Page 20 of Protector

“Brooks.”

“You alone tonight?”

“No.” I turn away and watch Shay, still dancing with her two friends.

“You look alone.”

I pause when I see a guy approach Shay, another model type, annoyingly handsome and tall. She slows her dancing to talk to him, but she’s still moving to the beat of the music, and he’s enjoying every minute. Irritation slinks down my spine. Shay seems fine talking to this person, but I can see something in her expression. I’m just not sure what. I turn back to Roni, about to say what I’m thinking:Then why did you ask? when she speaks again.

“Want to get out of here?”

This girl’s obviously not getting the hint. Any other night, I wouldn’t mind taking a woman like her home to my bed…or hers. But I can’t afford distractions. “I don’t mind buying a girl a drink… but that’s all I’m buying tonight, honey.” A bit harsh? Sure, but it got the job done.

Getting to her feet, she huffs out a little breath. “Your loss…honey.” Then she walks away with her drink. I don’t even pay attention to where she goes because even over the loud music and voices, I can hear the shift, the change in volume and intensity, and sure enough when I swing my gaze back over to Shay… She needs me.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Shay

Rio looks down at me, his signature smolder in place, a firm hand on my hip. But I’ve become immune to his whole schtick—at least I think I am—so I just stare blankly back. Finding his lips attached to another model in a hidden corner of an after-party really helped take the shine off his ass.

“Babe, I just want to talk, but you and your posse won’t even let me get a word in.”

“That’s right, Rio. So why don’t you go find yourself a cheap whore. On me…” Cal sticks a five-dollar bill in Rio’s front shirt pocket and laughs.

Rio shrugs him off, staying focused on me. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

“Is there a problem here,” a deep, gritty voice says in my ear from behind me.

Rio looks over my shoulder, his eyes narrowing. “Look, bouncer guy, everything’s cool.”

Brooks steps around me so he’s facing both Rio and me. Rio is six four, so he has a couple of inches on Brooks, but the look in Brooks’s eyes tells me he not only isn’t the least bit intimidated by the fit sports model; he’s also about ready to drop him.

I turn to face Brooks and without thinking, say, “It’s okay, Broo—”

“Uncle Todd!” Cal snaps and bravely puts a hand on Brooks’s shoulder, surprisingly causing his scowl to soften just a bit.

“Uncle Todd? Who the fuck is that?” Rio says, looking at Brooks.

I turn to Brooks, pushing against his biceps until I back him up a couple of steps. “Can you just give me a minute? Everything is fine. We’re just talking. Rio is a…friend—sort of.”

Brooks glares at me but stays in place. Rio’s not a real threat—he should know that if he’s as good as I think he is—so maybe that look in his eyes is more about him not liking Rio’s attitude.

Brooks turns his stare to Rio, then I do the same. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I have family in town. My…dad’s brother.”

Rio touches my face. “Whatever. I just want some time alone with you. I’ve missed you.”

I soften my features but not because he has some effect on me; it’s merely a way to get him to back off, so this situation doesn’t escalate. Stroking his ego is the only way I know. “Look, Rio. I’ve been busy.” If I’m being honest, seeing him with someone else didn’t hurt as much as it should have, but it showed me we weren’t that serious. It’s not like we were exclusive—at least we didn’t get a chance to label it that way. So, it was more annoying, if anything, and an excuse to move on. Though, I can’t deny Rio does know how to do more than pose that rocking body of his.

“You were busy before…” Rio says, a tone of hurt in his voice.

“I’m sorry, I just…can’t right now. So, can you please leave so I can be with my friends?”

He runs a hand through fabulous blond locks, and when I peek over at Brooks, he looks like he wants to run a razor over Rio’s hair by the way he’s staring him down.

“On one condition.”

I fold my arms over my chest and give him a head tilt.

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