I could feel Maddie’s stare boring into my skull when I sat down across the table from her. “What the hell was that?” she hissed in disbelief. “I mean, there was so much sexual tension between y’all that even I’m getting excited.”

Oh, for Pete’s sake!

Not knowing what to say, I remained silent. Truth was, I didn't understand what the hell just happened. All I knew was that my heart was still pounding, and my stomach was doing all sorts of weird, flippy stuff.

I feel like I’m going to faint.

“What did the asshole want?” I felt rather than saw Hendrix’s gaze on me. “He say something to upset you, Shelby?” His voice was tight, and I knew he was a step away from losing his temper. I needed to calm him down because if Hendrix thought the guy had upset or hurt me, he’d march his hot-tempered ass across the diner and start a fight. It’s how he operated.

His motto: Throw punches now. Ask questions later.

“No,” I responded, lifting Lucca from his lap and sitting him in mine. Hendrix handed Lucca a pack of crayons and a blank piece of paper to color on. “I met him yesterday; he’s a homicide detective for Toluca PD. He was just being a harmless flirt.”

Hendrix settled at my answer.

“Soooo…” I looked over at Maddie. “What were you trying to tell me”—I cut my eyes at Anthony who was still standing by the takeout counter—“before we were interrupted?”

Maddie’s voice was quiet, almost pained when she spoke. “The past two nights a girl has been loitering by the front gate at the shelter.” My shoulders tensed and my eyes met Maddie’s. “She’s young. Around eighteen, I suppose.” She leaned back in her chair before rubbing her hands down her face. “Anyway, she looks scared to death, but every time one of us tries to approach her she bolts. It’s almost like she’s trying to work up the courage to come inside but can’t quite get there.”

“Does she look abused?”

Maddie shrugged. “I’m not certain. She looks…” Her voice trailed off as she mulled over what she wanted to say. “Homeless.” She blew out an unsteady breath. “And she’s skinny. Too dang skinny.”

My hands trembled against Lucca’s back where they rested.

Too skinny.

That meant the girl was starving or an addict. I hoped with all my heart it was the former. Though it didn’t matter if she was the biggest crackhead to roam the face of the earth, I’d still try my hardest to save her.

Everybody deserves to be saved.

“Think she’ll come back tomorrow when I’m on shift?” Maddie nodded once, and I drummed my fingers against the tabletop, thinking. “Well, I won’t stop until I get her inside the building and a full meal in her belly then.”

Maddie peered at me at with hope in her eyes. “It won’t be easy.” I already knew that. “But I think maybe she’ll respond better to you than the rest of us.”

“Yeah?” I lifted the breakfast menu in front of my face before peeking over the top. As if on automatic, my eyes slid to Anthony.

Lord help me, he is handsome.

“And why is that?”

The table shifted as Maddie put her elbows on top of it and leaned towards me. “Because out of all the ladies at the shelter you’re the toughest. You’re our fighter. I see it. The rest of the girls see it. Heck”—she pointed at Hendrix—“even handsome sees it.”

My eyes drifted to Hendrix to find him nodding. “It’s the truth,” he said, wrapping his left arm around Maddie’s shoulders. “I saw it that first night in the hospital when—” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Never mind. Just know I noticed it when I first met you. Still do.”

“And I think she’ll see it too,” Maddie continued without blinking. “She’ll see you’re a fighter. A protector. She’ll realize that she’s safe with you.” A slight smile adorned her lips. “And because of that, I know she’ll come inside with you.” Lifting her glass of sweet tea from the table, she took a ladylike sip through the straw. “It’s what I would do.”

Only half of what she’d said was correct. Was I a protector? Yeah, I was. Why? Because everyone deserves to have someone in their life who will stand between them and whatever is trying to hurt them. Growing up, I never had someone like that. But as an adult I was determined to be that person for everyone around me. It didn’t matter what I had to do or who I had to go up against, I wouldn’t let someone I cared about be hurt without trying to intervene.

As for being a fighter, that part was correct too. In fact, I’d been fighting since the day I was born. Growing up with my mom, I’d never had a choice.

It’s just what I had to do to survive.

But despite all of that, I wasn’t strong like Maddie thought I was. Did I try my best to be strong? Absolutely. However, most days I felt like I was barely keeping myself together. Truth be told, I was damn tired of trying to be so strong all the time. Matter of fact, some days I wanted nothing more than to collapse into someone else’s arms and cry.

My eyes shifted back to Anthony.

His arms sure look strong. Bet he could slay a few dragons… or monsters.

To my disappointment, he wasn’t looking at me anymore. Instead, he was talking to Emily, the waitress working the breakfast counter. Fiery jealousy stirred in the pit of my tummy at the sight, startling the crap outta me.

With raised brows, Maddie followed my gaze to where Anthony, and the little tramp he was speaking to, stood.

Tramp? Really Shelby? I berated myself. She’s just a teenager!

Maddie’s eyes met mine. “He’s cute.” Hendrix bristled beside her, and she playfully smacked his arm. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She pointed at her pregnant belly. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure you’ve staked your claim.” He grinned before pulling her against his side.

Ugh! Those two made me so sick sometimes.

“Anyway,” Maddie continued while resting her head on the behemoth’s shoulder. “He’s cute. Why don’t you go talk to him some more? He seemed into you.”

My head snapped back, and I barely resisted the urge to poke her in the eye.

“Have you lost your damn mind?” She shrugged. “You know I can’t do that!”

My voice rose a decibel or two.

“Why not?”

“Because,” I stammered, not knowing what to say, “I can’t. You of all people should know—”

Maddie held up her hand, cutting me off mid-sentence. “Stop right there.” Her voice was serious and full of determination.

Great, here we go. Another lecture.

“There is nobody, and I mean nobody, stopping you from getting up, marching your behind over there, and talking to him.” She steeled her features before proceeding. “Nobody except your dang self.”

I sucked in a breath and clamped my jaw tight. Much as I loathed to admit it, Maddie was right. Still, she didn’t need to know that. “I can’t,” I repeated before following up with, “I’m not ready.”

And I never would be.

Not after—

“Liar,” Maddie scoffed before softening the features on her face and closing her eyes for a split second. After taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes again and looked at me with nothing but love and concern. “You can’t let that bastard take more from you than he already has, Shelby.”

Her words were like a bucket of ice to my heart. I froze and my insides clenched in torment. “I know.” My voice was small, weak; two things I swore I’d never be again. Clearing my throat, I put a handful of starch in my spine and sat up straight before raising my chin in the air. “I won’t,” I declared.

Hendrix looked confused. “What the hell are y’all talking about?”

Maddie shrugged again, and I looked at him over the menu I still held in front of my face. “Don’t worry about it, behemoth. No need to worry your pea-sized brain about it.”

He laughed before lifting his hand in the air and flipping me off.

For that, I booted him under the table, smiling when he hissed in pain.

Shelby 1. Behemoth 0.

“You two fight worse than siblings, I swear,” Maddie mumbled under her breath.

Rubbing his leg, Hendrix hissed, “Why don’t you get up and go talk to the man?” He wasn’t going to let it go. “God knows once he catches wind of your attitude he’ll run for the hills.”

Maddie snorted. “She already showed it to him. He seemed intrigued by it.” Her eyes widened, and a huge grin stretched across her face. “Which is why I think you should talk to him.”

Idiots.

“No,” I bit out, still peeking over the menu like a doofus. “I’m not interested.”

Takeout bag in hand, Anthony headed for the door.

I was mildly disappointed.

When he reached it, he glanced over his shoulder, and our eyes met. My lungs seized, and my body stilled. Then he winked and mouthed, “I’ll see you later.”

I may have smiled and winked back.

“Shelby,” Hendrix called my name. “I thought you weren’t interested.”

“I’m not,” I snapped back.

“Then how come you’ve been holding the damn menu upside down for the last five minutes?”

I looked at the menu in front of me.

Crap!

“Shut up, jackass!”

Hendrix tossed his head back and laughed.

Long as I lived, I knew I’d never live this moment down.

Trying to regain my composure and divert attention from my gaffe, I said, “So… let’s talk about the wedding. There isn’t much time left and, as the maid of honor, I've got a few questions...”

Both of their eyes lit up.

Crisis officially averted.