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up another few thousand dollars after hitting two big slot machine payouts. There had to be some kind of gambling fairy looking over her shoulder, since this kind of money would take care of some of her pressing bills, in addition to her vacation. Excited and thrilled, but tired after walking all day and gambling most of the evening, she headed for the bar—exactly where she’d met Aaron the night before. Her emotions were mixed. She wanted to see him again but was afraid if she did he’d be working.
    It hurt when she looked around and there he was—sitting with a woman. They were close, and he leaned in to talk to her. She knew she had no right to feel anything. This was his job.
    “Can I get a cosmopolitan?” she asked the bartender and took a stool at the bar. Her eyes kept glancing over Aaron’s way, but she didn’t want to get caught staring. She saw him turning toward her and quickly looked away as a voice spoke next to her.
    “Hey, sweetheart, can I get you a drink?”
    She saw a young, handsome man smiling at her. He had a couple of friends with him, and they all were hanging out at the bar and talking. “I just ordered one.”
    “Let me get that for you. Me and my friends just won at the poker tables, and we’re celebrating.” He smiled again, leaned in close to the bar and started chatting.

    Aaron had noticed Janice as soon as she’d come in to the bar. He’d kept talking to Mother even while he watched her smiling and talking to a young man. His senses went on alert when he noticed something odd about the way the men around her were behaving. They were young and maybe a little drunk, but they also seemed edgy.
    Aaron couldn’t help but watch. The three guys at the bar were like dogs in heat and she was the only bitch around. He listened while Mother talked to him, but he looked past her and focused on how many drinks Janice was downing.
    The younger guys seemed to be trying to get her drunk. The bigger guy to her left kept nudging and resting his hand on her shoulder and down her back. Most times he never bothered to watch how other men acted around the women. But there was a certain aggressiveness to these three guys Aaron didn’t like.
    He watched as Janice shook her head no to another drink then he frowned as another one appeared, and the guy next to her tipped it back a little to make her drink more.
    Don’t get involved. He silently told himself to stay out of her business.
    She almost fell off her stool and dropped her purse. She leaned over to get it and swayed, clearly feeling the liquor. The guys were all making like they were fucking her from behind as she bent over. The bigger guy held her waist and helped her up. She leaned back into him and Aaron saw him trying to guide her out of the bar. She turned as if hesitating but the guys closed in on her, trying to get her out the door.
    “Excuse me, Mother. I have to go help a client.” Aaron broke off his conversation, took a deep breath and got up.
    Walking to where Janice was swaying, he spoke to her. “Hey, Janice, leaving so soon?”
    “My head’s swimming… I’m really…” Her eyes seemed to roll in her head as she spoke.
    “Piss off, fuck-stick, she’s leaving with us.” The young, burly guy glared at Aaron standing in their way.
    “I don’t think so. Janice, why don’t you come over to…”
    Moving up into his face, the guy puffed up. “What? You hard of hearing, pretty boy? I said she’s leaving with us.” The other two had Janice’s arms, holding her up.
    “Hey, guys, just leave and let the lady stay here.”
    With a smirk, the bigger guy figured he had the odds in his favor, three guys against one.
    Then behind him echoed a deep voice. “Is there a problem here, Aaron?”
    The mouthy jerk turned to see three hundred and fifty-odd pounds of muscle standing right behind him. And not looking happy.
    “No, Leslie, no problem. These guys were just leaving.” Aaron grinned.
    Swallowing, the three guys backed away