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His excitement at seeing the object of his obsession turned to rage when the host led Tasha to a table where a man waited for her.
From where he sat, Phate couldn’t see most of Tasha’s face. He had a clear view of the male though. He didn’t like how the other male held himself. He seemed to be doing most of the talking while Tasha nodded in agreement or added a few words here and there.
“Phate, what are you looking at?”
His date finally had his attention. Without looking in her direction, he answered honestly, “I’m watching my neighbor on a date.”
As soon as he’d spoke the words, he knew it was a mistake.
“You’re a bastard! No respect at all for a woman. Ugh, I actually thought you were cute.” She snatched her purse from the table, got up and stormed out.
He tried to feel bad for how the date ended but couldn’t focus on anything besides Tasha and her date. The male stiffened and the smile on his face shifted to a snarl of disgust.
At the abrupt change in demeanor, the hairs on the back of Phate’s neck stood on end. Tasha scooted her chair back from the table and frantically glanced toward her waiter. The waiter held up a hand to her, indicating he was busy and would get to her soon.
Tasha’s date grabbed his wallet from a jacket pocket and began pulling out money, slapping the bills on the table in front of her. With each slap, Tasha jerked back.
Worry and concern for her rose to the surface. Phate paid for his meal with his bank card, stood and strode across the room to Tasha.
The male glanced up and snarled at Phate. “Whatever you’re selling, we don’t want it.”
Anger threatened to bubble to the surface. Next to him, Tasha’s shoulders trembled. She angled her head in his direction, her eyes wild with panic.
Shifting closer to her side, Phate resisted the urge to reach across the table, grab her date and fling him through the painted glass window.
Don’t cause undue attention to myself.
Phate took a deep breath, trying to calm the raging storm of emotions. He placed both hands on Tasha’s shoulders. “Are you ready to go home?”
A sigh escaped her lips. “Yes, please.”
He nodded. “Purse? Keys?”
She patted the purse she clutched in her lap.
Phate pulled her chair out and helped her to stand.
“Wh-where are you going? What’s going on here?” her date demanded. He balled his cloth napkin and threw it on the table.
“Good night, Jonathan.” Tasha wrapped her arm around Phate’s, brushing their bodies together. He couldn’t enjoy the sensation of finally having her touching him because her body continued to shake with tremors. He wasn’t sure if it was fear or anger.
The male pushed his chair back and stood abruptly. “So, you’re just going to leave and stiff me with the bill?”
Phate led Tasha away, determined to get her as far away from the situation as he could before he did something to make both Solgre and Kien upset.
Tasha followed his lead but turned back to say, “You’re not poor, remember?”
They didn’t talk as they left the warm restaurant and stepped out into the cool brisk night air.
“We can go to the bar across the street while we wait for a cab,” he told her.
“I drove here. I didn’t want him knowing where I lived. Good thing too.” She led him down the block. He slowed his steps so she could keep up, and she still had to walk briskly to keep pace with her short legs.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
“I’m glad I was there.”
She led him into a public parking lot and chuckled nervously as they made their way to one of the few cars left. “It was my first date in y—a long time. Now I know why I don’t date.”
