“Jake is fine. So, we've met. Now, go away.”
“Not happening.”
“Whatishappening?” Remy asked me.
“I have a stalker,” I said to him. “Actually, three of them. This guy and his two brothers.”
Oh, that did it. Country boys can be bastards just like any other type of guy. But put them in public with a damsel in distress, and they rally like no other. All six of the boys stood up and glared at the hound.
“Remy, call the cops before we beat this guy to death,” one of them said.
“Ayup.” Remy pulled out his phone.
The hound had that phone in his hand two seconds later. A second after that, pieces of the phone rained onto Remy's lap. People got up from the nearest tables and backed away.
“Hey! You take that shit outside!” my server shouted.
“After you.” The hound dusted off his hands and waved toward the door.
Now, smarter men would have seen that display and known that a guy who can crush a cellphone with his bare hand—that's hand, singular—is not someone to mess with. But these guys didn't have a lot of brains. What they did have was numbers and they let the size of their group make them even dumber.
The country boys, led by Remy—who was steaming mad about his phone—followed the hound outside, cracking their knuckles.
I sighed, shook my head, and went back to eating.
Through the window, I watched my would-be mate pummel my would-be suitor. In their defense, the humans were rather good at brawling. But good doesn't cut it with a demigod.Even after jumping him in unison, they got their asses handed to them and had to run off in shame.
During the not-so-epic battle, I finished my food and picked over their plates. When I noticed Jake wrapping things up, as it were, I said, “Check please.”
The server hurried over. “Do you need to go out the back, miss?”
“Yes, thank you.” I pulled two hundred dollar bills from my wallet and pressed them into his hand. “This is for their food as well.” I waved at the abandoned plates. The restaurant shouldn't suffer just because a hound showed up. “And a little extra for your gallantry.”
“No problem, miss.” His gaze shifted from me to outside and back. “Come on, now! Hurry!”
He rushed me into the back, through the kitchen, and out a side door.
“Thank you again! The food was delicious.” I waved at him.
The cooks, who had all gaped at me as I passed by, grinned and waved back. Chuckling to myself, I hurried to my car. I had just slid the keys into the lock when someone grabbed my arm. I knew who it was, but that possessive, assuming grab pissed me off. So I punched out blindly with my keys.
“Fuck!” the hound cried and clutched his arm. “It's just me!”
“You don't get to say, 'It's just me.' I don't know you!” I pointed my bloody keys at him. “And I'm not ready to get toknow you. Which I'm certain Cyrus explained. So that is the least you deserve.” I unlocked my car and got in.
Before I could close the door, Jake pressed the button to unlock all the doors, and then, in an eye blink, appeared at the passenger door. He opened it and slid into the car before I could react.
“Get out of my car,” I said.
“No.” He crossed his arms.
The wound I'd given him was already healing.
“Get out or the next stab will be in your neck.”
“What is your problem?! Cy said you made a deal with Hades. I don't really understand that since it's supposed to be a spell that draws our mate to us, but there's no denying the connection between us. You're her. You're the one we’re meant to be with. And yet, you're out here flirting with humans?”
“Men have always gotten to sow their wild oats before they get married. Some don't even let marriage stop them. This is a new age. Women are as free as men now. So, I'm gonna do some sowing. I'll let you know when I'm done.”
