Page 53 of Knot What I Expected

“You are absolutely not—hey!”

I catch her hand.

Not hard. Never hard. The second my skin touches hers, electricity punches straight up my fucking arm.

Monster goes dead silent.

So do I.

Gabriella stares at our joined hands.

Her lips part.

She feels it. I fucking know she does.

For one dangerous second, I forget why I’m angry. All I can think about is how small her hand feels inside mine.

How warm.

How right.

Mine.

No.

I loosen my grip immediately.

“Come outside. Please.”

Her gaze snaps to mine.

Apparently, the word please coming out of my mouth is shocking enough to accomplish what growling couldn’t.

“Fine,” she hisses. “Five minutes.”

She tells the other bartender she’s taking a break and storms toward the back exit.

I follow. Of course I fucking follow.

The night air hits us hard when the door closes behind me, cutting off most of the music.

Gabriella spins around.

“What the hell is your problem?”

“You.”

Her mouth falls open. Oops. That was the wrong fucking answer.

“My problem is you working yourself into the fucking ground,” I correct.

“That is none of your business.”

“Come on, Gabby.”

“What I do or don’t do has nothing to do with you!”

“I want to know why you need to do this. Why you’re here instead of home with Matteo⁠—”