He realized his arm had tightened too much and relaxed. “Sorry about that. Do you want to go home?”
“No, but I don’t want to be here, either.”
He didn’t blame her. “Bastard really shook you up.”
“Yes. I don’t want to run into him again.”
Blake seconded that. “I left our drinks at the bar. Come with me while I let the bartender know we’ve changed our minds. I want to alert him about Devin, too.”
When Blake told the man, he nodded. “As soon as I saw what he was doing, I notified security. You okay, miss?”
“Yes, thanks,” Vi said, but Blake knew how shaken she was. “He’s too drunk to be driving.”
“We’re on it.”
The band came back and started a new set. As toe-tappingly good as the music was, he wanted to get her out of there. “Drunkenness is no excuse for what he did,” he said close to her ear as they headed toward the table to get her jacket. She’d left her hair loose, and flyaway strands teased his cheek.
“You’re more upset than I am.”
“Probably. I’m also proud of you. You held your own. If Devin hadn’t let go of you, I figured you’d kick his shin.”
“I never even thought of that. I was too stunned and scared.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“Thanks, but you’re the man who got rid of him. My hero.” She gave him a weak but grateful smile.
“I did what any decent man would. Where do you want to go?” he asked as they made their way to the exit.
“I have no idea except that I don’t want to be around other people right now.”
Fine with him. He wanted to be alone with her, hold her and make her feel better. No fooling around—she’d been through enough for one night. Besides, she’d made it clear she didn’t want that. “It’s a warm night and there’s a full moon. My deck overlooks the ocean. Of course, we can’t see the water, but the reflection of the moon on it should be fantastic. You’ll love it. I’ll behave myself, I promise.” He caught his breath.
“I guess that’ll do,” she said, and he could breathe again. “I’ll follow you to your house.”
She was still upset, and he wanted her in the car with him. “I’ll drive, then drop you back here at the parking lot when you’re ready to go home.”
“Why are you offering, when I’m perfectly able to drive?”
“I want to, okay?”
“How can I argue with that?”
As Blake navigatedthrough the darkness, Vi attempted to calm down. But the adrenaline still flooding through her kept her from relaxing. She reviewed what’d happened at the HighwayClub. Seeing Devin planted in front of her and grasping her arm in his too-warm grip… Ugh. She shuddered all over again.
What if Blake hadn’t seen what was happening? Would security have come as quickly?
The important thing was he’d noticed and acted. She’d started out the evening intending to keep her distance from him. But they’d had such a good time dancing that she’d begun to feel differently. Those feelings had only grown stronger after what’d happened. He was a good man, and he cared about her. He’d told Devin they were together. Did he mean that, or were they mere words uttered to get rid of the drunken menace?
“You’re awful quiet,” Blake commented at a red light. “Sure you’re okay?”
“Getting there. You were wonderful tonight.”
“Wish I’d seen what was happening sooner.”
“Don’t worry about that. What matters is you were there.”
“I guess.”
