If only that were true.
Grinding my teeth, I turn my back to the bar. I don’t appreciate the direction of this conversation. “It wasn’t exactly my choice to end things.”
“Whatever you did, fix it, because she seems like a nice girl.” Ethan finally decides to speak.
“Why do you assumeIdid something?” But all I get is a shrug.
“Oh, dear,” Theo clutches his pearls. “Another round of shots.”
I’m the last person who should say anything. I turn in my chair and glance at Jackie. She seems steady enough, but I keep her in my line of sight, just in case.
Another song has the girls skipping with excitement. Those shots did their job, and I see Jackie letting go for the first time in years, arms in the air, swaying.
“Uh-oh.” Theo leans back, smirking like he’s getting ready for a show.
One of the guys who sent them the shots approaches, and Patrick’s on his feet before I can react. There’s no need for me to make a scene. Her guard is casually strolling toward the bar, leaning on the counter, his stare poised on the guy.
I’m relieved for a beat until Patrick’s eyes lock on me, giving off the air of a very disappointed big brother.
She’s a grown woman, I have no claim—
“Not a chance in hell.”
The fucker just put his hands on her, bending down to whisper in her ear. His hand skims her waist, and she tilts her head to listen, eyes glazed, smiling.
Reason disintegrates under the force of the compulsion to act.
I’m on my feet, storming straight for the dance floor. Jackie’s in no state to be sweet-talked by some guy who’s been leering at her all night.
“Finally,” Luke and Ethan say at the same time, clinking their beer bottles, but I ignore them.
My sole focus is on the place on her waist where he’s got his fucking hands, pulling her closer. I’m across the room in seconds, my shoulder wedging between them.
The guy takes a step back, brows drawn together. “Hey, man, we were having fun.”
Rage is flowing just under my skin. “What you are is done. Move along.”
His fists clench, and I brace myself for an old-fashioned bar brawl, but Patrick clears his throat nearby. “Trust me, you don’t want to do that,” his voice cuts in, with a practiced calm.
Whatever is going through his head in the seconds he ping-pongs his head between us is enough to turn him on his boots with a dismissive wave.
Jackie’s still rocking with the music as she leans in, her manicured fingers trailing over the buttons of my shirt. “Why did you make him leave?” she whines. “He was nice. Weren’t you the one who said I should loosen up?”
I’ll show you nice.
“He was getting too close. We need to be careful.”
She huffs. “You sound jealous.”
Jealous? The fire coursing through my veins doesn’t even come close to the definition. I’m damn feral. But it’s not something I can tell her.
“I’m only thinking about your safety.” And the fact that that guy had his fucking hands all over you.
Her palms glide around my neck as she keeps swaying. “Mm-hmm. Sure, big guy,” she purrs, plastering herself to me, and my heartbeat kicks into overdrive. Another part of my body is reacting too, but she’s drunk, and even though she might still be attracted to me, she wouldn’t do this sober.
I’m not blind. Her reactions when we’re close, or I touch her, are familiar, like muscle memory. I’m so used to looking at her that I have every flicker of emotion mapped out. And right now?The hunger in her gaze, the faint blush blooming at the base of her neck, and the way her touch lingers—it’s killing me.
“Let’s get you to bed.” It comes out rough, practically a growl.
