up the opportunity to rib Molly a bit. She was protective, fierce, and very likely to make good on her face-stabbing threat.
“Noah.” She was still scowling at him when Chris walked up behind her and placed a casual hand at her waist as he tried to step by her behind the bar. She immediately grabbed his wrist and in seconds had him face-first on the bar, with his wrist uncomfortably twisted behind his back and a hand planted against the back of his head.
Molly uncoiled from the fighting position and slowly released Chris from the takedown. She eyed them both hesitantly before straightening fully and stepping away from Chris completely. “I’m sorry, Chris. You startled me and it was automatic.” She bit her lip, taking another step away from him.
Chris rubbed his wrist and looked at Molly like he’d never seen her before. “Damn, woman. You’re quick.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Hell no! I’m impressed. Where did you learn moves like that?”
Molly glanced between Noah and Chris, not exactly nervous, but definitely cautious. “It comes from working as a bartender—you know, protecting yourself when things get out of hand.” She bustled off, effectively ending the conversation.
Chris glanced at Noah before saying, “She didn’t learn those kind of defensive moves at any bar.”
“No, she did not. She’s had some serious training somewhere. The question is, why and where?” Noah had spent enough time as a ranger to know top-quality training when he saw it. Even in unexpected packages like Molly, who had a slight frame and an unassuming pixie-like face, with a head of boyishly short, auburn curls. Other than the catlike reflexes and the obvious training, Noah had never suspected her of being anything other than a capable employee and strong-willed woman.
They rarely had any instances of violence at the pub, other than a few drunken tourists who needed to be escorted out, and typically it was him or Chris taking care of any troublemakers. He never doubted Molly could handle herself—she was self-assured and quick-witted—but he’d never thought her capable of taking on a man with at least a hundred pounds on her.
“Well, I think the question’s are going to have to wait. Tenn just walked in the door.”
Noah turned to watch her walk toward their location while she casually offered a wave to a few regulars enjoying a late lunch at the other end of the pub.
“Let me talk to her first. I need to apologize.”
Noah slanted a sharp look at his brother and nodded in quick agreement. “Use my apartment; the door’s unlocked. I suspect she’d like to give you a piece of her mind in private.”
Chris moved forward to meet Tenn halfway through the pub. They shared a few brief words. Tenn’s face was set in obstinate lines, but she followed him to the door leading to Noah’s apartment upstairs.
From his left, Molly approached and he waited for her to make the first move. It didn’t take long, since she wasn’t one to beat around the bush.
“Noah, as my boss I owe you an apology as well. I’m sorry I attacked your brother. It really was unintentional. I’m a little on edge lately, and he caught me by surprise.”
“No need to apologize. We’ve all been there. Some of us have more training than the average guy, or girl, in your case.” He waited for her response and watched closely.
She gave a little start at his statement but quickly covered it over with a genial expression. “I appreciate your understanding. I won’t let it happen again.”
“Molly.” He waited for her to raise her eyes to his. When she held his gaze without glancing away, he finally spoke. “Look, I know your job history and I always do a background check on my staff, but there’s something you’re not telling me. And that’s fine. But if you ever need anything, and I mean anything , you only need to say the word.”
She gave a quick nod and hurried off, but not before a brief expression of relief flashed
“Noah.” She was still scowling at him when Chris walked up behind her and placed a casual hand at her waist as he tried to step by her behind the bar. She immediately grabbed his wrist and in seconds had him face-first on the bar, with his wrist uncomfortably twisted behind his back and a hand planted against the back of his head.
Molly uncoiled from the fighting position and slowly released Chris from the takedown. She eyed them both hesitantly before straightening fully and stepping away from Chris completely. “I’m sorry, Chris. You startled me and it was automatic.” She bit her lip, taking another step away from him.
Chris rubbed his wrist and looked at Molly like he’d never seen her before. “Damn, woman. You’re quick.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Hell no! I’m impressed. Where did you learn moves like that?”
Molly glanced between Noah and Chris, not exactly nervous, but definitely cautious. “It comes from working as a bartender—you know, protecting yourself when things get out of hand.” She bustled off, effectively ending the conversation.
Chris glanced at Noah before saying, “She didn’t learn those kind of defensive moves at any bar.”
“No, she did not. She’s had some serious training somewhere. The question is, why and where?” Noah had spent enough time as a ranger to know top-quality training when he saw it. Even in unexpected packages like Molly, who had a slight frame and an unassuming pixie-like face, with a head of boyishly short, auburn curls. Other than the catlike reflexes and the obvious training, Noah had never suspected her of being anything other than a capable employee and strong-willed woman.
They rarely had any instances of violence at the pub, other than a few drunken tourists who needed to be escorted out, and typically it was him or Chris taking care of any troublemakers. He never doubted Molly could handle herself—she was self-assured and quick-witted—but he’d never thought her capable of taking on a man with at least a hundred pounds on her.
“Well, I think the question’s are going to have to wait. Tenn just walked in the door.”
Noah turned to watch her walk toward their location while she casually offered a wave to a few regulars enjoying a late lunch at the other end of the pub.
“Let me talk to her first. I need to apologize.”
Noah slanted a sharp look at his brother and nodded in quick agreement. “Use my apartment; the door’s unlocked. I suspect she’d like to give you a piece of her mind in private.”
Chris moved forward to meet Tenn halfway through the pub. They shared a few brief words. Tenn’s face was set in obstinate lines, but she followed him to the door leading to Noah’s apartment upstairs.
From his left, Molly approached and he waited for her to make the first move. It didn’t take long, since she wasn’t one to beat around the bush.
“Noah, as my boss I owe you an apology as well. I’m sorry I attacked your brother. It really was unintentional. I’m a little on edge lately, and he caught me by surprise.”
“No need to apologize. We’ve all been there. Some of us have more training than the average guy, or girl, in your case.” He waited for her response and watched closely.
She gave a little start at his statement but quickly covered it over with a genial expression. “I appreciate your understanding. I won’t let it happen again.”
“Molly.” He waited for her to raise her eyes to his. When she held his gaze without glancing away, he finally spoke. “Look, I know your job history and I always do a background check on my staff, but there’s something you’re not telling me. And that’s fine. But if you ever need anything, and I mean anything , you only need to say the word.”
She gave a quick nod and hurried off, but not before a brief expression of relief flashed
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