“Mandy, go ahead and take the rest of the day off and get ready for tonight.”
“No, Mr. Braxton, I couldn’t,” she said nervously.
“Yes, you can, and I insist. I’ll pay you for the entire day, so I don’t want you to worry about that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Ian held out his hand and helped her up from the couch.
I gave her a hug and told her not to worry. She smiled at both of us and left. Ian put his arm around me and I laid my head on his shoulder.
“Are you sure you want to go there tonight?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m positive.”
“I have some work to catch up on before we go tonight, so I’ll be in my study if you need me.”
I gave him a soft kiss. “I think I’m going to go downstairs and work out for a while.”
“Sounds good, sweetheart. I’ll join you in the shower later.” He winked.
I smiled and went upstairs to change into my workout clothes.
Chapter 20
Ian
We arrived at the Piano Bar thirty minutes before Mandy and Colton were supposed to meet us. It was pretty crowded, but we were lucky and found a table that sat four people. I led Rory over to the table and pulled out her chair for her. She looked beautiful, but I could see she was nervous. I told her to stay at the table while I went up to the bar to order our drinks.
“Hey, how are you?” Rosie asked. “Is your girlfriend with you?”
“Yes, we’re sitting at that table over there.” I pointed. “One beer and one cosmo, please.”
“Coming right up. Go back and sit down with your girl. I’ll bring your drinks.” She winked.
I gave her a smile and went back to the table. “Came back empty handed?” Rory asked.
“Rosie is going to bring our drinks over herself.”
“Any sign of Jimmy?”
“I didn’t see him, sweetheart.”
Rosie walked over and set our drinks on the table. “Welcome back, Rory. It’s good to see you again.”
“Thank you. It’s good to see you too.” Rory smiled.
I saw Jimmy walk through the bar and over to the piano. Rosie looked at her watch.
“Right on the dot. He plays every night at seven forty-five.”
Rosie walked away and Rory reached across the table for my hand. “Wait until you hear him play,” she said.
Jimmy sat down at the piano, stretched his fingers, and began playing. He was good and I was impressed. It was clear where Rory got her musical talent from. When he was finished playing, he got up, took a bow, and walked over to the bar. I gave Rory a kiss and looked at my watch. It was eight o’clock and I kept an eye on the front door, waiting for Mandy and Colton to walk in. A few moments later, they both walked in and Rory stood up and alerted them to where we were sitting. Mandy looked nervous and she was holding her wrist. They walked over to the table and Colton introduced himself.
“If you’ll excuse us, gentlemen, we girls need to use the ladies’ room,” Rory said.
While they were gone, I asked Colton what I could order Mandy to drink and I found it odd that he said water.
“She wouldn’t want a glass of wine or something stronger?” I asked the ass**le.
“No. I don’t like her drinking,” he said as he ordered himself a beer.
I was getting irritated just looking at him and knowing what he did to Mandy. A few moments later, the girls came back to the table and sat down. Colton leaned back and put his arm around the back of Mandy’s chair. As I stared at the both of them, I could tell Mandy was nervous.
“Ian, I’m going to run up to the bar and order another cosmo,” Rory said.
“I’ll come with you. Can I get either of you anything? Mandy, would you like a glass of wine?”
“Dude, what did I tell you earlier?” Colton blurted out.
Mandy looked at me and shook her head. This ass**le was pissing me off and it was taking everything I had in me not to jump across the table and knock him out of the chair. Rory grabbed my hand and led me to the bar.
“They got into an argument on the way here and he grabbed her wrist as hard as could and wouldn’t let go. She has bruises already, Ian.”
I shook my head as we grabbed our drinks from the bar and sat back down at the table. “So, how long have the two of you been dating?” I asked.
“About a couple of months. Right, babe?” he asked as he looked at Mandy.
“Yeah, a couple of months,” she replied.
I hated this guy and I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Those bruises Mandy has on her face are not very pretty,” I said as I leaned back in my chair.
“Yeah, man, I know. I can’t believe how clumsy she is sometimes.”
Rory put her hand on my arm because she knew what was coming next. “Mandy, let me see your wrist,” I said.
Mandy looked at me with fear in her eyes.
“Dude, what the f**k is your problem?”
“You want to know what the f**k my problem is,” I snapped as I stood up and grabbed him by the shirt. “My f**king problem is that you don’t know how to be nice to women.”
“You have two seconds to get your f**king hands off of me,” Colton said as he stared at me.
“Let’s take this outside,” I said as I yanked him out of the chair and dragged him through the bar.
Once we were outside, he got out of my grip and tried to deck me. I saw it coming and ducked, throwing him up against the brick wall with my arm pressing firmly against his neck. “You and Mandy are over and you are to never come near her again!” I yelled in his face. “You aren’t to call her, text her, or go to her house. I’ll have my men watching you and if I catch wind of you anywhere near her, I’ll kill you myself. Do you understand me?” I said through gritted teeth.
Colton couldn’t say anything. He stood there and tried to nod his head. I loosened my grip on him and pushed him away from the wall. “Now, get the f**k out of here.”
He looked over at Mandy, who was standing there in tears. “Do you want me to leave, baby? Do you want us to end?”
“Yes. Don’t you ever come near me again, you bastard!” she yelled.
He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and walked away. Rory ran and hugged me. “Are you okay?”
“Sweetheart, really?” I smiled. I walked over to Mandy and put my arm around her. “Come on; let’s go inside and get you a drink.”
****