She’d introduced me as her boyfriend. Yes, she’d tossed it out like a shield, a line in the sand, but Dylan had stepped right over it.
Fuck him.
I walked straight over to her and held out the glass. She uncrossed one arm to take it, her fingers brushing mine for a second before she pulled it back in against her chest.
“Thank you, Eric.” She broke eye contact with Dylan and looked up at me as she brought the glass to her lips.
Those luscious fucking lips that had been under mine only minutes ago.
Necessary or not, convenient or not, being at her side and standing up for her felt right.
“Okay. Well, I should get going.” Dylan stood. “Are you staying here, Jamie?”
“Here?”
“Yes, here. Your dad’s place. Are you staying?”
The question hung there, weighted and intrusive.
Jamie hesitated, and I caught a flicker of conflict in her eyes. “I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. I’ll let you know.”
I didn’t like that. Cop or not, he didn’t need access to her choices. He’d already taken more space than he deserved.
Jamie walked him to the door, and I paced the living room while I waited, tension winding tight.
She came back in wearing a too-bright smile. “Well. That was fun.”
The forced cheer didn’t match the exhaustion written all over her face.
Fuck, the timing of this was a disaster. Whatever conversation I’d been gearing up for wasn’t happening tonight. She didn’t have anything left to give. And I sure as fuck wasn’t going to take anything from her the way Dylan had.
“I’m guessing you might have questions.” She rubbed a hand over her face.
Questions? Plenty. None of them appropriate right now.
“There are a few things I wouldn’t mind clearing up. But it’s late. We should get back to the hospital.” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “Tomorrow, though. We grab food, then talk.”
Her shoulders eased a fraction. “I feel like I owe you something. You kind of saved my ass.” Guilt crept into her expression. “I panicked. I’m sorry.”
“You handled it. But tomorrow, your boyfriend’s taking you out for a proper meal.”
The word landed between us.
She froze, her eyes going round. “You don’t mind keeping up the charade?”
“Is it going to help keep guys like Dylan off your back?”
Her face flushed. “It’s been ten years since I was last in this town. And I didn’t exactly leave under the best circumstances. So yeah…I wouldn’t mind having the backup.”
“Then it’s a deal.”
She laughed. “Okay, boyfriend. Where are you taking me?”
Even joking, hearing it again did something to me.
“You pick. I’ll handle the rest.”
She grinned. “Fair warning. I get impulsive when I’m hungry. First food sign wins. And you’re paying.”
