I shivered as I walked from my car towards the welcoming doors of Rancheros, our local "watering hole". I was meeting a group of friends here tonight to have a few drinks and dance a bit. The rush of warm air I felt was welcome as I entered the building. I shrugged out of my coat and hung it on the rack with multiple other ones. I glanced around the room as I straightened the plaid western shirt I was wearing and spotted my girls over by the bar. I signaled for them to grab me a beer as I headed over, and they did.
I took a swig after greeting them and we headed for the dance floor. I began to shake my ass to the beat of the music with the girls and we were having a blast. A couple of the girls paired off with guys they knew or had met, leaving just me and my friend Kaytlin to dance together. We were having a good time when I felt two large hands grip my hips. I turned around, smiling, thinking it was my boyfriend, Josh. But I was wrong.
I didn't know the man dancing behind me and politely tried to untangle myself from his hands. The man wouldn't let go though. I tried to walk away and he tugged me back, making me angry.
"Look dude, get the hell off of me," I said, glaring at him. He just laughed and pulled me closer. I glanced towards where Kaytlin had been and noticed her walking up to Rafe, a friend of ours, and my boyfriend, Josh's, coworker. Rafe glanced at us and began to scowl as he stalked over.
"I believe the lady asked you to let her go..." Rafe said in an intimidating voice. All the drunken man did was laugh and hook an arm around my neck pulling me close to his sweaty body. I nearly gagged at the stench.
"Aww the lady and me's just havn shum funn," the man slurred and had the audacity to wink at me. "Riight, honeyy?" he asked and I shoved away from him again, causing him to stumble.
"Hey you bitch!" the man roared and came charging back at me. At this point in time Rafe stepped in front of me halting the man's progress. "Yo that bitch needs to be taught a lesson!" the man slurred and I saw Rafe cast a glance at me.
"Don't talk about the lady like that," Rafe said in a calm voice. He was an expert at keeping his cool; being a cop helped that a lot. The drunken man looked around Rafe and spit in my general direction. He then proceeded to shove Rafe back into a table, spilling beers and making people fall.
The man then took a swing at Rafe, clipping his jaw, before Rafe pulled some move so fast I barely caught it and had the guy on his stomach, face planted in the ground and his hands behind his back.
"You are under arrest for assault on an officer, buddy," Rafe said before taking his cuffs out from beneath his chambray shirt. I smiled to myself. Bet that asshole hadn't known Rafe was working undercover that night.
My hands were shaking slightly from the adrenaline when Rafe stood up and turned to face me. He gave me a smile and tugged me into the crook of his arm.
"You OK, kid?" he asked giving me a quick hug and releasing me when I nodded. He always called me kid, since he was six years older than I, and he knew it agitated me.
"I'm alright" I said watching as the man on the floor cussed and kicked at anybody who got near him. Rafe checked the watch on his wrist.
"Josh will be here in about thirty seconds, I'm willing to bet..." Rafe said with a smile and I smiled back. Josh would have heard the call come over the radios and have made a beeline for the bar. He knew I was here tonight.
Sure enough a few seconds later the bar door swung open and Josh, followed by his Partner, Ryan, strode into the room. My heart stuttered at the sight of him in his police uniform. He was so god damn gorgeous. His eyes sought mine out and I saw the concern in them as he assessed me from afar. Apparently he deemed me to be fine because he smiled at me as he approached.
"Why do I always find you in the midst of trouble?" Josh asked before leaning down to kiss my lips hard. I smiled innocently at him.
"Hey, trouble finds ME, ok?" I asked with a wink.