“Can I wait for a booth?”
“No.”
I must take too long to decide because she turns her back on me. Rude waitstaff is another perk of the diner.
The door jingles behind me, and in walks a group of guys I recognize from orientation day with Honey. Lacrosse players. They look like they’ve recovered from their bout with food poisoning, but their energy is less cocky, more subdued.
They’ve suffered an L and everyone knows it.
One of them sees me, and recognition flares in his eyes. He nudges his buddies. One by one, they fall silent and turn to glare at me. They know I cost them the championship. Radley must have clued them in.
I smack my gum and give them a happy little wave. Their faces flush. Oooh, they’re mad. Are they gonna do anything about it? Most guys are taught to never hit a girl. Supervillain Rule #2: It’s easy to beat an opponent who plays by the rules.
If they do attack, it might be fun. Maybe I can turn it into a food fight, like on season three of Vampire Varsity. I’ve never been in one before. The waitress won’t like it, but maybe she’ll join in. Except she looks more the type to pull out a switchblade and start stabbing.
YOLO!
Before anything interesting happens, a shadow falls over me, and a hand clutches the back of my neck. It’s large and warm and grips me firmly enough that I won’t be able to quickly shake it off.
I go very still.
“She’s with me,” a deep voice rumbles above my head.
Goosebumps spread all over my body, like I’m outside facing an oncoming storm, and my heart trips.
I don’t need to look up to know who it is. I can imagine that spiderweb tattoo on the back of my neck, and suddenly, my heartbeat is booming in my ears.
The lacrosse guys look up at him and blanch.
“There’s a two-hour wait,” the waitress rasps at them. “Come back later.”
There are some muttered complaints, but they leave, slamming the door behind them. I feel disappointed. I was looking forward to Mr. Muscles beating them into a pulp.
“Hello again.” I look up at my protector. And freeze.
He’s not wearing a mask.
Pretty, I want to gasp. He’s got a classically symmetrical face that’s almost brutally good-looking. High forehead with that faint scar, blond brows, golden stubble covering his perfect jaw and chin. He’s so pretty I can barely look at him!
No, not pretty, my instincts say. Dangerous. There’s something predatory about those beautiful blue eyes. He’s a hottie with a dangerous aura, and that only makes my heart flutter faster. My cheeks are warm, just being close to him.
I can’t believe he’s here, looming larger than life. He takes up more than his fair share of space in the tight diner. And he’s so tall he probably had to duck through the door.
I don’t know how such a big guy snuck up on me, but he saved the day, again.
He’s still touching me.
He’s got me literally in his clutches. My body is primed after several nights fantasizing about him, so more than anything, I’m turned on.
What’s going to happen now?
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer. He keeps his hand clamped on the back of my neck and guides me to a big booth in the far corner, by the window.
“Where are we going?”
“You’re eating with me in case those guys come back.”
