“Are you drinking a beer in the middle of the day?” I ask, grinning, my gaze catching with Ruby and Quinn quickly. They are grinning, too, sporting their own drinks in hand.
“You should join us,” Quinn suggests and then nods outside. “We’re all sitting out there.”
Yep. Luca, Shay, Miles, Declan, and Gavin are all sitting at a table, clearly enjoying an afternoon off.
I take a quick scan of the bar.
No Dutton in sight here either.
“I’ll come join you for a moment,” I say, following alongside the girls. “But I'm actually looking for …”
The sentence fades from my lips, and my heart thumps fearfully. My eyes close—am I seeing things? But then a brush of wind sweeps over my skin, and goosebumps cover every inch ofmy body. I don’t have to look around me to know that he is here. As soon as I open my eyes, there he is, staring back at me. His gaze is dark, and there’s a smirk on his lips. He’s pleased with himself for finding me.
Bad things are about to happen.
“I need Dutton,” I whisper, but no one responds. They're just giggling and talking about something I can’t hear.
I reach for Grace’s arm and squeeze it.
“I need Dutton,” I say again, this time with more desperation in my voice.
“What did you say?” Ruby asks. Grace and Quinn turn their attention to me, and all three wait for my reply.
“I need Dutton. Get me Dutton.”
No one moves.
“I need Dutton right now, now. Get me Dutton!”
Ruby takes off, Grace right behind her. Quinn reaches for my hand and laces my fingers with hers.
“You’re stiff as a rock, Brooke. What’s?—”
Suddenly, her hand slips from mine and Dutton is filling my view. It takes him half a second to recognize that something is wrong.
He invades my space, his chest pressing to mine as one of his hands comes to my cheek, his fingers threading into my hair, the hold forcing me to look up into his eyes.
“Books, honey, what’s going on?”
“I … he …”
My hand clutches his shirt. I can’t get him close enough.
My heartbeat is already slowing just knowing Dutton is with me. That he’s near. That I’m safe. Because that’s what Dutton does to me.
“He’s here,” I barely whisper.
Dutton’s body goes rigid; he stands taller, never taking his eyes off me.
He doesn't even have to ask who I'm talking about. He knows.
I didn’t think it was a big deal. I told him I wasn’t interested. I ignored him. I didn't think … this.
“Where?” Dutton’s voice is lethal.
“Behind you. In front of the flower shop.”
Dutton slowly nods, letting the hand in my hair fall to grab my hand. He turns, keeping his body in front of mine like a shield.
