Page 38 of The Pucking Wrong Man

“Look man, it was an accident…” another of them quivered, the red-shirt-wearing douchebag that had tripped her in the first place. There was no doubt in my mind he’d stuck out his leg on purpose. Maybe he hadn’t had the intention of tripping her, but he’d definitely been trying to stop her and get her attention.

Either way, I couldn’t have that.

“You have one minute to get the fuck out of here,” I ground out, the threat evident in my voice.

“What?” the guys said, almost in unison like they were some kind of boy band announcing their next single on the radio. The one nearest to me suddenly gasped, his eyes flaring, and I knew he’d just recognized who I was.

I leaned over the table, my hands gripping the edge of it as I tried to keep myself from wringing their necks.

“Pay what you owe for dinner and leave. Don’t make me say it again.”

Red shirt’s mouth hung open like he was hoping to catch some flies. “Wait a minute—you’re Camden James. From the Knights!” he finally said excitedly, an edge of awe in his voice. It was obvious they’d been to games before because there was also the appropriate amount of fear that followed. I was six-four and shoved men around for a living—they should be scared.

“Yes, and yet you’re not listening to me. Why the fuck aren’t you moving?” I growled, losing my patience.

They stared at me again for too long, before they finally got the picture, frantically tossing bills onto the table like they were at a strip club and leaving in a hurry.

“Can I have an autograph?” one of them dared to ask.

The answering glare I gave him must have been terrifying enough, because he let out an actual squeak and started to run toward the exit like his ass was on fire. I caught his collar before he could get too far, and he let out a choking sound as I dragged him toward me.

“Don’t you ever fuck with another woman again, you piece of shit,” I hissed, shaking him once for good measure before I finally let him go.

He was trembling as he backed away, his hands up in front of him. “I promise,” he cried before he stumbled out the door.

I stared after them long enough that gawkers were probably wondering if they needed to call the cops because there was about to be a homicide...

I hated bastards who hurt women.

I especially hated men who hurt my women.

Anastasia just happened to be the only woman who fell under that category anymore.

I glanced around the diner and nodded to a few of the tables, plastering on my easygoing smile so I’d look less threatening. This seemed to work, and slowly, everyone turned away and went back to their business of eating.

I went back to my business of focusing on Anastasia.

Sliding into a booth and picking up a menu, I pretended to look over it as I replayed everything that had just happened.

The way she looked when she fell...that flare of pain in her eyes.

Should I go back there and insist I take her to the hospital to get checked out? The fall didn’t look too bad, but maybe it was worse than I thought?

No, no. I couldn’t just fucking kidnap her.

Yet.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that even being inside the restaurant where she worked was a big step. I’d been in my truck, waiting to see if she was working, when I’d seen her fall.

And then I couldn’t stop myself from running in to make sure she was okay.

I’d stood in the alleyway outside her dance studio for hours after my shift at the community kitchen, more and more concerned when everyone else seemed to have left for the day but her.

When she’d finally come out, I’d followed her here where I’d hovered out of sight for another few hours, watching her and trying to learn anything I could. I’d wanted to go in, but I’d figured that showing up at her workplace right after she’d seen me at the kitchen might have sent off stalker signals I wasn’t going for at the moment.

I mean, I was her stalker...but I didn’t want her to know that.

Some games and practices had gotten in the way of me doing more of the reconnaissance I was desperate to do. Tonight after practice, I’d been able to hustle over to the restaurant, absolutely delighted that she was here and I could finally come in.

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