Free Controlling Interest by Elizabeth White

“Stop!”
    To her astonishment, Bouncer Boy put on the brakes and skidded to a stop in front of her. Shaking his head, he started to step around her.
    â€œDon’t you dare.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’ve had enough of you boys fighting. One of you better tell me what’s going on before I send through that 911 call.”
    â€œI’ll tell you what’s going on,” the bouncer said grimly. “This is the moron who burned the place down a year ago. He got away with it then, and now he’s got the nerve to show up here again.” He gently picked Natalie up and set her aside. “So if you’ll pardon me, little lady, I’m gonna smash his pretty face into the middle of next week.”

CHAPTER
FIVE
    B ig Dean glowered over Natalie’s shoulder, clearly poised to take Matt apart piece by piece. Good thing McGaughan had demonstrated a couple of wrestling tricks a few years ago.
    â€œHey, man, let’s take this conversation outside.” Matt lifted his hands palms out and backed toward the door. He shot Natalie a look to stay her thumb on the 911 speed dial, not sure how the cops would’ve interpreted the situation.
    Huge mistake to let Natalie come along. Trouble was, he couldn’t figure out how to say no to her, which didn’t bode well for their (hopefully brief) partnership. Two days, and she’d already learned to look at him with those big green eyes, lashes so long they flirted against her glasses, and smile her way into whatever she wanted. Spooky.
    One day life was gonna knock her off her pins. It would be like watching a kitten get run over.
    So when he’d seen Dean the Machine, who’d been around back in what McGaughan called “BC days,” he’d scrambled to figure out how to handle the situation. Sending Natalie to take the interview, he’d stationed himself between her and Dean — effectively guaranteeing a confrontation with two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle married to a serious lack of brain power.
    Now, to his relief, Big Dean snarled and turned for the front door. Natalie gave Matt a what’s-going-on? look, but followed in merciful silence.
    Dean led the way to a corner of the building. Traffic roared down Airways as Matt scanned the parking lot. It was full of vehicles but empty of patrons, as they were all inside guzzling half-price beer. He was on his own. Well, except for Natalie, and she only counted as a liability.
    He stuck his hands in his pants pockets and went on the offensive. “So, Big Dean, are you a partner in this venture?”
    â€œNo.” Dean’s fists balled, ham-sized biceps jumping. “But Porky’s my brother, and he like to never recovered from that fire.”
    Natalie folded her arms. “Matt, have you been playing with matches again?”
    â€œFunny.” Matt shrugged. “It was totally an accident. Besides, the fire department cleared me. Nobody was hurt, and the place looks better than it ever has.”
    Dean prized an index finger loose and pointed it at Matt. “That’s beside the point, and you know it.” He glanced at Natalie. “It was New Year’s Eve. This guy and a bunch of other idiots were setting off fireworks out here. Knowing they’re illegal in the city limits.” He glared at Matt.
    â€œLike you weren’t right there with us. My Roman candle just happened to be the one that got a little off-target and landed on the roof. Look, man, I paid the fine, and Porky’s insurance took care of the repairs. Come on, you didn’t want me to go to jail for that!”
    â€œI wanted to push your head down into your intestines. If you didn’t have this lady with you, that’s exactly what I’d do.”
    â€œBut Matt’s very, very sorry about the accident — right, Matt?” Natalie’s dimple appeared beside her mouth, and Matt watched the tic disappear from