Rose opened the door, and there he was. Davis.
His bloodshot eyes snapped straight to mine—and froze. He looked like a man who’d seen a ghost. Then fury bloomed across his face, all alcohol and testosterone and bad decisions.
Good to see you, too, you fucking coward.
He barged in, shoulders cocked with the false confidence of someone who’s never lost a real fight. “What’s he doing here?”
I opened my mouth, but Rose cut me a warning glance:Let me handle this.
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood.
“Phoenix is here to help me with some things around the house,” she said.
Help her with somethings around the house?Funny, considering she’d just had her tongue in my mouth.
His sneer deepened. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because she called me,” I snapped, stepping forward. The air between us charged like a live wire.
He stepped in, blocking her from me. My fists curled at my sides.
I didnotlike this.
“You slit my tire tonight, Steele?” he sneered, his chest puffed like a bantam rooster.
“Your throat’s next if you don’t take a step back.”
He got in my face. “I’m going to add that to the bill for the damage you did to my equipment.”
I laughed, short and sharp. “Staple it to my medical bills. Since you’re so damn interested in those.”
“Guys,” Rose cut in, shoving between us, her eyes locking with mine.Do not engage.
I tried. God help me, I tried.
She turned to Davis. “What are you doing here anyway?”
His eyes dragged from mine back to her. I hated that shift. Hated that he still looked at her like he had some claim.
“I heard about the break-in. Why didn’t you call, Rose?”
Her name coming out of his mouth was gasoline on fire.
“Because I handled it, Josh.”
“Withthisguy?” His voice dripped with disbelief as he jerked a thumb at me.
She reached past him and opened the door. “Yes. With him. And I’m fine. You don’t need to check up on me anymore. It’s time for you to leave.”
He loomed over her. “You were always so damn stubborn. You’re gonna take better care of yourself, and it’s not going to be here.”
“I’mfinehere.”
“Withhim?” His laugh was derisive. “Seriously, Rose? The guy belongs in a padded room.”
It wasn’t the insult that made me snap.
It was the second hegrabbed her.
