After a year on the run, Quinn finds herself in the small town of Beaver Falls, working as a bartender, the only skill she knows. But Beaver Falls isn’t exactly your normal small town, and Quinn is about to learn that she has stumbled onto the only place that can save her from her ex. Not only will it provide her with the protection she needs, but it also holds the key to who she really is, and the man that she is destined to be with.

Quinn’s POV

The smell of cigarettes and cheap cigars fill the air early tonight letting me know that I’m in another small town and another local shit hole bar. Just the same as the last couple small towns. This was never meant to be my fulltime job but it had served me well as I tried to put myself through college. It was my only go to as I tried to keep a low profile. Luckly my skills behind the bar spoke for themselves and I had no problem getting a job with every move I was forced to make.

The patrons were always the same. You had your group of married men that conveniently lost their wedding rings for the night. Which made no sense to me since everyone in the bar knew they were married, to the lifelong bachelors, who were still reliving their jock years of high school. Then you had your women of the town who were either desperate for love or the ones that everyone in the town had their turn with them.

It wasn’t hard figuring out right away which ones were going to be my tippers and which ones I knew barely could afford to be here. Living paycheck to paycheck I knew where to focus my attention to and I made sure I flirted to get my tips not knowing when my next move would have to be.

“This isn’t your first rodeo. You will do good here.” Tonya tells me as she picks up a tray of drinks I had just made for her to serve a larger table of men sitting in the back of the bar. Tonya was around my age and I could clearly tell she was one of those girls that got stuck in a small town because of a boy she met in high school. She stayed behind because of him only to get her heart crushed by him a couple years too late to ever get out.

“Unfortunately, I have been doing this since I was of age to serve a beer.” I tell her as I begin to wipe the counter where the tray was just sitting.

“Trust me, I get it. I have been working here since I turned eighteen.” Tonya tells me as she starts walking back to the table of men in the back of the bar and I watched her as she began to hand the drinks out to the group of men.

I had seen a few of them walk in earlier and then the group kept getting larger as the night went on. They were the only ones that I hadn’t been able to put a label on. They were definitely big like jocks but they all were behaving like married men should. Not a single one of them has made any advances to Tonya. She was a beautiful girl with long blonde hair almost to her waist and the biggest blue eyes I have ever seen. There was no way that one of them wouldn’t be interested in her. It was the first time in my bartending career that I was thrown off.

“Miss, can I get a beer?” I heard a man at the end of the bar ask pulling me from my profiling attempt of the men.

“Coming right up.” I said as I turned to pour him another draft and then moved to hand him it.

“Thanks. I haven’t seen you here before. Are you new?” The man asked me and I had already profiled him as a married man with at least three kids at home and almost old enough to be my father.

“Yeah, it’s my first day on the job. My husband and I just moved right outside of town.” I said lying to him knowing that the husband line normally shut the married men up.

“Oh well, welcome to Beaver Falls, where the only place to hang out on a Friday night is either here or the drive ins.” The man said as he took a sip of his beer.

“I’ll have to remember that for family night with the kids.” I told him giving him another lie so he would leave me alone.

“You have kids?” He now asked me almost with a slur and I knew I would be shutting him off soon and sending him home to his wife.

Leaning over the bar towards him, I could smell alcohol reeking from him before I say, “Yeah, three kids and three different baby daddies. You?”

The man looked at me speechless when I heard someone else call for a drink and I left him in thought. I moved around the bar serving drinks as it began to get busier as the night went on. More men began to come in and join the men in the back and Tonya continued to bring their orders for me to fill. My curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask her, “What’s up with the group of men back there?”

Tonya turned and looked at them and turned back to me and said, “They are just a bunch of local boys that get together every Friday night to leave off some steam.”

Well, that was vague, I thought to myself, but didn’t push the subject. Just as I finished filling their order the door to the bar opened and my attention went straight to it as two large men walked inside together. The men began to scope the bar and the larger of the two men’s eyes met mine. Something about his gaze on me felt intense and almost eerie and I had to force myself to look away from him as my heart began to race.

Thankfully someone at the bar called for me to get them another drink and I quickly moved to the other side of the bar to put distance between myself and the men that just came in. When I was done getting the patron a rum and coke, I turned to see that the two men had joined the others in the back of the bar and Tonya returned to the bar with their orders.

As I began to fill their order, I asked Tonya, “Who are the two men that just came in?”

Tonya turned her back to me and leaned against the bar as she stared back at the group of men before she said, “That would be Jaxson and Bishop. The two hottest bachelors in this town.” Tonya then turned around to look at me and said, “They are sort of like royalty here. Their family owns like half this town.”

Now it all made sense. They were rich boys that thought they could have whatever they wanted and that’s why they walked in here acting like they own the place. I placed the drinks on the tray for Tonya and she took off towards the table as I leaned against the bar. I looked back at the one that had looked at me when he came in.

He was engulfed in a conversation giving me time to check him out without him knowing I was staring at him. He was dressed in a plain black tee shirt with blue jeans which didn’t scream rich, but bad boy. He had dark hair that looked messy and unfortunately I couldn’t see his eye color from this distance. I am sure they are a dreamy blue. He totally had the “I am the man in charge” persona as everyone at the table held onto every word he said.

As if he knew I was staring at him he looked in my direction busting me looking at him. My face heated as a blush creeped onto it as I was busted. Quickly, I turned away from him and reminded myself why I was in the mess I was and that all men were off limits to me with my history of them.

Quinn’s POV

Trying to keep myself looking busy for the rest of the night I kept stealing glances back at the back table. Every time I’d look in that direction he was already staring at me. I had to wonder why he was looking at me too.

Tonya returned to the bar with another huge order from the back table and I began to fill their order, when Tonya says with a giggle, “Jaxson asked me who the new girl was.”

With my back turned to her I gave a smile now knowing he was asking about me. I quickly removed it as I reminded myself that I was just passing through. I couldn’t let myself get involved with anyone, especially if I wanted them to stay alive. Turning back to Tonya with a sober face, I placed the drinks on her tray and said, “That’s nice but I’m not interested. I sort of have a crazy ex-boyfriend that has scarred me.”

“Oh sweetie, say no more I get it. See the guy sitting at the end of the bar with the red cap on?” Tonya says to me, as she stares at me and moves her eyes to the right. I glance in the direction of the guys I already pinned as the jocks reliving their glory days. “That’s my ex the captain of the football team and was to be my ticket out of this town. Unfortunately, he got hurt in his first year in college and came back home to work in the local factory. Shortly after he came back, I busted him with my now ex best friend.”

Well, I had called that one right, but a part of me felt bad for her that I was right, so I said to her, “You are better off without him.”

“You can say that again. I have been saving up all my tips since then and I plan on leaving this town as soon as I have enough saved up to leave.” Tonya tells me before she turns and moves back to the back table once again.

Leaning against the bar I watch as Tonya moved back towards the table, and she handed Jaxson and Bishop their drinks. The larger of the two men which I now assume is Jaxson began to say something to Tonya and she began to shake her head and said something back to him. Instantly his head turned in my direction and I could see the look of displeasure on his face. I began to wonder what she said to him to have him looking at me like that. He then said something back to Tonya who then turned towards me and hurried back to the bar.

Once she got to the bar she leaned over the bar and said to me, “Jaxson wants to speak to you.”

Instantly, I began to laugh as I dried a glass in my hand and placed it on the rack and said, “Tell Mr. Jackson that I am working and I don’t think my boss would like me leaving the bar unattended.”

“But.” Tonya began to say to me and I stopped her by raising my hand up and said, “Just tell him I am working, and I don’t have time to fraternize with the customers.” I then walked away from her to the other end of the bar to ring a tab out for two men that had been here most of the night.

Once I rang them up, I handed them their credit card back and their receipt with a pen to sign their receipt. The one man grabbed my hand as I hand his receipt to him and held it tight as he asked, “What are you doing after you get off tonight?”

Trying to pull my hand away from the death grip he had on my wrist I said, “Let me go!”

“Come on now. I can show you around the town.” he said as he tried to pull me across the bar.

“I’m sure you would.” I said as I gritted my teeth and I pulled my wrist free from his hand and then added, “It’s time for you to leave.”

“Come on sweetie. A pretty little thing, like you shouldn’t be going home alone tonight.” He then said and before I could respond with a smart remark to him, a growl radiated through the bar, at least that was what it sounded like. All eyes moved to the back of the bar where Jaxson now stood up eyeing the man that was assaulting me.

The man that had hold of my wrist then stumbled off his bar stool and looked towards Jaxson and said, “You think you're so much better than the rest of us, you and that weird cult of yours.” The man's friend quickly moved to his side to shut him up, but now every man at the back table stood as if they were all commanded to. I didn’t realize till they all stood how large they all were. I then began to wonder if they were all on steroids.

“Sorry Jaxson. He’s had a few too many.” The other man said as he tried to usher the other man out of the bar before something went down.

Everyone’s eyes were on the back table as the bar remained eerily quiet as the two men exited the bar. Once the men walked out of the door, Jaxson made a move of his head, and two of the men beside him walked towards the door following the other two men outside. Jaxson’s eyes then moved back to me as I held my wrist in my hand rubbing it knowing that the man probably left a bruise on it. His eyes then moved to my hand and I could see that displeased look on his face again.

The other man that walked in with Jaxson which I assume now was Bishop stepped into the middle of the bar and said, “Everyone out. Bar is closed.”

Everyone stood and began to throw their money on the bar towards me as they all cleared out of the bar and I had to wonder what the heck was going on.

Quinn’s POV

Collecting all the money from the bar that the customers left behind, I began to pray that it was enough to cover all the outstanding tabs that were left for the night. I didn’t know how I was going to explain a short register to Charlie on my first night here. As I began to count the money the door to the bar opened and the two men that had followed my assailant outside returned and locked the door behind them. They then moved towards their seats that they were in before Bishop had closed the place down.

Tonya moved herself behind the bar and began to help me to try and figure out the mess that I had going on with the register. I was thankful she was here with me on my first night. in case the register didn’t add up so that she was my witness of what happened. In all my bartending career days I had never seen something like this happen.

“Jaxson would like to have a word with you.” I heard someone say from behind me and turned to see the big guy named Bishop standing at the bar looking straight at me.

“Well, can’t you see you guys have made a bit of a mess for me on my first night. If I don’t figure this all out, Charlie is going to fire me on my first night here. So, you just tell Jaxson it’s not going to happen tonight.” I told him as I turned back around and went back to trying to make sense of the mess in front of me.

Tonya gave me a look when I turned back around and whispered to me, “You really have no interest in him.” Like she was shocked that someone would not want to speak to the hottest bachelor in this town.

Looking over my shoulder I took a glance back to the back table where he still sat and his eyes were on me. Was the man hot, yes, he sure was. Did he send heat to my lady bits, he sure did, but I knew my rules, and they were to stay low and not to let myself get attached to anyone. Just like all the towns before this I wasn’t sure when my ex was going to find me and I would have to make a quick getaway. Getting involved with someone was just going to cause me more heart ache or the death of whomever I am seen with.

“Like I said earlier, I have a crazy ex and I’m messed up from it.” I tell her as I finish adding up all the tabs. “What total did you get?” I then asked her as she finished counting the cash.

“Four hundred and twenty-two dollars, and you?” She asked me as my face fell, knowing that the register was short and I was going to have to take my tips to make it right.

“Five hundred and ten dollars.” I told her as I moved to my tip jar praying that there was enough to make the difference.

“What are you doing?” Tonya asked me as I stood there counting my tips.

“Making up the difference so that I don’t get fired on my first night here.” I tell her and I thankfully have enough to cover the difference plus an extra twenty which will at least get me some food for tomorrow.

“Quinn, it’s not your fault, let Jaxson deal with it.” Tonya tells me and I look back at his table before I hand her the money and say, “I don’t want to owe him anything.”

Moving around the bar I began to pick up glasses to clean them so that I could just get this night over with. Charlie had finally come out from his office and saw that the bar had been shut down by the group of men in the back of the room. “Quinn, when you get that all cleaned up, you can go home for the night and I will see you tomorrow night.” He then moved to the back of the bar and took a seat at the table next to Jaxson and the two men began to talk like old friends.

Once everything was cleaned up I told Tonya that I would see her tomorrow and grabbed my belongings. I headed towards the door to leave but was stopped by Bishop when he says, “Let me walk you to your car, to ensure your safety.”

My eyes instantly moved to the back table to see Jaxson staring at me with an intense look on his face. “Did he put you up to this?” I asked as I nodded towards Jaxson.

“I’m not going to lie and say he didn’t.” Bishop says to me and I had to give him credit for not lying to me.

“I think I like you, Bishop.” I tell him as I unlock the door to step outside allowing him to walk me to my van.

When I stop at my van and began to unlock the door Bishop says, “Wait, this is yours?”

I knew that the van wasn’t much but over the last year of me being on the run, it had been home. I had been able to convert the inside into a makeshift living area so that I didn’t have to worry about having a roof over my head. Most of the small towns had a campground and I was able to stay on the properties for cheap and use their amenities for showering and other purposes.

“Yep, this is mine. So, now that you saw me not just only to my vehicle but to my home you can tell Jaxson you saw me home too.” I told him as I gave out a slight chuckle.

“This is really cool. So, you just travel around wherever you feel like going with this?” Bishop asks as he looks inside of my van. I am shocked that he isn’t judging me for what little I have but interested in old Betty, knowing what Tonya had told me about them coming from money.

“Yeah, that’s been my lifestyle for the last year or so.” I tell him as I can’t believe it has been that long since I have been on the run.

“So, are you parking her here for the night?” Bishop now asks me and I shake my head and say, “No, I got a spot over at L & M for the time being.”

“That is awesome. My family owns that campground. It’s a quiet little campground and I am sure they will take good care of you there.” Bishop tells me and all I could think about was what Tonya had said about them owning half of the town.

“Well, its late and I need to get going.” I told him as I moved to get into old Betty.

“Hey, we are having a little get together this Sunday at my place, and since you are new here and don’t really know anyone, I was wondering if you would like to join us.” Bishop said to me before I closed my door.

The thought of actually getting to let my guard down and hang out with people my own age was enticing but I knew I couldn’t allow myself to have that luxury. One wrong move is all it took for him to find me. Whether it be a picture someone innocently put of me on their social media, or a report with my name on it at the police station because of a bar fight, he always found me.

“Listen Bishop, you seem like a really nice guy and I would love to come to your party but I can’t.” I told him thinking that I let him down easily and he would except it but he didn’t.

“Is this about your ex that Tonya told us about? You know we can keep you safe from him.” Bishop says to me and I have to laugh when I say, “No one can keep me safe from him. I have to go.” I said to him and Bishop steps back from my van as I shut the door and started old Betty.