Page 85 of His to Protect

Derrick’s scowl turned into a look of exasperation. “And how am I supposed to call him if you also took my cellphone?”

I laughed harder while Aidan shook his head. “Kids these days. They have the memory bank of a gnat,” he muttered and reached for his own cellphone in his back pocket. He handed it to Derrick. “Go do something that won’t end up with you in jail.”

I watched Derrick walk away, fingers clicking away on his dad’s phone, and turned back to Aidan.

“Excuse me for a moment, Trina.”

I was stunned by Aidan’s sudden departure, but I turned to watch him walk directly toward Chelsea, who noticed him as soon as he got close. But at the last moment, right after he nodded in her direction and her lips turned up in a shy smile, he walked around her and continued on to where Tyson and Declan were still talking at the far end of the bar.

Hmph. Perhaps both Aidan and Chelsea needed a firmer push in the right direction—that direction being toward one another.

I smiled into my wineglass and giggled to myself.

Look at me, happy with one guy, and already trying to fix up new friends.

“You having fun?” Declan whispered into my ear, and I swallowed the last of my wine. “Yeah, but I’m going to head out back and check on Boomer.”

“I fed him about an hour ago.”

“Okay. Then I might just take him for a quick walk or something.”

He reached for me, brushing his hand over mine, sitting on top of the bar. “Listen, Tyson said—”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Trina—”

“No.” I shook my head again. “Today has been really good, and I don’t want to think about anything else. I just…I’m feeling a bit tired and overwhelmed with all the attention and everything. I need a few minutes to catch my breath.”

He frowned, but slowly nodded. Leaning toward me, he brushed his lips against mine before he pulled away. “Stay close, though. I’m serious. We’ll talk about Tyson’s news later.”

I caught the seriousness mixed with concern in his expression. Doom and gloom settled inside my chest like a rain cloud. “Just a quick walk around the block. I’ll be back in five minutes, okay?”

He leaned forward and whispered, “Five minutes and then I’m coming looking for you.”

I showed him I was willing to comply with his request by rolling to my toes and kissing him firmly on the lips. “I’ll be back soon. Stop worrying.”

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