“So sweet,” he coaxed and took a step forward. “But you didn’t answer my question.”
That was on purpose. It was my name, and he hadn’t earned it.
“No, seriously, you need to get back to work—”
He reached out and pushed my hair off my shoulder. “You’re playing with me, sweetheart. I like that.”
My pulse hammered in my throat. Blood began rushing in my ears. If I called out, it would make a scene. I didn’t want that. But I also wanted this man to go away.
“Please,” I insisted. The surroundings narrowed, my vision becoming hyper focused on the situation. On thethreat.“Go back to serving the guests. I’m good here.”
His strong body spray was spicy and chemical. There was too much of it, flooding the air with a ripe stench. “I’m good too.”
His fingers brushed over my shoulder. I jerked away, but that only made him laugh. He grabbed me.
A scream rose to my mouth. It never released.
The man was suddenly gone.
I gulped a breath as a grunt pierced the air. As the tunnel vision cleared, I took in the sight before me. A black-haired fiend in a midnight suit had the waiter by the throat. Gold glint in the light before the fist pummeled down into the soft flesh of the waiter’s stomach a second time.
My jaw dropped.
The waiter groaned, thrashing and clawing at the arm that easily held him suspended in the air. His sound was effectively cut off, but the muted animal noises sounded too loud in the serene place.
I sagged against the bush, watching as the fist struck again—and again!
The obnoxious waiter was a limp sack. His movements did nothing to save him from being a punching bag. One more swift blow, and then he was tossed. His arms flailed as he fell to the ground. They didn’t reach up in time to save him before the crash.
“That’s enough!” I croaked, finding my voice as the mass of moving darkness took a step after him.
The monster paused.
Panic set in again with a fresh wave. I just made the monster aware of me.
Ivan turned. Time slowed to a handful of desperate heartbeats. Twin pools of inky blackness focused on me.
Sensing an opportunity to escape, the waiter bolted.
“Are you hurt?” There was a softness that conflicted with the terrible fury dancing through the dark gaze.
I shook my head and remembered to breathe. “I’m fine.”
His eyes narrowed. The fine lines around his eyes crinkled.
“Really, I am.” I pulled away from the bushes but cursed. The thorny branches had caught the fibers of my lace dress and held me in place.
I tried to dislodge myself, but the wriggling only made the branches tighten their hold. Barbs tore at my skin, leaving angry red marks along my arms.
“May I?”
I stifled a yelp. The monster was right in front of me. He’d moved so softly that I hadn’t realized he closed the distance.
“Um….” I hesitated.
“May I touch you?” His hand, decorated with the chunky gold rings, hovered right in front of me. “You’re stuck.”
“Sure,” I breathed. This wasn’t a mess I was going to get out of myself.
