“I’m Willow’s date,” Ezra said.
There. He’d said it. Putting the words out into the world lit a slow flame at the core of him. It wasn’t all he wanted to say, but it was a start, and it was true, and Willow’s small intake of breath meant she heard it as truth too.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Keith said. “Willow and I talked about meeting here. Us, me and her.”
“You did,” Ezra said. “And she said no.”
“This is ridiculous,” Keith said, his scent spiking with irritation, humiliation, and a dozen other things that might result in a scene. He swung his attention to Willow. “Honey, the only reason I came here was to spend time with you. We talked about this.”
“I told you I wasn’t going with you, Keith. So coming here to spend time with me doesn’t make a lot of sense. Besides, how did you even know I’d be here today instead of tomorrow?”
“Lucky guess, obviously.”
“Yeah, right. You decided to come all three days so you didn’t miss me. This is unbelievable. This is amateur stalker behavior, and you’d better quit it.”
Keith’s face turned red, and irritation turned to anger so hot it burned in Ezra’s nose. “There’s no call to insult a family friend.”
He took a step toward Willow.
A single step that torched Ezra from the inside out.She is mine.In one step he was between the two of them, Willow safely behind him. He glared down at Keith and bared his teeth as a snarl ripped from his throat. He bit down on it before it could progress to a roar.
Keith scampered backward, his eyes locked on Ezra’s, unable to look away.
That’s right. Apex here. And she is mine.
He didn’t have to say it. Keith knew. Even if he were too terrified right now for conscious recognition, his nervous system knew. He turned and ran.
Five
EzrahadgrowledatKeith.
Growled.
No, no he hadn’t. She was riled up, that’s all. Stressed out by the moron who had more guts than she’d given him credit for, striding on up to her while she stood beside another guy. Moron. Absolute moron ruining her day.
Except her day wasn’t ruined. She drew a long cleansing breath and let it out. She looked up at Ezra. He stared in the direction Keith had fled, his jaw tight, his eyes like emerald flames. His massive chest heaved once, twice, with some immense effort. Was he that enraged over Keith’s discourtesy…toward her? Warmth pooled inside her. Ezra cared that Keith had been pushy with her. Ezra had sent him running—quite literally—with a single glare.
And a growl. Or maybe just a glare, and she was hearing things. Whichever.
He was still staring after Keith.
“Ezra,” she said.
He had surprisingly long lashes, blond so you didn’t notice from a distance, but they caught flecks of sunlight as he blinked slowly and turned his face down to meet her eyes. Willow bit her lip as her cheeks heated. But whoa, a man as attractive as Ezra wrestling fury on her behalf, petrifying Keith with hardly a word…it was freakinghot.
“He won’t come near you again,” he said, voice low and husky, almost a rumble.
“One can only hope.” She tried for levity, rolled her eyes.
“He won’t.” The words were solid, a pronouncement.
“Well, thanks.”
His giant shoulders shrugged, but his eyes were still locked on hers. His chest rose and fell again, a hard breath, and then he closed his eyes.
“You okay?”
“Mmmmm.” The non-word resonated, filled his chest. He opened his eyes. “Thanks. I’m good.”
