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They rotate and Foster's face moves into the light.
Foster.
He's here. He's fighting off Rocco for me.
Relief floods me and I can breathe again.
Rocco takes a hard one to the face, and his eyes flash like he just realized who he's fighting.
He ducks and runs. Foster takes three steps toward him and stops. He looks back at me. He has a Band-Aid over his eye and the blood is gone from his face. His hair shines like it's wet. He's stunning with his chest heaving, his brow furrowed, in attack mode like he was inside. He looks back to where Rocco ran, relaxes his shoulders, and walks back toward me.
"I'll get him later," he mumbles to himself. When he's closer to me, he asks, "You all right?"
"I think so."
He frowns as he watches me pull my blouse over my bra. "He hurt you?"
"No. You stopped him before he could."
He nods but his eyes are flaming, his nostrils flared.
"Where's your brother?" he asks, his voice rough with anger as he looks up and down the street.
He knows Donnie? "He took off when he saw Rocco."
"And left you alone with him? You're brother is stupid as hell."
I can't argue with that. I love Donnie but he makes bad decisions sometimes. Lots of times.
Foster's eyes look me over and his anger shifts to concern. "You're trembling."
"I am?"
Looking down, I see he's right. I'm shaking like it's cold, but it's definitely hot and muggy tonight.
Then the man who was just in two savage fights raises his arm and invites me to step in for a consoling hug.
I lean forward and take a step closer to him, subtly indicating it would be okay for him to hug me. When my head touches his torso, his arms encircle me in a warm cage. His chest is a flat, hard plane and he smells like soap and denim. He squeezes me subtly and his chin rests on the top of my head.
"If I didn't hear you call for help…" His voice rasps like he cares about me. I'm shocked to see the cold-hearted fighter I saw up on the stage showing such overwhelming compassion for a total stranger.
"I was going to kick him in the balls."
He chuckles. "I'll take you home." The low rumble of his voice brushes my hair.
I break the hug. Even though I like being close to him, it feels indulgent and too intimate. Fate placed him here at the exact moment I needed someone, but stealing the chance to remain in the arms of the Unstoppable Foster Dunham feels like a crime. "I can call a taxi."
"No. I'll take you home." His hand rubs behind his neck and his chin tilts down, sparkling eyes still on me.
"I'm staying in the Hamptons right now for summer vacation." It's over an hour away.
"Then I'll take you to the Hamptons."
"I don't want to detour you like that. You need to tend to your face, put some ice on the swelling." His eye and cheek have gotten worse while we've been talking.
"That guy almost raped you. He had you alone out here in the street. And you're worried about some bruises on my face?" His eyes darken and focus on me, looking serious and intent. "I'll take you to the Hamptons."
"Really not necessary."
