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Seemingly placated by Fallon’s explanation, he reached under the bar, making me tense. I reached one hand behind my back, then let it drop away when the guy produced a key.
“Second door on the left,” he said.
I took the key and then turned around to face the pub’s patrons. They were all staring at me—at the woman I had wrapped a possessive arm around. Walking toward the stairs on the other side of the room, I motioned for Fallon to go up first, then I followed her. The noise of conversations resumed the minute we were out of sight.
“They seem friendly,” she commented absently.
“Yeah, right.”
She watched as I slid the key into the lock and opened the door. “They seemed genuinely concerned that you were kidnapping me or something.” She went to step into the room, but I stopped her.
“Wait. I need to check it.”
“Check it for what?”
“Make sure it’s secure.”
She stepped aside and let me enter first. Once I was sure the only way in or out of the room was by the door, I gestured for her to come inside.
“You act like your life is under the threat of danger every single minute.”
“It is,” I told her. “Do you want to get washed up before we eat? I can get us some food and bring it up here.”
“I’d rather eat downstairs if that’s okay?”
My brows rose. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“What about being surrounded by strangers?”
“As long as I’m not in an enclosed space with no way out, I’ll be fine.”
I studied her for a long minute before nodding. “Okay, we’ll do it your way. Do you want to wash up? I can go and get our bags.”
“Sure.”
I left Fallon in the bathroom and returned to the pub, where the speculative and outright hostile looks continued. As I strode to the door, someone yelled, “What are you doing with that girl, Reaper?”
I stopped. Turned. Scanned the crowd looking for who had spoken. A nervous-looking man was shifting on his feet.
I directed my question at him. “What did you say?”
“I asked what you’re doing with her. She looks too young.”
I stepped closer to him, and the people standing around him scattered until it was just me and him. “I don’t see how she’s any of your business.”
Sweat beaded on his upper lip, and although he was trying to be brave, I saw through the bravado. “You need to let her go.”
I stared at him, making him squirm. I should’ve pulled out my knife and stabbed him in the fucking neck for questioning me, but I didn’t because I didn’t want Fallon to see that sort of violence. Instead, I turned around, throwing over my shoulder, “You need to mind your fucking business. Nobody talks to her. Am I understood?”
A murmur ofayewent up, and I stepped free of the smell of beer and too many people and walked to the Rover. After retrieving our bags, I returned to our room. Fallon was sitting on the bed, flicking through the TV channels but not settling on one.
“Took you long enough.”
I raised a brow at her as I passed the bag over. “The locals were telling me to leave you alone.”
“Really? Did you dispense some of that legendary hospitality when you gave them your answer?”
