Page 38 of Hero Unbound

“She’s going to dance with me. You’re going to have to find someone else.”

Theo wasn’t normally that aggressive. That was another thing his father had taught him. Not to intimidate until it was needed.

But right now, it was needed. Friendly Guy was starting to show his true colors, and they definitely weren’t sofriendly.

“I was talking to her first, asshole.”

Theo took the glass out of Eva’s hand, then kept her planted behind him with his arm as he spun to fully face the man. He leaned in and handed the man the glass. He was so surprised, he took it.

“She’s done with this,” he said softly enough that only the other man could hear. “And she’s done with you.”

“What?! I—”

Theo stepped closer so he was right in the man’s face, not trying to hide any of his confidence now. “You’re a tourist here. I’m not. There’re a lot of ladies looking for fun with someone like you. It’s in your best interest not to start something with me you can’t finish.”

The guy narrowed his eyes but was smart enough not to push.

“Whatever, man.” He walked off toward the bar.

Theo turned back to Eva. Her eyes were still wide. “What did you say to him?”

“Just told him you and I were going to dance. Is that okay?”

She nodded, eyes still big. “Yes. I would like to dance with you.”

The music was still upbeat, but Theo kept their movements slow, wrapping one arm back around her and holding her hand against his chest with the other. “It looks like you’ve been having fun tonight, up until a few minutes ago.”

Her genuine smile returned. “I have been. Although I have to admit, I’m getting pretty tired.”

“What happened to Becky?”

“I’m not sure. She heard something about Derek Bollinger maybe being back in town, and just like that, girls’ night out was over.”

Theo winced. Bear’s brother Derek was one of Theo’s best friends also. The man was doing his best to try to get a handle on his PTSD, but he was making shit-poor decisions when it came to Becky—specifically, keeping his true location from her.

Derek might have good intentions, but they were going to come back and bite him in the ass.

“Yeah, those two have a lot to work through.”

Eva didn’t press for more details. “I’m sleeping at Becky’s tonight. She gave me the key. The dogs are already over there.”

He gave her a half smile. “Are you ready to go too?”

She actually blushed. “Is that okay? It’s not because I don’t want to dance with you. But I have to be up early again, and Sugar and Spice aren’t used to being without me for this long, and—”

He put a finger over her lips to stop the list of excuses for leaving. “It’s okay to leave just because you want to. You don’t need a reason. I’ll walk you.”

She looked like that had never occurred to her then finally nodded. “Thank you.”

She was chatty the whole walk in a way Theo had never heard from her. Something about Dr. Annie Mackay’s red cowboy boots and places in town she remembered from when she was a kid. Theo kept her hand tucked into his elbow as they walked, as much to keep her close as to help keep her balanced. She’d definitely had quite a bit to drink.

They made it to Becky’s much more quickly than he would’ve liked.

He held out his arm. “You going to be okay in there until Becky gets home?”

Eva took one step up onto the porch stairs and turned so they were facing each other. Even with the help of the step, she was still shorter than him. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’s going to be so nice to sleep in a bed.”

He raised an eyebrow. “In a bed?”

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