed. “I had it done a long time
ago.”
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” Amy
apologized.
    “It’s okay.” Jess shrugged. “I’ve had it
for so long, I forget it’s there.”
    “I have an extra top in the back—you can
wear it,” Mila offered.
    “Great, I’ll go and change real quick.”
Jess was about to head to the basement.
    “How about we all go out for drinks
after we close tonight?” Amy asked.
    “I’m in,” Mila said. “Jess, it’ll be our
treat—it’s the least we can do to thank you for getting rid of those drunks.”
    “You don’t have to do that,” Jess interjected.
“It was really no problem.”
    “But we want to,” Mila insisted. “It’ll
be fun—a girl’s night out.”

Chapter 3 –
Four Weeks Later
     
     
    Janet Maple checked the address to make
sure she had the right building. A part of her still couldn’t believe she was
moving in with Dennis Walker. Now and then, she had to look at the ring on her
finger to remind herself they were engaged.
    “Sorry I’m late!”
    The sound of Dennis’s voice made Janet
turn around. “It’s all right,” Janet said as she smiled at Dennis. “The realtor
isn’t here yet. Busy day?” Even though they both worked for Kirk