Page 56 of Forbidden Hearts
Of course it is.
Well, this night just keeps going down the Whitlock path, and I want off.
“Rowan is a great guy,” I say, starting to stand, and Leo follows.
“Are you leaving?”
“You know I just—” I start to say, but a loud bang has me turning toward where two guys are getting in each other’s faces. I must have heard the barstool being knocked over.
One of the fighters is Austin Arrowood, and there’s no way I’m going to let him be a fool and end up in the papers for this.
“Excuse me,” I say quickly and start to walk toward them. My three-inch heels suddenly do not feel like such a great idea, but here we are. I step closer and slide my arm between them. “Hi, honey, there you are,” I say to Austin, my hand on his chest.
“Phoebe?” His eyes widen, and then his gaze goes back to the hulking guy in front of him. “Step back.”
“I would, but I was searching everywhere for you, love. Why don’t we leave now? I’m tired and want to go.”
“Need your girlfriend to protect you, Arrowood?” the big—and I mean huge—guy taunts.
This is so going to be bad.
“I’ll fucking kick your ass any day of the week.”
Oh, Austin, you so won’t, but that’s cute thinking.
I turn to face the monster, my back against Austin’s chest. “Why don’t I buy you a drink, and you can just go back to your fun night.”
“Get out of my way, bitch.”
“That was rude,” I say, inhaling and trying to remember what Daddy says about these situations—smile and get out of the way.
Too bad I’ve never been one to listen.
I spin back to Austin, place both hands on his chest, and shove him back. Only, he doesn’t move. “Let’s go. You can’t get into a bar fight.”
He tries to move me to the side, but I lean into him so he can’t. “Move, Phoebe.”
“You move. Come on, let’s go.”
“Yeah, go with your girlfriend, maybe you can hit that since you can’t find the ball.”
Jesus, this guy is a prick.
The guy grabs me from behind, and this time I can’t hold on to anything as he moves me to the side. Austin decks the guy, and I scream because, when the guy throws me to the side, I lose my footing, twisting my ankle, and fall. I land on the gross floor of the bar, my ankle throbbing, and before anyone can move, there’s a deep voice from above me and shiny black shoes right by my face.
“Step back, or you’re all going to be in the back of a cruiser.”
Great. Asher is here.
fourteen
ASHER
“Abar fight? You got in the middle of a goddamn bar fight?” I ask, trying to help her up.
When she stands, I see what she’s wearing and realize my mistake. I should’ve left her on the floor. I scan her from head to toe, taking in her perfect skin, the way her breasts push against the fabric, and shoes that I want digging into my shoulders.
Jesus fucking Christ.
