But no.
She couldn’t encourage this guy with any hints or half promises. She remembered what Joleen said about standing her ground.
You need to do it with this guy too.
“No, Rhys. I mean it. Please don’t contact me again.”
Rhys winced, but nodded and looked her in the eye. “I won’t… if that’s what you really want.”
“It is.”
“Goodbye Sky.”
“Bye.”
He turned and walked away, heading for the SUV parked at the far end of the lot. Sky hated to hurt him, but letting him go was the right thing to do. He was not the kind of man you kept around for friendship. That man was sweet, but he was clearly someone who would push until he worked his way in.
Rhys was halfway to his car when a flash of bright red caught her eye. A fire truck came around the bend. Sky didn’t need to see the number to know which one it was. Jax sat in the front passenger seat, and Toby drove the vehicle. And there was Brock, in the back row.
Crap.
His eyes swept across the parking lot before falling on Sky’s face. For a second they locked eyes. His features were stony and unreadable. Was he still that upset with her?
Had he recognized the man walking across the parking lot?
No. There’s no way. He doesn’t even know what Rhys looks like.
But then again, that day they argued, he had gripped the man’s card in his hand and asked her how she knew him. Maybe he did know Rhys.
Fuck.
The fire truck zoomed past the saloon and turned into the empty lot down the street. Sky held her breath, waiting to see what Brock would make Toby do.
Faster than was probably safe, Toby whipped the massive vehicle around and headed for the Steak and Ale Saloon parking lot.
19
Sky could tell Brock was fuming as the truck drove into the parking lot. She could see it on his face, plus the way he had Toby drive made it that much clearer. The fire truck’s tires spewed gravel every which way when it stopped at the far end of the lot. Brock opened the door and jumped to the ground barely a second after the vehicle came to a stop. No way in hell was he here for a social call. Worst of all, he didn’t walk towards her. He headed in the opposite direction.
Straight towards Rhys.
No, no, no, no.
When did her life get reduced to this kind of drama? Rhys was a good guy. She let him down easy, then a bit more firmly today, but he didn’t deserve whatever it was Brock planned to do. Brock had no right. He hadn’t exactly made a move to commit to Sky, even though she had stood there with open hands and open heart, ready to do just that the last time she saw him.
“Brock,” Sky called out, hurrying across the parking lot to stop whatever was going to go down. He didn’t even turn to look at her. Rhys was in his sights.
“Dillon,” he shouted.
Rhys stopped and turned around, his hands in his pants pockets. “Can I help you?”
Brock halted his advance, his shoulders heaving up and down. His face and arms were streaked with ash and grime from whatever fire the team had responded to. In another time and place, Sky might have found him hot as hell. Right now, not so much. She was terrified. Brock was top dog and all testosterone. Rhys was the alpha type too, in a smoother, more intellectual way. He seemed like the type who knew martial arts or kickboxing, and was sure he could hold his own in any other throw down, but not with Brock. She cringed thinking about what would happen next.
“What are you doing here?” Brock demanded.
Rhys cocked his head in question. “Do I know you?”
“You heard me. What the hell are you doing here?”
Sky finally reached Brock. Grabbing his arm, she tried to pull him away. He didn’t budge. She may as well have been tugging at a boulder. His eyes were locked on Rhys’ face.
“And I asked you if I’m supposed to know you from somewhere?”
Jax and Toby lumbered over, dressed just like Brock in their fireman overalls.
“Brock,” Jax tersely said.
Toby gestured towards the truck. “Come on, Brock. We need to get back to the firehouse.”
Brock ignored his friends. “You don’t know me,” he told Rhys. “But I know you. I know your meth labs.”
Rhys’ eyes crinkled in confusion.
Sky gave up trying to pull Brock away. Clearly he wasn’t going to listen to her. At least Jax and Toby weren’t going to let anything happen.
Wait a minute. Did Brock just say something about Rhys and meth labs?
“What are you talking about, Brock?”
No one answered her.
He turned his face slightly to take her in. “Get inside, Sky.”
Sky’s vision blurred. How dare he boss her around?
“Forget about it, Brock,” Jax said. “This isn’t what you want to do.”
Brock took a step towards Rhys and Jax jumped in front of him, shoving his palm against his friend’s chest. “Don’t. This guy’s not worth it.”
Rhys took a slow step backwards. “You must have me confused with someone else.”