I know exactly what it is. I’m a big man. Six foot six and enjoy working out—both my brain and my body. He’s thinking that if I want to pick him up and break him in two, he’s got no hope of stopping me.
But he still doesn’t look like he believes a gorgeous young woman like her is with someone like me. Which makes him unpredictable.
“Hey, babe,” I murmur, locking my gaze on her,onlyher, as if it’s not worth my energy to acknowledge his existence. “Sorry I’m late.” I smooth my palm over the small of her back and bend down, smiling as I bring my lips to her cheek.
She turns, sliding her hand up my chest, and lifts her face, her lips, to mine.
It’s the softest of kisses, barely a contact, but it shears through me. Unmaking me and making me again. In that one moment, everything in my life changes. I am hers. Nothing else matters except her.
Her fingers brush the side of my neck, and with her lips still near mine, she whispers, “I’m sorry, but also thank you.”
She steps back, smiling up at me as if I’m the most amazing, important person in her life.
And fuck me, that’s exactly what I want to be.
Chapter Four
Sami
A lick of something warm, tight, and intense ribbons through me as I gaze up into the dark-blue eyes of the man from the deli counter. He has, without question or hesitancy, thrown himself into my desperate ruse. I’ve never needed a hero, but he’s being one. For me. God, I don’t even know his name.
The urge to wrap my arms around his neck, press my body to his, and kiss him—reallykiss him—burns in my core. The kind of kiss that makes a person question everything.
Gaze holding mine, he reaches out and brushes his fingers over my temple, behind my ear. A stray hair? Or merely part of the ruse? “Everything okay, babe?” He slides his attention to the jerk who, for the last twenty minutes, has refused to leave me alone. Who kept sending over drink after drink as I ate my dinner. Who followed me to the door when I went to leave. Who tried to stop me leaving. “Anything I need to deal with?”
Is it possible for him to get any bigger? Any morethere? He’s already tall and imposing, with shoulders, biceps, and forearmsworthy of a comic book superhero, but as his eyes lock on the annoying jerk, he seems to dominate the space more. His jaw bunches, and he gently smooths one hand behind my back, drawing me to his side. Tucking me there.
Safe.
Protected.
A primitive ache blooms in the junction of my thighs. Oh God, I want this man in my life forever…
“Whatever,” the jerk sneers. “Have fun fucking the fat?—”
“If you like your nose on your face,” my man says, voice like ancient ice, “I recommend you stop talking and fuck off.”
“Got a problem here, Gibbo?” another voice, equally calm and menacing, says to our left.
Three towering men walk toward us, each one radiating imposing confidence. All three cast level looks at the jerk. “Need a hand?”
“All good, Riggs.” My man–Gibbo?–chuckles before returning his stare to the jerk. “Someone was just leaving the pub.”
The three newcomers come to a halt beside us. All three cross their arms over chests almost as impressive as the man I think I’m already halfway to falling in love with.
“Happy to help,” Riggs says, clearly enjoying himself.
The jerk’s eyes flick over them all before landing back on me. “Cheers,” he mutters, shoving past me and out the door.
A choppy breath bursts from me, almost but not quite a laugh, and I smile at the three men, now all studying me. “Thank you.”
“We look after our own here,” one says, throwing a nod at the man whose arm is still curled around my waist. “If you’re special to Gibbo, you’re special to us.”
Turning in Gibbo’s embrace, I look up at him. His eyes find mine, a question in his, and my heart turns into a frenetic beat.If we weren’t in public, if I’d known him for more than a few minutes, I’d be begging him to make love to me now. “Thank you,” I say, the word close to a husky whisper. “For, y’know, going along with it. I appreciate it.”
His gaze drops to my lips, and my nipples bead.
“And on that note,” Riggs says, laughter dancing on the words, “we’ll leave you two in peace. Happy Birthday, Gibbo. I reckon you’re doing okay for an old man.”
