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“Aww, shit.” I huffed out a deep breath. I’d finally relaxed a little, so of course.
“What was your name again?” I asked, taking a slug of beer. “Hogan something?”
“It’s Holden, like inThe Catcher in the Rye. But you don’t strike me as a big lit guy,” he sneered.
My pulse quickened, but I tamped it down.Do not engage.
“Not so much. I’m usually out saving lives. Anyway, as you can see, I’m busy here, so run along.” I waved my hand, dismissing him.
“I did notice you’re not busy with Delaney,” he said, smirking, his line of perfectly straight, white teeth taunting me.
My stomach clenched at this and the vein in my neck started throbbing.
“That’s none of your damn business,” I said in a low voice.
“Actually, she’s about to become my business, literally. After this afternoon, I’m fairly certain she’ll be taking me up on my offer.”
I tried not to give him the satisfaction of a reaction, even though my insides were churning and a hot anger pulsed through me. I really wished I’d connected with Delaney earlier and we’d worked this out.
“We’ll see about that,” I said, straightening up in my chair and squaring my shoulders. This guy was annoying as hell, but I couldn’t let him see me sweat.
“What are you gonna do? Delaney’s a grown woman; she’s going to do what she wants. And I’m pretty sure I know what she wants. You know, after you’ve had the best, it’s damn hard to settle for the rest.”
I let out a hardy laugh. “Sure, bud.”
“Just sayin’.”
“I’m fairly certain Delaney isn’t interested in you anymore.” I cracked my knuckles to keep from punching Holden in the face.
“Never underestimate the siren song of money, fame, and big city life. All quite alluring to a woman like Delaney.” He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, stepping in closer to the table.
“Dude. My brother said scram, so how about you take the hint?” Ryder said, leaning across the table. He knew I was getting amped.
“I guess he needs his sidekick to defend him,” Holden snickered.
“Shut the fuck up,” I said, slamming my beer down on the table harder than I’d meant to.
“What’d you just say to me?” Holden asked, his lithe body square, his face inches from mine. He was so close I could see his patchy stubble. Dude couldn’t even grow a proper beard.
“I think you heard me.” I locked my eyes on his, puffing out my chest.
Before I knew it, his fist flew close to my face but missed, knocking over the beer bottles. They crashed to the ground, glass shattering everywhere. Holden stumbled forward, managing to make contact with my shoulder before running into the table, his long arms flailing in the air. It was kind of funny, actually. He jumped up, spinning around, then took another swing. I caught the punch mid-air and squeezed his wrist just for the hell of it. He let out a strangled squeal and tried to knee me, but I blocked that, too. His face turned beet red as he squirmed in my grasp.
“Now, we can either keep going and I’ll humiliate you further, or you can get the fuck out of my face. Your choice,” I said in a low, calm voice.
He grimaced. “Get your hands off me or I’ll press charges.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” Ryder said. “Self-defense, and you have no pull here. Beat it.”
I released Holden’s wrist and he scowled at me, his eyes narrow slits.
“You’re a Neanderthal. There’s no way Delaney will stay with you. No way.”
With that, he slunk out ofThe Rowdy.I hoped I’d never see him again.
“Thanks for the backup,” I said, nodding at Ryder.
“No problem. That’s what brothers are for.”
