“I’m sure you can.” His voice is dripping with sarcasm. “But I’d feel better if you let me walk with you. At least let me ride with you to the venue; I can get my own ride back.”
I whip around on the spot. What is this guy’s deal? He hates me, but he wants to make sure I’m okay? He hasn’t even spoken to me since the night he knocked me out in my hotel room, and I was kind of enjoying the silent treatment.
“Did you hit your head? Should I call 9-1-1?” I ask, glaring at him.
His eyes squint behind the mask. “What are you talking about?”
“Why the hell do you care all of a sudden where I go or what I do? You barely acknowledge my existence when I’m around.” My brows knit together as I stare at him.
He doesn’t answer.
“That’s what I thought.” I roll my eyes. “So, maybe you should cross your fingers that I get kidnapped instead. I’m sure you’d like that.”
I turn to keep walking, but I barely make it a step before he’s in front of me, staring me down. How the fuck did he move so fast?
“I made a promise to look out for you.” The rumble of his voice sends chills down my back. Something about the deep, powerful timbre of his voice makes my insides melt, but I keep the emotion off my face. “I’m just doing my job, but you’remaking it very fuckingdifficult.” He spits the last word.
“If you weren’t such a pain in the ass, maybe I’d be more inclined to be in your presence.” I glare back. “But you’re fuckingunbearable.”
If looks could kill, Tobias would strike me dead here and now.
We’re at a stalemate, neither of us willing to stand down. I don’t even know why I’m wasting my breath. I have somewhere to be and he’s wasting my time. If he were any other man, I would have told him to get completely fucked and ignored him from the start.
But Tobias is impossible to ignore. He’s like a disease, worming its way through my bloodstream. A fungus clinging to my bones that won’t let go.
A car rolls up and honks the horn, tearing me from my stare-down. It matches the description of my Uber.
Since when do they honk?
Maybe the driver thinks I’m in trouble, and he’s not entirely wrong. I am in trouble, but not because I’m being harassed. It’s because I can’t just turn and walk away, pretending Tobias is dirt beneath my feet.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be,” I say, stepping around the demon and marching toward the blue sedan. I swing my ponytail and my hips as I go, hoping he gets a good look as I’m walking away.
I check the car’s license plate before sliding into the backseat, mumbling a greeting to the driver who just saved me from more tense conversation. But as I reach for the door to close it, Tobias is there.
He’s in my way. Again.
“Move,” he demands, and the force of his voice makes my stomach backflip.
“You keep ordering me around like I’m your pet,” I snap without moving.
“Well, someone has to put you in your place.”
Anger burns beneath my skin, and I bite back a fiery retort. However, something tells me he’d happily drag me out of the car kicking and screaming if I keep fighting him. I don’t mind making a scene, normally, but not that kind.
Jaw hardening, I slide to the other side of the seat. My cheeks warm as he slips into the car and shuts the door.
Fuck. Now I’m stuck with him until we get to the nightclub.
I sigh, admitting defeat.
Whatever. At least it’s only a few miles away.
I click my seatbelt and cross my arms over my chest, staring out the window to avoid looking at Tobias. His delicious, musky cologne slowly creeps into my nostrils as it fills the car, and I opt to breathe through my mouth.
“You two having a good night tonight?” the young driver asks, shooting me a worried look in the rearview mirror.
“Peachy,” I reply.
