Page 12 of Fractured Rhythm

And then it happened. A guy—no, a complete douchebag—got too close. Cassie tried to duck away from him, but he pressed on, his hand on her hip. She tried to shift away, but the guy refused to read her signals. I was off my barstool in a second and between Cassie and the guy that was asking for me to put my fist through his face.

“She’s not interested, asshole,” I growled, ignoring the gasped Bash that fell from Cassie’s lips.

“What are you, her boyfriend? She didn’t seem taken when she shook her ass at me. Maybe she doesn’t want you anymore,” the asshole said.

“Gross, I did not shake my ass at you.” Cassie’s outrage was clear.

I clenched my fist. “See. Not interested. So why don’t you scamper off to whatever hole you crawled out of.”

“Fuck you, buddy. She acted like she wanted it.”

“Seriously?” I pulled back to deck him in his smug mouth, but Cassie gripped my fist, holding me immobile, her touch radiating up my arm, calming the fury that rolled through me. How dare this asshole think he had the right to touch her? To touch anyone.

“Bash. He’s not worth it,” she said, her voice soft and relaxing, but I could hear the tension underneath.

“Whatever, man. She’s not worth it. Probably doesn’t even look like that in the morning.”

“Get the fuck out before I get us both kicked out. And, trust me, she looks even better in the morning, not that you’ll ever get to see it.”

The guy turned to walk away, but I couldn’t stop myself from taking a step toward him. Rage like I hadn’t felt in years coursed through me.

“Bash. Stop.”

I turned to look at her, my hand landing on her hip without conscious thought. She was here.

In front of me.

And she looked pissed.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Saving you?” I said, but it came out like a question.

“I didn’t need you to save me. I had it handled.”

“Sure you did.”

“Screw you, Bash. I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“Not in that outfit you aren’t.”

Now I was the one who deserved a fist to the face.

“Sorry, Cas. I didn’t mean it like that. You look fantastic.”

She pulled out of my hold, and I immediately missed her touch. Her heat.

Fuck. Get it together, idiot.

“Why are you here? In New York? In this bar?” Anger laced every question.

“I’m staying in the city for a while. I saw you here last week, but you ran out before I could talk to you.”

“Why did you want to talk? Last time we were in the same room you wanted nothing to do with me.”

I hated the pain in her voice. I’d put it there.

“I’m sorry. Cas, I’m so fucking sorry.” I tried to reach for her hands, but she took a step back.

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