Page 48 of King

Willa actually sinks down in the booth and ducks her head slightly, then frowns as she curses. “Fuck.”

“What?” I ask, turning around to see what has her attention.

A tall blond man wearing navy dress pants and a white button-down shirt walks toward us. He’s wearing a hospital badge but I have no clue if he’s a doctor. His eyes are lasered on Willa as he moves our way.

I turn back to her. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s my ex,” she whispers, her voice tense as her gaze bores into me. She gives a wan smile. “Let me just apologize ahead of time as I’m sure he’s going to be an ass.”

I open my mouth to offer to run interference but then her ex-husband is standing there, staring down imperiously at Willa. His expression is a mix of annoyance and frustration and he doesn’t even look at me.

“You’re not returning my calls,” he complains, his voice hard and bitter.

Why in the hell is he calling her? Is he trying to get back together? The flare of jealousy rises swift within me.

“Scott, this isn’t the time or place to discuss this,” she replies, her voice steady but strained as she nods her head my way. “I’m here with a friend.”

I don’t like the wordfriend, but I actually think she’s attempting to defuse him, which is smart. I’ll guess he’d be upset to know she was on a date, and I’ll have to find out more about their dynamic since technically, they’re divorced. She’s allowed to do what she wants.

Her ex turns his attention to me, a scowl on his face, but recognition dawns and his initial annoyance shifts to shock and excitement. “Oh, wow. You’re Jack Kingston.”

I nod, offering my hand. “I am. Good to meet you.”

Scott shakes my hand enthusiastically. “I can’t believe you’re sitting here. I’m a huge fan. I’m Scott Davenport. I’m an orthopedic surgeon here.”

I pull my hand back, nodding across the table. “And Willa’s ex-husband apparently.”

It’s petty but I can’t help myself. I want him to know that I already know all I need to know about him.

Scott’s eyes narrow slightly as he takes in the situation, his eyes cutting between me and Willa. It’s a forced, silent smile he gives me. His words are clipped and I sense a quiet fury under them. “So, how do you know Willa?”

“We’re dating,” I reply, keeping my eyes locked on him. Despite my focus remaining on Scott, I can feel Willa tense up across the table and I wonder if she’s worried he might erupt. She said he was verbally abusive but maybe it was more and just the prospect of that has my hands tightening into fists on the table.

I can see the wheels turning as he processes this and I wonder how he’ll handle it. His lip lifts in a sneer, clearly no longer starstruck by me before turning to Willa. “Isn’t he a little young for you?”

I internally wince, having this asshole call out Willa’s biggest fear with me, but I don’t wait for her to answer. “I might be a bit younger than her,” I say, waiting for him to swing his attention back my way. When his eyes are locked on mine, I continue, “But what I’m not is a cheating, abusive asshole with a superiority complex and a brain too slow to know how good he has it with her.”

Fire flares in his eyes and I can tell this is a man who’s not used to anyone standing up to him. That gaze promises retribution and even more immediately, perhaps a scene. So I stand up from the booth, my height and brawn a distinct advantage.

“King,” Willa murmurs, but I don’t spare her a glance, instead noting that Scott takes a step back.

I hold my hand to him and confusion etches his face, but he takes it for a shake anyway. My other hand goes to his shoulder and I lower my voice. To anyone watching, it might appear asa friendly farewell but my words are barbed. “As long as I’m dating Willa, I suggest you leave her alone. Don’t call her, don’t approach her, don’t even think about her.”

“Or what?” he asks, his chin lifting in an attempt to look bold.

I squeeze his shoulder hard. “Or I’ll make you wish you hadn’t.”

Releasing my hold on him, I bestow a friendly smile and nod as I sit back down in the booth. “Have a nice day.”

Scott is flummoxed and he starts to look Willa’s way, but I halt him. “Don’t do it.”

He freezes, lips pressed flat and glares at me. It only lasts a second as I stare right back at him, then he’s spinning on his heel and marching away.

Willa lets out a pent-up breath and I turn to see her sag against her seat. “Hey,” I say, forcing her gaze to me. “He calls or approaches you, you let me handle it, okay?”

“King… this isn’t your problem.”

“You let me handle it,” I repeat.

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