Once again, Malone moved with the stealth and speed of a cheetah. Before I could formulate a reply, he’d pressed the kitten into my arms and brushed past me to take Ken by his collar and shove him against the opposite wall.
“I’m going to use small words in short sentences so you can understand,” he said. “‘No’ means ‘no.’ The lady said to leave. Don’t come back. Insult her again, and you will regret it.”
“Whoa, calm down, big fella,” Ken wheezed. I was familiar with his “just one of the guys” routine, but I didn’t think it was going to work as well as he hoped. “Really got you by the balls, doesn’t she? I mean, it’s a sweet piece of ass, but she’s still a—”
Malone’s fist connected with Ken’s nose, proving that wishes sometimes came true. Ken cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
As much as I liked to consider myself a liberated, independent woman, I had to admit I took great joy in having someone defend me.
“Know what? You need to go home and thank your lucky stars for the years you were privileged enough to live with this lady,” Malone said. “Because memories are all you’re getting.”
“Can I at least get a towel and some ice?” asked Ken from behind his blood-soaked hand.
“No,” Malone and I said in unison.
“You’re still not getting the title to the car,” he said, struggling to get to his feet.
“Whatever,” I muttered, my spirits deflated.
Ten minutes later, the mood had been effectively killed. Why? Because I knew cuts on the hand from punches to the nose or mouth could cause gnarly bacterial infections. The minute I had seen the cut on Malone’s fist, I’d dragged him to the bathroom and commenced first aid.
Sexy nurse, I was not. More like Nurse Ratched.
“Stark, believe it or not, this isn’t the first time I’ve punched someone,” he protested.
“Well, it was very sweet of you, but please don’t do it again. My father once—”
I stopped.
“Your father what?”
I took a deep breath. “One of my few memories of my father is when he punched a guy in a bar fight. His hand got severely infected, and we had to take him to the emergency room. They ended up keeping him in the hospital for almost a week with an antibiotic IV drip.”
“That must’ve been awful.”
And that’s not even the half of it.
“Yeah, well, if you knew him, then you’d know that was a very logical consequence for him.” My own bitterness startled me, but it shouldn’t have. Discussing my father always seemed to bring that emotion out of me.
Malone studied me, wise enough to say nothing.
“Thank you, though,” I said.
“It was my pleasure.”
“I mean, I can defend myself, you know.”
“Oh, I know. I saw the video where you did that impressive leg sweep,” Malone said.
I looked away, my cheeks warm.
“Hey, Stark.”
I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“Just because youcandefend yourself doesn’t mean you have to,” he said. “At least, not all the time.”
His good hand cupped my cheek, and I leaned into his warm touch.
