Jack

I saw the sluggish fist coming for my face, and closed my palm around it just in time.
“Let go of me,” The bozo who'd been giving Donnie a hard time shouted as he struggled to withdraw his fist from my hold.
“I will,” I tightened my hold around his fist, “If you promise not to try to punch me again.”
Before the bozo could talk, a waitress walked up to us. A young woman with freckles and dyed hair, I could see she was scared when she told us, “Please, I'm going to have to ask you to take this outside.”
“No problem,” I smiled to set her at ease, and I dropped the offensive hand I was holding.
Mr Bozo was a slow learner, I concluded, as he tried to take another swing at me.
I blocked his punch and twisted the hand that had thrown a punch. I smiled with satisfaction when I heard the sickening crunch of bone dislocating.
The bozo screamed at the top of his lungs, and I pushed him away. He crashed into his follower, and both men fell on the floor like cartoon characters.
I bent to their level and made sure I had my intimidating look on, the one responsible for scaring my opponents in the ring.
“You know what? I haven't heard you apologize to those ladies. You think I can't break your bones?”
“Y-you can't.” The other man protested, looking like he was about to shit his pants at any moment, “We'll sue you.”
“Oh?” I cracked my knuckles and moved closer to them, “You think I'm scared of jail? I've spent more time there than I have outside.”
The men fearfully crawled to Donnie's table and chorused, “Sorry.”
“Umm . . . I didn't quite catch that.” I chuckled at how afraid the men looked.
“We're sorry!” They apologized simultaneously as loudly as possible.
When neither Donnie nor Lisa said anything to the men, they were busy staring at me.
“Okay, you two,” I pointed at the men, “Get out before I decide to beat you up!”
The men picked themselves up and rushed out the door in haste.
When they were gone, I smiled reassuringly to the other patrons of the shop and joined Donnie and Lisa at their table.
I regarded Donnie and found out she was still staring at me. I remembered how annoyed I felt when I realized Donnie had played me. I'd spent precious minutes asking people if they'd seen her. Within those minutes, I prayed no harm had befallen her, because I really needed the money from her father.
When I finally found Donnie and Lisa in the little coffee shop, they were being harassed by two idiots who called themselves men.
I had wanted to break every bone in the bodies of those bullies, but I didn't want to draw attention to myself, so I settled for a warning.
I put my hand on the table and faced Donnie, “And this is why you shouldn't go anywhere without me!”
I secretly hoped those men had scared her. If they did, maybe she'd stop trying to get rid of me.
“Please,” Donnie rolled her eyes, “Lisa and I had that under control. We don't need a man.”
Fire burned through my veins at Donnie's denial.
“Bullshit!” I raged, “You think you can handle men three times your size? Look, I'm all for girl power, but you can't.”
“Chauvinist!” Donnie accused, “Nobody asked you to beat those men up. You're trying to show off, aren't you? Did you hope we'd weep and fall at your feet with gratitude?”
The thought had occurred to me, “No, I didn't. I just want you to be sensible.”
“So you think Lisa and I are insensible?” Donnie accused with outrage.
I sighed and looked at the heavens for strength, “No, I didn't say anything like that.”
“You implied it!” Donnie pointed a finger at me.
The other customers in the shop were all staring at us.
The timid waitress came over to our table, “Would you like to order?”
Lisa smiled at her, “No, thank you.” Then Lisa turned to Donnie and I, “That's our cue to leave.”
“Fine, we'll go.” Donnie stood, “But I'm still mad at you, Jack. When next I bring up our fight, you better apologize immediately.”
Apologize for saving her life? I concluded there and then that Donatella was a nutcase.

*

Later that day, we returned to Donnie's bungalow. Donnie was still mad at me, and refused to acknowledge the instructions I gave her.
She disappeared into her room for a nap, and I went to mine. I couldn't get Donnie out of my mind, and it was bad. Yes, I was mad at her too for how rude and reckless she could be, but I also wanted to kiss her.
“That's a lie,” I laughed mirthlessly. I wanted to do more than kiss her. I wanted to touch her, enter her, fill—
My phone rang, interrupting my dirty thoughts.
I checked the caller ID and saw it was Tim.
“Yo, Python!” Tom said jovially, “What's up?”
“How many times have I told you not to call me that?” I complained in lieu of a greeting.
“You know I won't stop,” Tom laughed, “Your job is easy, right?”
Easy? Talk about hardcore! I wanted to shout, but instead I said, “Yeah, it's so easy, it bores me. Following a college student around is not my jam.”
“Hey, boring is good,” Tom encouraged me, “You don't have to break a sweat and you'll be raking in a lot of money!”
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied. If only Tom knew how infuriating Donnie was.
“So how's our client?” Tom asked, curious.
“Okay, I guess.”
“That's all you have to say? Is she hot or not?” Tim's interrogation continued.
No way I was going to tell Tom I found Donnie hot, “I don't know.”
“You don't know? Jack, are you fucking the client?” Tom chuckled.
“No way!” I sat upright, “Get your head out of the fucking gutter, man. If I have sex with the client, I'm out of a job.”
The beeping of the computer on my drawer drowned out Tim's reply. I looked at the screen and saw there was someone at the door. It was Lisa Lemonde, to be precise.
“Umm . . . Tim, there's someone at the door. I have to go. I'll talk to you later, bye.” I hung up before Tom could say another word.
I pulled a sweatshirt over my shorts and left my room. When I went to the sitting room, Donnie wasn't there. That meant she was still napping.
I opened the door for Lisa and smiled politely, “Good evening, Ms Sinclair.”
Lisa grinned, “Good evening, Jack. May I come in?”
I shrugged, it wasn't my house, and I had already established she wasn't a threat.
Lisa entered and perched on an armchair. I noticed she was putting on a burnt orange cut-out dress that showed her cleavage, abdomen and toned legs. Lisa was an attractive woman, but she didn't do it for me.
“Ms Sinclair, Donatella is currently taking a nap.” I explained, “She'll be up soon. You're welcome to wait.”
Lisa grinned, “Oh, I know Donnie is taking a nap. She's a creature of habit. I didn't come here to see Donnie.”
I scratched my head, confused, “So why did you come here?”
“To see you, Jack.” Lisa answered patiently.