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“For what?”
“Cutting things. Mostly people.” What else did people carry knives for?
As soon as she let me go, I wiped my knife in a patch of grass and then resheathed it in its hidden compartment in my belt buckle.
Her shudder made me want to hunt down the men so I could guarantee they’d never bother her again.
“Did you call the police?”
“I forgot my phone at home, remember?”
“Right.” I’d remembered earlier, but my fighting brain wasn’t good with details.
“Besides, I saw your knife and was worried you’d get introuble.”
“The next time it happens, call the police, even if it’s just to scare them off. I can afford a good lawyer.”
I held out one of my battered hands and she took it, falling into step beside me. Walking with her hand in mine felt good, even though the adrenaline coursing through me was demanding more violence.
“You think there’ll be a next time?”
“Undoubtedly. Men love to pick fights with me.”
“Because you’re pretty.”
I shrugged. “That, and because I’m an asshole. Now, I also have a beautiful girlfriend many men will think I don’t deserve.”
She leaned on my arm. “I’m not really your girlfriend.”
Although I didn’t want to take it personally, my stupid feelings were wounded. Of course, she’d only said she was mine to make them men leave us alone, but I’d dared to hope the idea would stick.
“How about wife?”
“I’m Valor’s wife.”
“For now.”
“Forever.”
She’d kept the ring I’d left in her pocket after our second night together. It was in her jewelry box, but it never moved. She didn’t wear it—didn’t even take it out to look at it.
“What if we’re still doing this in five—ten years? Am I always going to rank as no more than a ‘friend’?”
She went quiet. I hated that her fun, relaxing evening had turned into a shitshow, and now I was asking hard questions she doubtlessly had no answers to.
Dick move.
“Never mind. That’s a problem for another time.” I smiled at her, but that only made her brows knit with more worry.
“We need to get you home and clean you up.”
“Are you going to bathe me and tend to my wounds?” I asked playfully.
“We could have died a few minutes ago, and you’re already back to teasing me?”
“Teasing you sounds like a great way to spend the next few hours.”
“Absolutely not! I need to get to bed.”
