Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“I’m not just going to stand here as you lay your fucking hands on her.”
“I wasn’t…”
“I watched you shove that letter at her. She’s clearly got no interest. So. Back. The. Fuck. Off.” My hands clench into fists as if I’m twenty years old and not a Chief of Surgery, a man with a career, a nephew, and a reputation to protect. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“Are you serious, old man?” he snaps. “You’re trying to play the tough guy routine with me?”
“Damien, be quiet,” the woman says. “He’s telling the truth. I’ve tried to be nice, but you’re making it impossible. You were getting pushy.”
“I was getting passionate.”
“I’m not interested in your passion,” she says through clenched teeth.
“Can’t a man do a nice thing anymore?”
“You heard her,” I say. “Leave her alone.”
“What’s it to you?”
She’s beautiful and interesting. And she’s the only woman I’ve looked twice at in a very long time. Not that I’m going to tell him any of this.
“Huh?” He gets in my face, prodding me in the chest. The little shit. “You obviously don’t know who I am, tough guy. I’ve had three cage fights. I’ve got… friends. You understand what that means in Miami? Well?”
He prods my chest again. My hand moves on reflex, gripping his hand and squeezing tightly. He makes an annoying yelping noise. “I don’t care about your so-called connections. Just leave her alone.”
He grabs my shirt with his other hand. “I will choke you, old ma—”
“What’s going on here?”
The owner—the woman who announced the texting event—strides around the bar. “Damien? Tori?”
“Damien tried to give me a Valentine’s card,” Tori jumps in. Learning her name feels far better than such a simple thing should. “He got aggressive when I refused it. This guy stepped in, and Damien threatened him.”
“Don’t lie about me,” Damien whines.
“Oh, Damien,” the owner says. “You need to leave. I won’t have this in my establishment. I’ve seen you looking at Tori before, and I’ve seen, far too clearly, that she is not interested. This has gone on for long enough.”
“But—”
“No. We’re done here.”
He slowly lets go of my shirt. I let go of his hand, though the urge to snap his fingers is there. The little prick. Making Tori feel threatened. He’s got no right.
“We’re far from done,” he grunts, walking quickly past me.
“Tori, I’m so sorry,” the owner says.
“It’s fine,” Tori replies. “Do you need me to work now that he’s gone?”
“No, we’ll manage. Just try to put that behind you.”
Tori shrugs. There’s an animal in me, hunger sparking when I notice her ample bust under her sparkling top, the way her breasts shift with the movement of her shrug. I need to relax, but it isn’t easy around her.
The owner slides behind the bar to serve customers. Tori raises her eyebrows at me. “Thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I couldn’t just sit there and watch him treat you like that. The prick had no right.”
“I could’ve handled him,” she says with a note of pride that has my lips tugging into a smile.
Whoa. That’s something new. Smiling with her feels easy. “I’m sure you could have. But you shouldn’t have to.”
“He’s been making hints for weeks, but this is the first time he’s actually gone full psycho mode. I was going to slap him before you rode in on your white horse.”
She’s trying to sass me like it’s no big deal, but I could tell she was secretly grateful when I first stepped in, but it’s almost like she won’t let herself feel it. Like she’s got her guard up. Am I reading too much into her?
“I saved you from an assault charge, then, which means you should be doubly thankful.”
She tips her head back and lets out a laugh. It’s gorgeous. Her lips are lush and kissable. My body aches being so close to her. It’s like she’s casting some sort of Valentine’s spell on me, which is probably the craziest thought I’ve ever had.
“I am thankful, ” she murmurs, cutting off the laughter. “So… can I get by?” She gestures at me to move aside to let her pass.
I almost tell her no.
I almost tell her, You’re staying with me, you beautiful, curvy, sexy woman. The thought terrifies me: it comes out of nowhere and hits like a punch in the teeth.
Stepping aside, I say, “Try not to get into any more trouble.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t need saving again.”
I can’t stop myself from watching her as she walks away. Wide hips in tight jeans, the globes of her round ass making my mouth water.
“What was that about?” Julian asks when I return.
“Some douchebag was giving Tori trouble. He got rightfully fired.”
“Do you know her?”
“No. Why’d you ask that?”
“The way you said her name.”
I shake my head. “Nah, she’s a stranger.”
“Hey, Alex. Take a breath.”