I let out an exaggerated sigh. “It figures that’s what you would pick up on, Roth.” I shrugged, brushing it off, while butterflies took flight in my belly at our easy, flirty banter. “If we are grading on a toad scale, then sure. But don’t get your hopes up. I’m not going to be kissing you to see if you turn into a prince anytime soon.”
He was more than cute. He was hot as fuck, but I wasn’t about to let him know I thought that. He already saw too much of me, and Lord knew he didn’t need the ego boost either. The man had a mirror. He knew what he looked like. Nobody had to tell him that he was attractive—disturbingly attractive.
I felt myself getting drawn in by him in a way I’d never been with another guy. Tucker Roth had me wanting more, wanting to test boundaries—both his and mine. He agitated me. Excited me. And as he accused me earlier, he aroused me in a way I’d never experienced before. My panties would need to be changed when I went home because being around him sent electricity singing through my body and caused a reaction unlike anything I’d ever felt before.
“It’ll be sooner rather than later, Patience. This toad doesn’t mind waiting you out.” He winked at me and leaned in closer to my ear like he was going to whisper a secret. “Ribbit.”
I retreated from him; my pulse was pounding because he wasn’t wrong. I knew I was going to cave, and I’ve never caved before when it came to men. The ones I dated in the past only kissed me if I allowed it, and most of the time, I didn’t. A fireraged inside me every time he was near. Tucker had been here two days, and I felt more excited by him than any of the men I’d gone out with since I started dating. What did that say about me?
“I’ll go get the car warmed up.” I decided a retreat was the best option, and I backed off as confusion and doubt bombarded me. He was too much. I can’t breathe right when he’s around, and thinking clearly is next to impossible.
“You okay?” He gave me a curious look, all laughter gone from his eyes.
“I’m good. I’ll be in the car.”
I pushed outside, the little bell jingled above my head as I walked into the chilly, wet air. My chest felt tight, and I felt like I needed to draw in a full breath of air away from him.
It was too early for snow, so the roads were more like slush and ice, which was more dangerous. It was no wonder he needed a ride. Being on a bike in this weather would be miserable and an unnecessary risk.
My thoughts were racing with Tucker as I approached my Jeep, so I didn’t notice the man standing beside my car until it was too late.Grant.
“You are aware stalking is illegal in all fifty states, right?” I didn’t bother hiding my disgust and annoyance with him. What the hell did I ever see in this guy? I must have been out of my mind to go on a date with him, and I went on three.
“I came to apologize about the other night.” He ignored my cutting remark. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
“I won’t be disagreeing with you, Grant, but I thank you for your apology and would like you to leave me alone now.” I tried to get to my car, but he was in my way. That should have been the end of the apology, but honestly, I wasn’t all that surprised that he ignored my request.
“I want you to give us another shot, Patience.”
I wanted to laugh because I was waiting for the punchline of his joke, but when nothing came, I realized he was serious. The man was crazy enough to think I would consider going out with him again.
“No. That’s not going to happen, Grant.”
“Come on, Patience.” He took a step closer to me, and I retreated back a step and ran into something warm and solid behind me.Tucker.
“She said no. It’s over, and if you bother her again, I will be filling the sheriff in on what happened last night and again today.”
“Who the fuck are you, man, and what business is it of yours?” Grant’s eyes were filled with rage as he glared at us.
“I’m her boyfriend, so that makes it my business.” His words were delivered calmly, flatly, and without any inflection.
“Patience?” His eyes darted down to me questioningly, as if I was going to disagree with Tucker. I was put on the spot, but I nodded to confirm what Tucker said was the truth. My hope was that if he thought I had a boyfriend, it would squash this shit and his hope of us getting back together.
“It’s true, and even if it weren’t, Grant, I wouldn’t go out with you again. You need to stay away from me because it’s not going to be just Tucker filing that police report for me. I will do it myself, and everyone witnessed you grabbing me in the bar. Getting a restraining order won’t be a problem.”
He didn’t say another word, but he spun around and stomped away from me, anger radiating from him in waves. I felt my pulse pounding in a different way once he was gone. It wasn’t the excited, aroused pounding pulse that I got when I’m around Tucker. No, the feeling in the pit of my stomach was terror. He wasn’t stable, and I would need to be careful when Tucker was no longer around to intervene.
“Give me your keys, Patience.” Tucker’s voice brought me back to the moment.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Tucker.” I turned and looked up at him. “I swear, we only went out a few times, and I cut it off because it didn’t feel right.”
His arms circled my waist, and he pulled me against his body. My head barely reached his chin, but I took comfort in his warm embrace. It wasn’t until I was wrapped in his arms that I realized how damn bad I was trembling.
“Hey.” He lifted my chin, so I was looking up at him. “We are going to deal with this. You have nothing to be sorry for, and you have good instincts. Don’t apologize for that. I’m proud of you for recognizing a bad situation before it went too deep. Some women don’t and it ends up costing them years of their lives, if not their life itself.”
His words were full of encouragement and assurance, and a depth of emotion that went way beyond the surface. He sounded like he knew more about men like Grant than he was willing to say. Like he was speaking from personal experience.
“There you go being a knight in shining armor again,” I joked, lightening the mood a little.
