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“She didn’t hire me, and it’s none of your business why,” Savage says. “Just stay the fuck away from her.”
Seth reaches up and loosens his tie. “I have no interest in harming Hannah Taylor. So, you can relax, beefcake.” He pats Savage on the arm and then enters the men’s room. The door swings shut behind him.
Savage turns around, and I’m too slow and too stunned to close the door before he sees me. He freezes, and those dark eyes deepen with an emotion I can’t place.
My body heats from head to toe, and an itch crawls up my spine. “Bodyguard?” I ask, stepping out to meet him.
Savage stares down at me, frowning. He’s a huge man, and usually his presence overwhelms me, but tonight, I’ve had just enough wine and heard enough to make me so angry that I don’t care any more. It’s not like Savage and I are friends. We don’t have long conversations, though we’ve known each other for years.
He avoids me, and I do my best to avoid him because of my “feelings”.
“Bodyguard?” I repeat it, because the tension hasn’t snapped, and he hasn’t moved a muscle. “What the hell is that about?”
“Your brother hired me to look out for you,” he says. “He’s concerned for your safety, given that you have a stalker.”
And let’s add that to the layers of humiliation. Savage knows about Franklin. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”
Savage shrugs.
“Listen, I don’t care what Cash wants, I don’t need?—”
“No.”
“Huh?”
Savage’s chest expands as he takes in a breath. “You need protection. I’ve been asked to watch out for you, and I will. If you have a problem with that, take it up with your brother.”
“Listen, buddy,” I say, stepping up to him, trying to ignore the immediate sizzling desire that slides over my skin at the proximity. “You don’t presume to tell me what to do. I’m my own person.”
“Then do what you want,” Savage says, his gaze firmly on mine. He takes me in, looks at my lips. He is glued to me. So much eye contact it makes goosebumps rise on my skin.
“I will.”
“But you can expect me watching your back while you do.”
How dare Cash do this to me? Well-meaning or not, my brother can’t just?—
“This is for your safety,” Savage says, his words are level, almost monotone. Like he doesn’t care about me, like I’m just a job to him, and it makes this so much worse.
“You said you’ll be watching my back, right?”
Savage doesn’t even nod, he keeps that unflinching eye contact.
“So watch it while I walk away.” And then I spin on my heel and start down the hall.
I’m so pissed, I don’t even want to see my brother right now. I’m going to cause a scene in this bar if I have to discuss this with Cash.
He could have asked about the bodyguard thing. It’s not like I’m an unreasonable person. When June and Cash suggested the self-defense training, I was into it, even though it’s going to put me in close proximity with Savage. But this is a waking nightmare.
Having Savage around me all the time? I can barely handle being at potluck dinners with him. I find it difficult not to act awkward, especially after that night.
No, no, no. We are not going there.
I want my goddamn independence, and I’m going to get it.
Six
SAVAGE
