Page 58 of Forbidden Hearts
As soon as he’s gone, Phoebe leans back on her hands. “Any specific reason you tried to rip Joey’s head off?”
“Any specific reason you thought trying to stop a fight was a good idea?”
She shrugs. “I was trying to diffuse the situation.”
“That’s what the cops are for.”
“I’m basically a cop,” she says, pushing herself upright and placing the ice back on her ankle.
My brows lower, and when she doesn’t elaborate, I ask, “I’m sorry, what?”
“I’m like a cop by proxy. I’ve heard all the stories, been given all the tips, and have listened to my father drone on for days about how he does things. So, I do the same.”
“Cop by . . . proxy? Are you insane?”
Phoebe shakes her head. “Listen, Austin was going to end up in trouble, he was a good friend when we were kids, so I wasn’t about to let some guy screw up his career.”
I rub my temple, trying to calm myself before I say something I’ll regret. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response. So, you came here alone, did whatever you were doing before the fight, and then put yourself in a dangerous situation. Really smart, Phoebe.”
She huffs a laugh. “I’m not alone. I came with friends.” She looks around, scanning the crowd that has all gone back to normal. I’m still fuming, thinking about the men who were near her, touched her, or tried to flirt with her. Then I can’t release the frustration about her getting hurt. Her grunt brings me back to the conversation. “Unreal. I’m the DD, and they left me.”
“Who?”
“The people I didn’t even want to come out with.”
“So, how are you getting home?”
“I’ll walk.”
Phoebe hops down off the bar and then winces. That’s it.
I scoop her into my arms, and her eyes widen. “Put me down!”
“You can’t walk, I’m taking you home.” I turn to Carmen. “Give us a call if there are any further issues.”
Carmen’s brows raise. “Sure thing, Asher.” Then she turns to Phoebe. “Well, you came here looking for a man to take you home. Guess you got that, just not the way you planned.”
Phoebe groans. “Shut up.” As I carry her out of the bar, a few people clap, and she raises her heels up in the air. “And that’s how you do it!”
I swear that this woman is going to drive me to drink.
We aren’t two steps from the door when she starts to squirm. “You made your point, put me down.”
“No.”
“No?”
I don’t want to. Holding her like this feels too good, and I refuse. “You can’t walk, you hurt your ankle, and you don’t have a ride.”
“I can hobble.”
“You’re going in the car, and you’re going to stop fighting me.”
“I would rather crawl!”
I’d love nothing more than to see her on all fours, but that’s definitely not what she’s talking about. “Not today, sweetheart.”
She sighs. “You’re being ridiculous.”
