The Keeping(97)

“Normally, I’d agree with you, but the sooner I make this break, the better.” He glanced at the bar keeper then looked away. Armand was studying him with a puzzled expression.

“You are brushing her off so quickly? Why?”

Sighing heavily, Ryne tried to avoid the question. “Armand, maybe I’ll be able to later, but not now. It’s too damned complicated.”

The large man scowled at him before shrugging. “It is your choice. It is wrong, but it is your choice.” With that, he grabbed a bottle of whiskey and went to serve another customer.

Huh! Armand had certainly made his feelings known. Shit, the bar keeper didn’t know all the facts and had no right to judge.

Ryne turned his attention back to the spot where Melody sat. She was tracing rings in the spots of water on the bar, occasionally nodding in agreement to the men who stood around her chatting. Obviously, her success at the pool table had made her a bit of a local celebrity. For a moment, he pondered the irony of the fact that getting tipsy had probably improved her game.

A light was almost directly over her head and the beam illuminated the gold in her hair. It seemed to glow as did her skin, giving her an almost ethereal quality. With his keen sight, he was able to detect how her lashes swept down over her cheeks. They appeared a bit darker and spikier than normal as if tears had recently pooled in her eyes. An ache in the region of his heart was accompanied by a wave of regret. While the logical part of his brain told him that the present situation was no cause for guilt, the other half was heaping chastisements on his head.

Something one of her groupies said had her to looking up and Ryne could see the sadness in her eyes. Oh, she was trying to hide it, laughing politely at the man’s comment, but it was there and he was the cause. And now, he was going to add to her misery. With great reluctance, he pushed off from the bar.

Walking over to where she sat, he shouldered his way in beside her, ignoring the protests of the men gathered there.

“Melody—”

“Hey, man. You can’t just barge in here. Me and the boys were talking to her.” A rough voice spoke to him and someone pulled at his arm.

Ryne didn’t even turn around, merely shrugging the hand off. He tried again. “Melody—”

Not even looking his way, Melody responded. “Just go away, Ryne. I have nothing to say to you.”

He leaned his elbow on the bar, bending a bit in an attempt to see her face more clearly. “Well, I need to talk to you.”

“Too bad.” Melody looked up at him this time, and he saw the anger and hurt in her eyes. He reached towards her instinctively, but she leaned away avoiding him. Her obvious rejection of him cut deeply, even if it was what he deserved.

“See? She doesn’t want to talk to you. Now get away from her.” A burly man sidled up, placing his arm around Melody’s shoulders, and glaring at Ryne. A look of discomfort passed over her face and she shrugged out of the man’s grasp.

“I don’t think she’s too keen on you either.” Ryne pointedly stared at the man’s arm that now lay limp at his side.

“Will both of you just leave me alone!” Melody’s cheeks were flushed and there was a tinge of desperation in her voice.

Armand must have noticed it too, for Ryne saw him begin to move down behind the bar towards where a small crowd had started to gather. The possibility of a fight always spread like wildfire through the establishment. Tonight was proving no different.

Seeking to avoid a confrontation, Ryne merely curled his lip at the man, biting back a growl, before shifting his focus back towards Melody. He’d just quickly say his piece to her and then leave before things got out of hand.

Unfortunately, the man wasn’t following the same script. “Don’t turn your back on me. I’m not through with you yet!”

Irritated Ryne faced the fellow. The events of the night had shortened his temper considerably. How dare this person interfere? “Listen, buddy...”

He barely had the words out of his mouth, when the man swung his meaty fist. Only years of practice enabled Ryne to instinctively shift enough so the punch hit his shoulder and not his face. Unfortunately, he didn’t even have time to brace himself and as a result spun around from the force of the blow. The momentum propelled him towards Melody. Some instinct must have warned her of impending danger for she raised her arms defensively in front of her face. As his body impacted with hers, they both fell to the ground, the bar stool collapsing under the sudden force. Ryne landed on top of her, her elbow shoved up into his face. A sickening scrunching sound filled his ears accompanied by a wave of pain as his nose broke. Blood gushed, running into his mouth and down his throat. Melody gave a cry. Shouts erupted around them. Chairs scraped across the floor and soon several people were reaching down, grabbing at the two of them.