Page 46 of Silver Fire

Justin’s eyes widened before saying, “Wow. I wouldn’t peg you for a nuclear physicist.”

“Why not?”

“Well no one should be so lucky.”

Sophie smiled uncertainly. “What do you mean?”

Justin leaned in closely and grinned. “You’re very beautiful and to think there’s a brain behind that…let’s just say I have a thing for smart girls.”

She looked down at her empty martini glass. “Um, thanks.”

“Hey, I did not mean to embarrass you.” Justin pulled his bar stool closer. Sophie started feeling uncomfortable and got more so when he said, “Can I buy you a drink?”

Before she could answer, Beth leaned past her and told Justin, “You better back off, preppy boy. See that big guy bearing down on us? That’s her man, and you do not want to mess with the likes of him.”

Sophie glanced up and saw Derek shouldering past the crowd, his gaze fixed on Justin. He was not pleased.

“Isn’t he a bit too old for you?” Justin said in a stage whisper. Beth started laughing and Sophie couldn’t help grinning.

Derek was scowling when he got to them. He gave Sophie a light kiss on the lips. “Angel.” Looking at Beth. “Did I miss a joke?”

A mischievous gleam entered Beth’s eyes and before Sophie could stop her friend, she chortled, “College boy here thinks you’re too old for Sophie.”

“What are you trying to do?” Sophie hissed at Beth.

Derek raised an eyebrow and looked over at Justin. “Care repeating that to me?”

Justin should be quivering in his shoes. Sophie thought Derek was easily a head taller than he was, and Justin confirmed this when he got up from his bar stool and looked at Derek steadily. “I don’t want any trouble. You can have my seat.” His voice was calm, cold even.

Justin got out a pen and scribbled on a drink napkin and pushed it toward Sophie. “My number. Just in case you tire of this guy.” He smirked at Derek, who had narrowed his eyes glacially, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Beth and now Stephen bore identical shocked expressions, Maia and Jack were too absorbed in each other to notice, and Sophie did not know how to react to what had just happened.

“Damn, Lockwood, that guy has balls,” Stephen said.

“I’d say.” Beth nodded.

Derek’s lips lifted in a sexy half grin as he looked at Sophie. “Guess he can see you’re worth the trouble.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. Derek chuckled and gave his drink order to Will. He leaned over to catch Jack’s attention. “Yo! McCord, quit snogging your wife and get a goddamned drink!”

“Snog?” Sophie asked. “Are you British or something?”

“Worked with British Special Forces for two years, picked up some slangs,” Derek replied. “So what’s with the flirting?”

“We were just talking.”

“Uh-huh. I’m usually pretty easy-going, Angel,” Derek said smoothly, but there was a hardness in his eyes. “But with you, I’m not.”

“We were just talking,” Sophie repeated, annoyed.What is wrong with these MDI men?she thought.They take possessiveness to the extreme.

Derek shrugged. “Fine. But just so you know, next time the other guy won’t escape unscathed.”

“Derek,” Sophie said carefully. “Everything is moving too fast for me. Maybe we should go on dates first and see if we’re compatible.”

“I don’t do dates,” Derek said abruptly.

“Wh…What?” Sophie wasn’t sure she heard him right.

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