Page 68 of Bossy Hero

“Joe what?”

I slant my head to the side. “Why do you want to know?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he hedges.

Petulance makes camp in my gut, and I purse my lips. “Then don’t worry about his last name.”

The forceful grinding of Alan’s teeth makes a slight clicking sound. “Are you trying to protect a man who was about to assault you?”

His words hit me in the chest, stealing my breath.

It’s what I’ve done all my life. Protect those who hurt me. It’s instinct. One I won’t succumb to any longer.

“Joe Stein,” I state with a newfound assuredness.

If Alan wants to do something to ensure Joe doesn’t go after me or another woman again, then so be it.

He nods at me, the corner of his mouth quirking. “Are you okay to drive home?”

The sparkle in his eyes draws me in, and I find myself stepping closer, removing nearly all the space between us.

He inhales deeply, his gaze traveling over my face and upper chest. It’s adorable how he wants to check me out, but won’t be so bold. All this time, and he’s still waiting for me to give him the signal.

But I’m too messed up.

Especially after what happened to Sammy. I can’t... I’m still not ready.

Or worthy.

“I can drive myself home. But one question before I go.” I raise my index finger. He nods, encouraging me to ask away. “How did you know where I was?”

Without showing a lick of remorse, he replies, “Leo told me.”

I called it.

“He told you I was going on a date?”

He answers with a crisp nod and a carefully guarded expression.

“And why would Leo do that?”

“Because I assigned him to a new case this evening.”

I roll my eyes. “You say that as if it’s an explanation. What does him getting called into work have to do with you showing up at Mystic Fish when I’m conveniently here?”

“Leo said he couldn’t take the shift because he was looking after you.”

My head lolls back as understanding dawns. “I see. So my self-appointed babysitter was called away, and he tagged you in as my backup babysitter.”

He shrugs. “Something like that.”

“What is this world coming to?” A smirk I’m trying to hide breaks through. “A grown woman can’t have dinner in a public place without Redleg’s finest watching over her?”

Wordlessly, he burns his gaze into me.

Goodness gracious.His smolder makes my dusty ovaries look twice at the shriveled-up fallopian tubes and then check to see if they have another egg in the tank. Thankfully, they don’t. Alan’s chiseled jawline, scruffy beard, and those piercing brown eyes could get a woman pregnant.

“As much as I’d love to tell you and my son off for infringing on my privacy—yet again—I’ll simply say thank you and call it a night.”

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