Page 126 of Between the Blue

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Rhett shoves the asshole in the chest. In one swift motion, I scoop Jules off the bar. Make a beeline straight for the door. Don’t stop until we’re halfway into the parking lot.

I set her down. Her legs shake some. I hold her up with one arm around her waist. Put my other hand on her face.

“Are you okay?”

She shakes her head, and my stomach sinks.

“That’s it?” she asks, pulling away from me.

“What?”

I can see tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. It nearly kills me.

“You’re not gonna knock him out?” She throws her hands out to the side. “Defend my honor or anything?”

My head pulls back. “I…”

I didn’t even think to do that.

Not once did it cross my mind.

All I was worried about was her.

I had to get to her.

Make sure she was taken care of.

She’s all the matters.

Why didn’t I think of that?

“Well?” Jules demands.

I shake my head. No words come out of my mouth.

She wipes a hand across her face. “Maybe I should just go do it myself.”

She starts to take off, but I grab her wrist, pulling her back to my chest. Wrap both my arms around her. Set my cheek on top of her head. I feel her shaking.

“I’m so sorry, Jules.”

She makes a gasping sort of sound. Like she’s trying not to let herself cry. To not break the dam.

“I was too focused on you,” I tell her. “I should have kicked his ass. I’m sorry. I just had to make sure you were okay.”

Her body seems to grow tenser against me.

“It won’t happen again,” I promise her.

She reaches both her hands up. Wraps them around my forearms.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

She blows out an uneven breath.

“Distract me, please,” she says.

“How?”

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