Free Club Justice by Mara McBain Page B

condescending smile faded as the Zeke stepped closer, lowering his shades to level a lethal stare. 
    “Keep running your lips, kid, and I will knock all your pearly whites right out of that smart mouth.” 
    Swallowing hard, the younger man retreated a couple steps, reaching up to tug on his collar. The menace the leather clad gentleman radiated didn’t dissipate with distance and he struggled to come up with a suggestion that might make this man’s “ol’ lady” happy. 
    “While china is the traditional twentieth anniversary gift, platinum is the modern choice. Perhaps your wife would appreciate something along that vein. For something in-between traditional and modern we have platinum accented stemware, bowls, or keepsake boxes. Our platinum roses are classy and a bit more unusual, or if your wife enjoys something with a little more sparkle, platinum jewelry could be a hit,” a soft voice suggested. 
    Both men turned to look at the elegant woman, but Zeke was already nodding.
    “Platinum is more Ginny’s style and God knows she likes shit that sparkles.”
    “Perhaps Vivian can be of more assistance to you then,” the clerk suggested, smoothly bowing out of the situation and disappearing. 
    “Twenty years already. It hardly seems possible, Zeke.”
    “Surprised she has put up with me this long?”
    “I didn’t think any woman would tie Zeke Brawer down.”
    “Maybe it has lasted this long because she doesn’t try to tie me down.” 
    “Maybe that goes both ways.”
    “I’ve always loved Ginny just the way she is. I’d never ask her to be someone she isn’t.”
    “You were the first.”
    “And you know what they say about a girl’s first.” Zeke smirked with an eyebrow waggle. 
    “I meant the first person who didn’t try and change her, but if rumors are true, you subscribed to the get them young and train them right school of thought.”
    “She was sixteen.”
    “And you were a twenty year old Marine home on leave.”
    “What can I say? Women love a man in uniform.”
    “And does she still love that leather vest?”
    “With all her heart.”
    “Then she’s a better woman than I.”
    “At least better for me.” 
    “Enough reminiscing. Let’s see what we can find that might make Virginia happy after twenty years of blissful matrimony,” Vivian suggested leading her former classmate towards the jewelry counter. 
    “Ginny…she really hates Virginia,” Zeke corrected. 
    “Ginny it is then.”
    Thirty minutes later, and several grand poorer, Zeke exited the store and straddled his Harley. Patting his vest, he made sure the ring was secure in the inside pocket. He and Ginny had married young. The simple gemmed band he had slipped on her finger as they repeated their vows had cost him fifty bucks at a pawn shop. He had sprung for nicer jewelry over the years, but the fact that his wife treated that original band with the same care as the crown jewels wasn’t lost on him. It was about time he put something a little more worthy on her finger.
    Shaking his head, he pulled himself from sappy musings. Jesus, if the guys found out what he had spent he would never hear the end of it. Firing the Fat Boy, he headed home to stash the ring. 
     
    Leaning on the bar, Ginny listened to the lunchtime bullshit and banter, her hazel gaze occasionally wandering to the door on the lookout for her husband. He had mentioned he had to run an errand today, but missing lunch wasn’t like him. 
    “So what’re you guys doing for your anniversary this weekend?” Kat asked, sliding another burger basket across the bar. 
    “Eh, maybe dinner out. I don’t know. Zeke doesn’t get real sentimental about shit, you know. Just another Hallmark holiday to him,” Ginny said with a wave of dismissal. 
    Kat snorted. 
    “Like Valentine’s Day, just another excuse to get laid.”
    “Like Zeke needs an excuse.” 
    “It’s been what, twenty years? Don’t tell me you two still screw,” one of the