I grumbled as I pulled on a sportcoat. I had zero desire to do this. To go out. But my mother had gone to a lot of trouble to arrange it.

And she said that hiding at home was no way to live.

So I was going.

Topher and Lyle were going to be there, as well as a few of mom's friends. Ladies I'd grown up with, who thought of me as a second son. All of that was fine.

I just didn't like where we were going.

Mom just happened to have reserved a party table at the most popular place in town. All the guys went there for pints and gourmet wings on Saturday nights. And after dinner, well, the place was a bar.

A classy bar, but still, it hopped. I knew because I went there every time I was home. But those times I'd been on two feet. This was different. This time I was in a chair.

And everyone who was still around was likely to be there.

The second we got inside my fears were justified.

Pete Chimileci and his entire crew were here. Guys I'd played ball with back in the day. They got up when I came in, making a beeline for us while we waited by the front door.

I reminded myself that I was just as big as them. Just as strong. I was just sitting down.

It wasn't a sign of weakness to be in the chair. It just was what it was. And it wasn't forever.

No one seemed to notice I was self-conscious. They all seemed impressed that I'd gotten injured, calling me a bad-ass and shouting hooyah, even though it wasn't really a combat injury. I got slapped on the back more times than I could count.

Finally, the hostess showed us to our table. I waved as I rolled myself towards the back, grateful for the escape. My mother fussed around, making sure the welcome home centerpiece was perfect and pushing my chair into the place of honor at the head of the table.

"We're early. Perfect."

Yeah, great. I was not happy but I didn't want to upset my mom. Now that I was out, I realized I'd been right to worry. I didn't like it too much, with everyone looking at me. It was one thing to be handicapped at home, but here, there was no getting around it.

Everyone else in the place could walk. And I couldn't.

I wasn't about to feel sorry for myself though. I just didn't like the way people stared. I grit my teeth, determined to do everything in my power to get better.

Even if it meant doing whatever Tabitha told me to do.

Hopefully she'd do a few things I wanted too.

A lot of things. Dirty things.

I was staring into space when I saw a gorgeous girl bussing a table. Or rather, I realized I'd been staring at her all along. I knew who she was without her having to turn around.

I sat up straighter. Tabitha worked here? How many fucking jobs did the girl have?

I frowned, realizing she must really be struggling to get the money together to finish school. The thought didn't sit right. Hell, a lot of things I was learning about Tabby didn't sit right.

"She's a lovely girl."

I glanced at my mother. She must have caught me staring. Oops.

"I was surprised you hired her. Did you know who the service was sending over?"

"I did."

I raised my eyebrows. My mother was a stickler for manners and doing the right thing. It seemed weird that she'd hired the sexiest girl in town. Even if I didn't think she'd earned it, Tabby had a reputation.

The girl looked like a porn star. Not that she dressed trampy, but there was no hiding that body. She was a walking boner factory. Everyone said so. I realized it was in the back of my mind too.

Though, that wasn't really fair now, was it?

"Now you listen to me Gabriel Jackson. Just because a person isn't born with money, doesn't mean they are less than. That girl has more grit than most."

I held up my hands.

"Whoa mom, I didn't say anything bad about her."

She made a harrumph sound but she settled down a bit.

"I saw the way you were looking at her, young man. Get your mind out of the gutter. I never believed those rumors about her. And for the record, I've never once seen her with anyone."

I was about to defend myself again when I got stuck on the last thing mom said.

"What do you mean you don't see her with anyone?"

"I mean she doesn't have a lot of friends. Let alone boyfriends."

For some reason, I knew in my gut it was true. Tabby didn't seem like she had fallback. And she didn't read to me like a woman who was getting her needs met either.

Which gave me an opening.

Still, I didn't think my mom was paying attention to which young person dated who.

"Mom. How would you know that?"

"I see things. And I have a very reliable grapevine."

I snorted. But I was still thinking about what she said. I was pretty sure Tabby didn't have a boyfriend. I could just feel it.

Good.

Not that it would have stopped me from trying to steal her away from him. Every second that had ticked by since she walked down those stairs had made me more determined. All was fair in love and war. And I had her at my beck and call until I was on my feet again...

I smiled to myself, suddenly not hating the chair all that much.

"I never said anything bad about her mom. I'm not like that."

She smiled and patted my arm.

"I know you're not. But I'm glad to hear it."

She picked up her menu and I leaned back, deep in thought. Not surprisingly, I was following Tabitha with my eyes as she moved around the bar. I was thinking about the way the guys had talked about her back in high school.

Thats when I saw it.

She was bending over to clear a table near the bar when Pete stuck his hand out and slid it over her ass. I felt rage boil up inside me. If looks could kill, in that moment Pete would have been a pile of ash.

I was halfway to my feet before a searing hot pain tore through my leg. I sat down and grimaced, holding my leg with both hands. Damn it! I'd been so angry I'd forgotten.

"Argh-"

I watched as Tabby spun around and said something to him that made Pete turn red and all his friends laugh. Good. I hoped she said he had a small wiener.

Which, I knew from being on the team with him, that he did.

Compared to mine anyway.

My mother was staring at my leg where I still gripped it. I let go and exhaled. The pain was receding. I hadn't made it worse.

"What in the world-"

"It's fine mom. I'll- I'll be right back."

I pushed away from the table and rolled across the room to the bar. Pete was still talking about Tabby, calling her a 'fine piece of ass' and saying how he liked to give it to her 'back in the day'. I knocked my chair right into his legs.

"Hey! Watch it!" He looked surprised to see me. "Jesus Gabe, I thought you were someone else."

"Keep your God damn hands off Tabitha."

"What?"

"Don't touch her again."

He thought I was joking. He nudged his friend in the side. "You can't fault me for wanting to get a squeeze in. Those are some juicy-"

"I mean it Pete. Don't touch her."

He shook his head as a knowing look came into his eyes. "Hey man, if you're fucking her, more power to you."

I just glared at him until the smile faded from his face. I was losing a friend over a girl but I didn't care. The way they were acting was disgusting.

"Jesus man, lighten up. She's a boner factory."

I snarled, even though I had thought the same exact thing twenty minutes ago. I was about to get into a bar fight. I forced myself to cool off a little.

"Let the girl work. She's just doing her job. Show some respect."

"Yeah man, okay."

They were quiet as I rolled away. I didn't go back to the table. I wanted to see her. I had to see if she was okay.

I wheeled myself into the service hall past the bathrooms.

I felt a rush I hadn't felt in a while. Like I was on a mission.

And damn it, I was.