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“You didn’t seem to have this issue when she was with someone other than me,” Hayden says.
“That’s only because Levi and Calista hadn’t gotten to the mouth-fucking yet. If they had—”
“He’d be dead,” Hayden says flatly.
“Okay, that’s enough.” I give my friend a smile that starts to falter under Hayden’s stare. “I really appreciate you looking after me,” I tell her. When he scoffs, I shoot him a dirty look. “Everything’s fine, and I’m choosing to leave with him, but I don’t want you to be alone.”
Harper’s brows gather. “Me? I’m fine. It’s you that should be worried… well, aboutyou.” Her gaze briefly darts to Hayden. “You don’t have to go with him if you don’t want to. We can leave right now.”
Darren, still standing fairly close to her, frowns, but she waves a hand in dismissal. “It’s always ‘girl-bros before man-hoes.’ Sorry, dude.”
Like Levi, Darren slinks off into the crowd. The people in the club haven’t dared to venture closer, but they have gone back to dancing. It helps dispel some of the tension now that the other men have left. It’s almost back to being a girls’ night out.
As much as it can with Hayden filling the space with his brooding energy.
“If you hurt her,” Harper says, poking his chest, “I’ll kill you.”
He gives her a curt nod. “Understood.”
“Harper, don’t say things you don’t mean,” I say, my gaze darting back and forth to confirm no one overheard her.
“She meant it.” When I blink up at Hayden, he stares back, certainty etched into his features. “I’ve seen the eyes of a killer, and she is very serious.”
Harper grins maniacally. “Yes, I do. Remember that, Bennett.”
* * *
Hayden guidesme through the club with his hand on my hip, keeping me flush to his body the entire time. The further we get, the more the crowd becomes scarce, until we’re outside and completely alone. My nervousness builds with every step I take, like a snowball that eventually becomes an avalanche.
Except I’ll be the one buried alive because of Hayden.
Maybe that’s why I set my foot down at a wrong angle. The heel of my shoe snaps off, throwing me off-balance. I don’t have time to cry out for help before I’m quickly falling to the ground. Hayden’s arm tightens around my waist and he keeps me upright by crushing me to his side while using his free hand to grab my arm.
“Are you all right?”
I nod, still breathless from my near accident. “I think so. My heel broke.” I laugh, but it’s hollow and mocking. “Of course it would break today of all days.”
“Why is that?”
“My ex-fiancé bought me these shoes and I saw him today. It’s the universe trying to tell me something.”
Hayden’s mouth thins. “Take them off.”
Before I can offer a retort, he snatches me up into his arms, holding me tight. I grip his shirt, the sudden movement making my heart race. Though, not more than the man holding me.
I stare up at him, stunned to find myself in his embrace. His eyes blaze into mine, intense and searching. For a moment, the sounds of the city around us fade away, my entire world wrapped up in the man dominating my senses.
He carries me effortlessly across the sidewalk and stops in front of a trash can. “Take them off and throw them away.”
“I’m sure they can be repaired.” When he shakes his head, I bite my bottom lip. “They’re the only pair I own. I can’t just get rid of them.”
“I’ll replace them ten times over. Throw those shoes away before I lose what little patience I have left. If I would’ve known another man bought them for you, I would’ve burned them long before now.”
I stretch my arm to awkwardly reach for my shoe, followed by the other, and toss them in the trash. As soon as it’s done, some of the tension lining Hayden’s body dissipates. Not enough for me to completely relax, but I’ll take anything I can get. It’s hard for me to anticipate the right moves with him.
Especially when everything I do seems to piss him off.
Except the kiss.
