Page 11 of Venice Heat (Urban Heat 2)

At one thirty, Shae stumbled from the bar with Jeff staggering after her. He grabbed her shoulder and bumped into her on his own unsteady feet. “So your place or mine?”

She shifted her shoulders so his hand would fall away. “Thanks, Jeff. It was fun. Maybe I’ll see you around again while I’m here.”

He stuck his bottom lip out, looking like an idiot. She was even less inclined to encourage the man. “Aw, don’t be that way. I thought we had chemistry. Didn’t you feel it? We could finish the night with a different kind of fun.”

“Yeah, no.” She rolled her eyes. “Good night.”

Before she could walk away, he grabbed her arm and squeezed. “I bought all your drinks.”

She let her gaze drop from his face to his hand. “Thanks.”

“You owe me something.”

“I will give you three seconds.”

From nowhere, Eiji stood between them with a hand jacking up Jeff by the collar. Shae squeaked and darted forward to tug on his arm.

“Whoa, Eiji, dial it down. What are you doing here?”

He spared her a glance and glared at Jeff. “He will not take no for an answer. I will show him.”

“I can take care of myself, but thanks. Let him go.”

Jeff flopped around hanging from Eiji’s hold, and even though Eiji pissed her off for acting like her protector, she had to admire his strength. Jeff was no little man. He had Eiji by

an inch or two and probably by a good fifty pounds. Still Eiji raised him to his toes. The muscles in her landlord’s biceps bulged with the effort and strained against the material of his T-shirt. He’s wearing a T-shirt? Somehow she believed it was in her honor.

A small crowd had gathered around him, and Jeff’s drunken friends shouted comments. Shae peered up and down the street for the cops. They would be there soon, no doubt. She tugged at Eiji’s arm. “Let him go before you get arrested.”

As if those were the magic words, Eiji let go and stepped back. Jeff almost crumpled to the ground until two of his friends stepped up to catch him beneath both arms. “Your loss,” he mumbled to Shae, and they dragged him off.

Shae glared at Eiji and spun away toward the street. She spotted a taxi and stepped out to wave him down. He glided on past, the backseat already occupied. She swore and waved for another, but it seemed everyone and his brother had left the clubs at the same time. She started walking, and Eiji caught up.

“I have my car. I will take you home.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

“You will not find a taxi now.”

“Fine! Take me home.”

She walked beside him in silence, and when she couldn’t bear to take another step, they turned a corner and came upon the Jeep. A sigh of relief escaped her as she slipped into the passenger seat and removed her heels. With the top open, the warm night air blew her short curls around her head and sobered her up some. She rubbed her feet, moaning. Across from her, Eiji alternated between clenching his fist and rubbing a hand over his taut thigh. She tried not to notice, but couldn’t help wondering what was on his mind.

A short while later, he drew up in front of the house, and she got out barefoot. “Thanks.”

“Shae.”

Despite herself, she liked how he pronounced her name. It was all kinds of wrong, but she didn’t care. “What?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“Okay, okay. Good night.” She turned to go, but he caught her hand and gave a small tug that spun her around to face him.

“I want to see you again.”

“No.”

He kept her from leaving again. His gaze traveled her length, and she knew he saw how her nipples had hardened behind the thin dress, especially since she’d skipped wearing a bra. She licked her lips, trying to pull herself together. The effect Eiji had on her was the exact opposite to the one Jeff had evoked. Tempted to invite him in, she stood there fighting with her resolve. When she opened her mouth to answer, he dropped her hand and faced the car.

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