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Billy’s arm and set up sympathetic vibrations in his belly. What the hell? He wanted to sit back down and catch his breath. He didn’t move. “Coffee shop.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “I saw you yesterday evening at the coffee shop on PCH.”
    Shaz nodded, his eyes never leaving Billy’s. “Yes, I remember, of course. I wasn’t sure if I should mention it.”
    Rhonda looked back and forth between them. “You know each other?”
    Shaz shook his head. “We didn’t meet, but your brother defended me against a would-be asshole who I feel quite sure would have punched my lights out given a chance.”
    “Dear God. Why? What happened?”
    Shaz raised an eyebrow. “Nothing happened. More a matter of being. The asshole felt I was not allowed to be.”
    Rhonda grabbed Billy’s arm. “Oh my Lord, did you get in a fight?”
    Shaz gazed up at Billy. “No, he didn’t have to. His mere presence was enough to dissuade the attack. My hero, for sure.”
    Jesus . His ears were going up in flames.
    Mitch laughed. “You had a busy evening yesterday, my man. Breaking up with women, saving men.”
    Crap, did he have to put it like that?
    Shaz cocked his head but didn’t smile. “So that’s what I was watching. A breakup. I’m so sorry. You looked upset.”
    Billy nodded. “Yeah.” Could they please change the fucking subject?
    Shaz seemed like he read Billy’s mind. He stepped back and gave Billy a sweeping glance. “My oh my, what exquisite raw material.” He walked beside Billy, looking at him closely. “A forty-six long, are we, darling?”
    “Yeah, how did you know that?”
    Shaz tapped a finger to his temple but kept staring at Billy like he was memorizing him. “Rhonda dear, thank you. This is a good one. I’ll fix him up for half price if you let me take some photos and use them as promotion.” He looked up at Billy. “So often men think they have to be a model size to be fashionable. I’d love to show them otherwise.” He smiled kind of sweetly. “Actually, I’ll do better than that. I’ll only charge cost to thank Billy for being my white knight—and for modeling.”
    Billy frowned. “I’m no model. And I’m definitely not a knight.” Hell, he didn’t even know what he would have done if that bulldog guy had gone after Shaz. But half price sounded damned good.
    “I disagree.” Shaz grabbed Billy’s bicep, and his eyes widened. “Oh my.” He fanned himself with the other hand. “Come along. While my staff is still here, I want to make a few notes. Then we’ll set up an appointment to style you and dress you, okay?”
    Shaz was probably five ten and he came up to Billy’s shoulder. Still, the guy had absolute power. Billy had to follow. Shaz pushed open the door. “Hey, boys and girls, looky what I have.”
    In the big room beyond, at least ten sets of eyes flashed to Billy. Died and gone to hell . Billy stopped inside the door, which had the effect of stopping Shaz’s forward motion like someone had thrown an anchor. He didn’t know how to feel. This was weird. This guy hauling him around. People staring at him.
    Two women were being blown dry by stylists of indeterminate gender. Another woman appeared to be getting makeup applied. In a room that opened into the salon through an arch, a person was standing on a little stage getting a dress pinned. What the hell was Billy doing here?
    Shaz looked up at Billy and must have figured he needed help. “Ruuuupert, I need you, darling.”
    Through a door Billy hadn’t noticed before in the back wall came a guy who looked like a fashionable nerd. Tight plaid trousers with a white shirt, suspenders, a bow tie, and dark-rimmed glasses. Actually, kind of good-looking in a weird sort of way, but it was hard to notice anyone else with Shaz around. The guy pulled your eyes like a masterpiece by some famous painter. Monet or Van Gogh or somebody.
    The man named Rupert kind of minced his way over to Billy and Shaz. “Yes, dear? You screamed?”
    “Ru,