“I’ll take you to him.”
His eyes dart back to Meg again before he turns and starts leading us inside. As we walk behind him, a bunch of catcalls and whistles come at us from every angle. But every time someone makes a sound, the scary man before us glares them down, shaking his head. I wonder if he’s the boss around here.
“Yo, Cage! Found these strays outside looking for you.”Strays?
Cage tips back the contents of his glass before he slowly turns.
“Didn’t think you were coming.” He looks at me, sounding measurably pissed. I know it’s a little after nine, but it took everyone a million years to get ready. And it took me forever to convince Meg to come with us rather than run home and tell Dad where we were going.
“Sorry, us girls needed some extra time to get ready.”
He looks behind me seeing the three girls with me, but he doesn’t give them a smile or greet them in any form or fashion. In fact, the look on his face is almost rude. Like he’s annoyed we’re here. It’s so different from how he was earlier. He was so flirtatious in the texts with me and insistent that I be here, but now it’s like he’s mad I showed.
I wonder if this has anything to do with my branding comment. As soon as I said it, his entire tone changed. He was quick to write back, “I’m not into branding.” In other words, he’s not into relationships. I don’t know why I was fooling myself into thinking otherwise.
I look to the empty glass in front of him and ask, “How many of those have you had?”
“Why? You got a problem with me drinking?”
No, I don’t have a problem with him drinking. But I do have a problem with the way he’s acting.
I turn to the bartender and ask, “Can he have another?” She tips her head, looking at me curiously, then fills up his glass. I reach for it and toss it back, then I leave the empty glass right in front of him.
“Don’t have a problem with drinking, but I do have a problem with assholes. I’ll see ya around, Outlaw.”
I turn and grab the girls, heading right back outside. It was stupid for us to come. Chass warned me that these guys don’t do relationships, and here I let myself think that she was wrong. Clearly, Cage is trying to send the message that he’s not interested, and I’ve received it loud and clear.
“What the hell was wrong with him?” Chassie asks. Even she noticed what a jerk he was being. This morning, he offered her a friendly smile and invited her up here to hang out tonight, and back there, he looked at us like we were intruders.
My body is suddenly jerked back as an arm snakes around my waist, stopping me in place. I let out a little yelp thinking one of the guys has grabbed me.
“Don’t go, baby. I’m sorry.” It’s Cage.
I glance back and see it. The regretful look on his face. It almost looks like he’s in tears.
“Cage, what’s wrong?” I turn to face him.
“Had a shit fucking day, babe, and I thought you were going to be here earlier. When you didn’t show I assumed you’d stood me up. I’m sorry for the way I behaved back there. I was a dick.”
I’m speechless. Don’t know if I’ve ever heard a man apologize in my lifetime. Not my father. Not Callum. Not a single male I’ve ever been around. This is definitely a first.
“You want to tell me what happened today?”
“Will you come on back inside and let me get you girls a drink first?” He looks over my shoulder to the other three. “I’m sorry I was rude back there. Just got caught in a rough moment. Would you ladies like to come in and have a drink?”
I turn and see the look on their three faces. They’re just as shocked as I am that a man of his size and dominance is apologizing.
“I think we should go,” Meg says. She’s still not keen on being here. And after the attitude he just gave us inside, I’m sure she’s officially written him off. I agree that he shouldn’t have treated us that way, regardless of his mood. But the difference between me and Meg is that I know when someone’s hurting. And I can see it in his eyes. My wolf is in pain.
“I think your ass better get a drink and loosen up,” says another deep voice. It’s the same man from earlier. The one who glared at my sister up and down.
“Excuse me?” Meg turns, crossing her arms. “Who do you think you’re talking to, mister?”
Jesus, is she really going toe-to-toe with that beast of a man? He’s a Savage Knight. And she’s a half-pint next to him.
He steps right into her space, locking her under his glare. “I know exactly who I’m talking to,Meghan Ellicort. But I gather you don’t remember me. I’m not surprised. You and your little priss friends never paid any attention to us ‘gutter rats.’”
Meg jerks back, eyeing him carefully. Her eyes flickering over his face slowly. She suddenly stiffens.
