I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. You have been MIA for years. Some protector you are.”
“I stayed away. It’s not the same as going away. It’s just that now that you know I’m still here, there’s no use in me hiding it. I’m never going to stop protecting you. If you didn’t want me in your life, you should have never come back. I’m taking it as a sign to get my woman back.”
I hated the way those words made me feel. Reed was not to be trusted. I knew that better than anyone. The way he looked at me said otherwise. The sincerity in his voice said otherwise.
“You should go, Reed. This is a lady’s bathroom. Plus, you literally just knocked a dude out in the hall. He has a whole crew of drunk belligerent friends right at the end of the hall.”
“Why would I give a fuck about them?”
“Either way, you should go.”
“You going with me?”
“Reed, be serious. I rode with my sister anyway.”
“Sawyer already took her home.”
“Who?” I asked, bunching my brows together at his revelation.
“He’s cool. He runs security at the casino. You’ll meet him if you haven’t already.”
“Wait, so Hope just left me here to be raped and killed?”
That made him smirk. “She knew you were in good hands.”
“I’m kicking her ass in the morning.”
“You can do that. Tonight, let me make sure you get home safe. I promise not to try anything,” he said.
I was pissed with myself for missing the warmth of his body pressed against mine after I pushed him away. Was I such a glutton for punishment that I walked myself right back into the clutches of the one man who could destroy me? Apparently so.
“I amnotdrunk,” I said, holding on to the one thing that I cared to talk about.
“You’re drunk, irritable, and trying hard as hell to pretend that you don’t feel anything between us.”
“There’s nothing to feel.”
“I beg to differ,” he countered, pressing his body even closer to mine this time. His breath was warm on my face as he waited for my response.
“I guess you really haven’t left me any choice. You can give me a ride, but this is not a thing. As soon as I’m done with my report, I’m also done with you.”
He chuckled under his breath as he took a step back. “If you say so.”
“Now can you get out so I can use the bathroom.”
He nodded. “OK, I’ll be right by the door.”
Once he was out of the bathroom, I dashed into the stall and finally emptied my bladder. The relief was dizzying. Well, it could have been the liquor. Either way, I sat there for a beat to get my head together before getting up and washing my hands. I splashed some cold water on my face and dried it with a wad of paper towels. Taking a deep breath, I proceeded to the door to deal with Reed.
“Don’t think I’m letting you know where I live,” I said as I walked out of the bathroom.
He laughed as he pushed off the wall, but he didn’t respond. I scanned the hall, surprised to find that old boy from earlier wasn’t stretched out on the floor anymore.
“That way,” Reed insisted, pointing toward the exit sign at the opposite end of the hall from where the bar was.
Since he usually knew what he was doing, I didn’t protest as I led the way to the exit. Reed kept his hand on the small of my back as he escorted me the short distance to his car at the back of the club. We were silent as he unlocked the door and helped me into the passenger seat. He walked around and got in.
“Where to?” he asked, cranking up the car.
