Page 66 of Dare to Need

Garth lunged forward, but I held onto his arm, preventing him from landing the blow to Connor’s face I knew he so desperately wanted to make. But a crowd had formed around us and the last thing we needed was for a picture of Garth knocking Connor out to be plastered across every news outlet known to man.

“He’s not worth it, babe,” I whispered to Garth. “Let’s just go.”

I tried tugging on his arm just as Connor opened his venomous mouth once again. “She’s going to ruin you!” he yelled. “Just like she ruined me.” He took a step toward us and pointed a finger at Garth’s chest and I swore I heard Garth growl like a feral wolf protecting his own.

“She may be sweet in bed, but it won’t last long. If you do even the slightest thing wrong, she will do whatever it takes to ruin you.”

I knew it wasn’t true. Every fiber in my being knew the words he spewed were nothing but empty jabs trying to get a rise out of me. But I’d just gone through hell, round two, and while Garth and I had worked everything out, I still felt fragile and worried Connor’s words would leave a permanent mark in Garth’s mind.

So when he let my hand go and stepped into Connor’s space, so close their chests almost touched, I let him. With their close proximity, it was the first time I’d noticed just how much taller Garth was. Connor looked like a schoolboy with his slender frame compared to Garth’s broad shoulders and towering stature.

The crazed hostility Connor wore like a badge of honor finally wavered as Garth leaned forward forcing Connor to take a step back.

Garth spoke so low, aware of the ever-growing crowd with their phones recording, but I was just able to make out what he said. “I’ve already told you this once and you’re lucky that I’m willing to tell you again, but let me make myself crystal clear since you seem to have a difficult time with comprehension. If youevercontact Eva againIwill be the one to ruin you. The childish actions you made that led to your own downfall will be nothing compared to what I will do to you and your reputation.” Connor’s mouth floated open and closed as though he wanted desperately to defend himself, but he couldn’t find the courage to speak.

“You know my family and the extent of our reach. Eva is one of us now and we protect our own. So make no mistake in thinking you could do anything to harm her without there being serious consequences for you. She is my world and I will burn yours to the ground if you so much as breathe her name again.” Garth looked Connor over with a gaze that shook the earth beneath our feet. Connor squirmed and staggered backward.

“Now fuck off before I call the police.” Garth gave a subtle jut of his chin and Connor didn’t think twice before he scampered off, bursting through the crowd of people who slowly dispersed once the drama had ceased.

My breath hitched as Garth turned toward me, his eyes had transformed into the steel gray of a bullet. The squareness of his jaw was even more angular with the grinding of his teeth. He was raging inside and I knew the outcome for Connor would have been significantly worse if we wouldn’t have been in public.

His breaths were uneven as I slid both palms up his chest until I was cupping both sides of his face. “Garth, look at me.”

Those silver-gray eyes flickered to mine and for a moment I feared I would never see the vivid swirls of green, yellow, and blue reflect back at me again.

“Breathe with me,” I coaxed, rubbing each thumb gently along his jawline. I made a show of raising my shoulders with each breath in and letting them fall with each breath out. Garth’s breathing finally slowed as he followed my lead until all the gray was gone from his irises.

“I won’t let him hurt you again. I promise you, Eva.”

“I know,” I whispered, leaning forward to plant a kiss on each side of his mouth.

It was a promise I knew he’d do everything in his power to keep, but some things were beyond even his control. But I didn’t say that. Not now when he was in this state.

I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me flush against him, his strong arms snaking around my small waist and down to my lower back.

The scent of sandalwood and espresso whirled around me—the smells of comfort and happier times.

“Take me home, baby,” I whispered, nuzzling against the hardness of his chest.

He planted a kiss to the top of my head before he said, “We have one final stop before the airport. But I promise it will be worth it.”

“You’re making a lot of promises today, Garth Walker,” I teased.

“And I fully intend on keeping all of them, doll face.”

ChapterTwenty-Eight

GARTH

“It took just about everything I had not to strangle him right there,” I said to Lucas as we waited for Garrett and my parents in the hotel lobby.

“I’d say it’s probably a good thing you didn’t give in to temptation. While you won’t be taking over the family company, I don’t think anyone would be pleased to see the Walker name tainted right as your father sells his life’s work. Not to mention, you’d look terrible in orange.” Lucas smacked the side of my bicep as his lips curled into a snicker.

“At least I’ve maintained my self-control through all this shit.”

“Cheers to that,” he said, raising his tumbler of amber liquid to clink against my matching one.

We both sipped the bourbon we’d ordered from the bar, the cool liquid burned my throat in the best way. Familiar tastes of vanilla and smoke danced along my tongue.

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