Part 1: No Regrets(Divine Creek Ranch 2)(34)
Eli, Mike, and Rogelio bodily dragged the three of them to the door, away from the customers at the bar and away from listening ears. Grace stood with Rachel as Ethan listened to what Brice had to say.
Brice angrily pointed a finger at one of the men. “This bastard asked if she was the one newly married to Jack Warner, and I said yes. He said she was acting like an adulterous whore dancing with some other man like y’all were dancing and that she ought to be ashamed.”
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Heather Rainier
He gestured angrily at the other man and said, “His friend said maybe she’d like to dance like that with him, or maybe both of them, and I couldn’t take no one talking about your Grace like that. I had to kick the shit outta them. Grace is a happily married lady and wouldn’t have nothin’ to do with the likes of you sorry bastards,” Brice said through gritted teeth and threw another punch, landing it squarely on one of the other guy’s jaws before Eli restrained his arm from landing another blow.
The other two both had bloody noses and the beginnings of black eyes.
Brice was on the small side, but he evidently fought dirty because both guys were bigger than he and hadn’t done more than bloody his nose.
Grace let out a quiet sigh at Brice’s narrative, making sad eye contact with Ethan. Hands on his hips, Ethan made eye contact with Eli, Mike, and Rogelio and pulled out his phone. After speaking no more than ten soft words, he hung up. He spoke to Eli and Mike and gestured to the back exit.
Eli released Brice, patted his back, and took hold of one of the others.
Rogelio returned to his post at the door, stoic as ever.
“Jack and Adam should be here in a few minutes,” Ethan explained to Eli and Mike. “Hold them and I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”
“You got it, boss,” Eli said, winking at Rachel. “Back in a few minutes, angel.” He had a fierce gleam in his eyes. The two men glanced nervously at each other as the two bouncers began to walk them to the backdoor by the collars of their shirts. One of them resisted for a moment, and Eli jostled him by his shirt collar and Rachel heard him growl, “Yes, please fight me, asshole.”
People stared at the men as they were escorted across the club and out the backdoor.
Ethan turned to Brice and held out his hand. Brice shook it and smiled at him, blood dripping off his chin onto his white dress shirt. Ben poured a shot of Cuervo 1800 and put it on the bar for him. Ethan took it and offered it to him. After tossing it back, Brice softly said, “It was the least I could do, Ethan, to make up for being such an ass.”
“You’re not an ass, Brice,” Ethan replied, grinning. “We need to work on your pickup lines, that’s all. Grace wants to thank you, I think,” Ethan said, indicating her where she stood behind Brice, next to Rachel.
Her Gentle Giant, Part 1: No Regrets
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Grace also held out her hand to him. “Thank you, Mr. Huvell, for defending my honor. I appreciate that, and I’m sorry you got hurt in the process,”
Brice blushed and couldn’t even make eye contact with her as he shook her hand. “It was the least I could do, ma’am, for making such an ass of myself with you a few months back.”
“You are a man of worth, Mr. Huvell. Never doubt it,” Grace replied.
Grace had told Rachel a couple of months before about the pickup line Brice had used on her the first time she’d visited Ethan at The Dancing Pony. To say Brice employed shock value with his choice of icebreakers was putting it mildly. Rachel had laughed out loud and told Grace he’d used the same line on her.
Rachel watched Brice’s rounded shoulders straighten and his head come up as he finally made eye contact with Grace. He didn’t say anything else, just politely nodded, put his cowboy hat back on, and wiped his bloody chin on the back of his hand, smiling broadly. Rachel looked on, smiling, as something about Brice Huvell was transformed in that moment. It was true that everyone had a story to tell.
Ben held out a clean bar towel filled with ice for Brice to put on his face. Gradually, the hubbub died down, and the music played on. Waitresses delivered fresh drinks, and the noise of the club returned to normal levels.
Ethan sat Grace in a chair next to Rachel and looked at his watch.
He smoothed his palms over Grace’s thighs as she settled in the chair and said, “Stay here with Rachel, all right?” Grace nodded and tried to smile at him. Ethan tilted her chin so she looked directly into his eyes. “Don’t worry, Gracie.” He gestured with a thumb to the backdoor, referring to the men who had disappeared through it. “They have opinions they feel like sharing, they can answer for them to Jack. I’ll be back in a few minutes.