I nodded, nibbling on my bottom lip. “Yeah. He should be.”
“And where do you work again?”
I gave him the name of the vet clinic, not thinking anything of it. He kissed my forehead and took a step back away from me again.
“Are you going to be home after you leave the gym?”
I nodded, now a little confused about the way he acted. I lifted my eyes to peer at Nash. He had a mean mug on his face with his fists balled up at his side and appeared to be ready for war.
“Are you okay?”
He gave a curt nod. “Yeah. I’m good. I’ll talk to you later.”
I frowned. “Wait. What? Why? Where are you going?”
“To handle something.” Nash turned on his heels and headed out of the punching bag area.
It then dawned on me everything I told him, and the color drained from my face.
“Oh shoot! Wait!” I called after him, but it fell on deaf ears. I had to go get him because I knew if he went up to my job, I’d be losing it for real. “Nash, wait!” I called and jogged to keep up with him. He walked too fast. “Please!” I begged.
That caused him to stop walking and turn to me. I felt eyes on us, but I only had my eyes on him. The look on his face caused my heart to ache.
“We can talk outside,” I told him and walked closer to touch his arm. He flinched before he relaxed. That was a good sign. When we were outside, I turned to face him. “Please don’t do what I think you were about to do. That’s my job, and I’ll end up losing it if you go up there.”
“So? I’ll take care of you,” he growled.
That touched my heart, but that wasn’t the point. I shook my head. “No, I love what I do. I can handle Patrick. I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me either.”
“It’ll be worth it,” he snapped.
I blew air through my nose, knowing I wasn’t about to get through to him.
“Please, just let it go... for me?”
“To know that a man talked to you like that doesn’t sit right with me. Then he did that without caring that you were a woman. I don’t like to see a woman getting mistreated by a man at all. That’s not cool,” Nash ranted as he paced back and forth in front of me.
I pressed my hand to my mouth in a prayer stance. “It’s not cool, but that’s how people are in the world. You can’t change that.”
He nodded in agreement. “You’re right, but those types of people need their asses beat.”
I slapped my hand across my forehead and threw my head back. Why did he have to be so difficult?
“I’m okay now. I left work and came to get a workout in. I’ve already forgotten what happened.” The look on his face told me he didn’t believe me. “Okay, I’m trying to get over it.”
Nash pulled me back into his arms. “If something like that happens again, I don’t care what you say. I’m going off. If you need me to take care of you, I can do that too. You’ve been through a lot, and I’ll be damned if anyone else causes you problems. They’ll have to answer to me.”
I wrapped my arms around him and held him just as tight. I rested my forehead on his chest and breathed in his manly scent. He smelled so good, even with him being in the gym.
“Thank you for having my back.”
“Always, beautiful. I’m going to make sure nothing or nobody ever hurts you again.”
I believed Nashton’s words and snuggled closer into his embrace. It felt like I belonged there, locked in his arms.
“Are you in bed yet?” Nash’s deep voice enveloped me as I laid my head on my pillow.
“Yes, I’m just getting into bed. What about you?” I asked, fighting back a yawn.
