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and then follow the arrow outside !” It was Evan’s friend. Sadie was so shocked she couldn’t speak.
    “Hey, asshole.” The oldest slid out of the booth and poked a finger in Jake’s chest. “Who the fuck died and made you God? You can’t order us around.”
    “The hell I can’t.” Evan’s friend lowered his voice, yet somehow it sounded bigger. In fact he seemed bigger. At that moment he seemed to fill the room. “And I’m telling you to leave this lady alone and get the fuck out of my sight.”
    “Hey, man, we’re paying customers.”
    “You heard the man.” It was Lenny, the owner. He was yelling at them from behind the counter. “We don’t serve your kind in here. Get the hell out before I call the cops.”
    That completely deflated the boys’ bravado. “Fuckin’ asshole,” was murmured numerous times as they skulked their way out the door.
    Because she didn’t trust herself to meet his gaze, Sadie kept her eyes low. “Thanks, but that was completely unnecessary. I handle this kind of thing all the time.”
    He touched a finger under her chin and forced her eyes to his. “Well, that’s not right. You shouldn’t have to.”
    “And you,” added Lenny. “You can get out too.”
    “What?” cried Sadie, whirling to face him. “He was just trying to help.”
    “What he was doing was stirring up trouble. I don’t like his kind either.” He snorted. “Fuckin’ metrosexual.”
    She was incredulous. “But Lenny—”
    “But nuttin’. You get back to work. You been movin’ like a slug all day.” He pointed at her savior. “And you get the hell out. I don’t need no butt-fuckin’ going on in my bathroom.”
    Fortunately Lenny assumed they would do as he said and walked away. Sadie didn’t know if she’d ever felt so furious—or so hopeless. A tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m so sorry. He’s such a jerk. He thinks every man who dresses nicely is gay.”
    His smile was warm and his voice laced with resignation. “That’s okay. I’ve dealt with his kind before too.”
    “You heard him. You better go.” She grabbed his hand. “But thanks. It’s been a long time since—”
    “Come with me.”
    She frowned. “Huh?”
    “I want to talk to you. No. I need to talk to you. And you don’t need to take this kind of abuse.” He glared at the kitchen door that had swung shut behind Lenny. “Nobody does.”
    “Maybe not. But I do need the money.” Desperately.
    He squeezed her hand. “Let me worry about that.”
    “That’s crazy. I can’t let you do that. I—”
    “I won’t take no for an answer.” He glanced at the door, as if looking for something. “Evan sent me. He won’t take no for an answer.”
    That little tidbit stole her breath. And it changed everything. “Oh…okay. I don’t understand but…okay.”
    His smile chased all her doubts away. “Excellent. Let’s go.”
    “Wait. I need my jacket. It’s in the kitchen.”
    He stopped her. “I don’t want you going near that asshole. Here…” He slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Take mine until we can get you another one.” He was already herding her toward the door.
    She was about to protest, to say that she should really give her notice to Lenny. At least tell him she was leaving. There were customers and she would be leaving him in a bind. But then she recalled all the insults he had hurled at her and the tips he had stolen and she decided against it. Slipping out like this, in the company of her own personal knight with his denim jacket that smelled of Polo cologne draped over her shoulders, was just too much temptation to resist.
    After grabbing her purse, which was stashed behind the counter, they stepped into the street and the door to Maggie’s Place made a satisfying slam of finality behind them.

    Evan stepped through the door of his condo and allowed it to click quietly closed behind him. He took a moment, allowing himself to decompress after what had been—what