Page 6 of Ferocious Protector

My fist hits him square in the mouth, and he’d go down, right to the ground if I didn’t catch him as he sways. A big guy walks out of the bar. “Where do I get a ride share for this guy? He’s drunk off his ass.”

He laughs. “Toss Tucker in the back of my truck. I’ll get him home. Fucking loser harassing Patti again?”

“Yeah, he was. Earlier today, too.”

He puts the tailgate of his truck down. “Toss him in, buddy. Hope Patti’s okay. Nobody in town likes this fool.”

I extend a hand. “Name’s Blake. Thanks for the help. I’m a good friend of Beckett. He works with Cole and the guys.”

He gives me a smile and a hard shake. “Name’s Randy. Any friend of theirs is a friend of mine.” He looks down the street as a police car turns onto Main Street with a light on. “I’m going to get out of here now. All you know is some guy offered to take a drunk man home. I’ll get him home safe but keep my name out of it.”

“Roger that,” I say, walking back inside and heading to the table. Patti Ann looks up at me. “You okay?” she asks.

“I’m always okay, love. I sent Tucker home with some guy I met outside. Said he was heading that way.”

Patti Ann chews her lip. “He’s gonna come back. When he’s been drinking, he just does not give up.”

I lean over and whisper in her ear. “He’s not going to be able to find you tonight, love, because you’re going to be in my room upstairs, screaming my name all night long.”

6

Patti

I swear my heart’s racing so loud everyone at this table can hear, but yet not one person is paying us any mind. They’re all focused on the menu and laughing at something Krissy said to Cole that I didn’t even hear.

Garrett and Mason get up when they see Lettie setting up our drinks at the bar. They get to the bar before she has a chance to pick it up and bring it to us themselves. She trails behind them. “I swear you guys act like a bunch of mother hens. I’ve been doing this a long time. And I’ll have you know I’ve never spilled a drop, well, except the one time, and that was a doozy. Beer, sticky syrupy drinks all over this place.”

Lettie laughs along with the rest of the group at her joke. “All right, enough of that memory. Let’s get your orders going. Kenny’s in the back helping on the grill. I swear we need some more help every day of the week. This place is just getting busier and busier.”

The couples put their heads together and start giving Lettie their orders. Blake leans in. “Have you decided what you want?”

My cheeks feel like they are on fire. I almost spit out, you, upstairs, right now, but that would not be ladylike at all. Damn this man. I am no wilting violet but that handsome mug, muscled body, and gentlemanly charm is just too much. “You don’t have to order for me,” I whisper, meeting his eyes.

“You’ll find I seldom do anything I don’t like. Tell me what you’d like to eat, and I’ll order.”

Alrighty then. I’ve always liked a take charge kinda guy, and well, he’s that and a whole lot more. “Grilled chicken salad, ranch on the side, please.”

His eyes don’t leave mine as Lettie reaches us. “Patti Ann is going to have the grilled chicken salad, with the ranch on the side, and I’ll have the smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes, salad and drench it in ranch.”

I laugh, because I swear Lettie’s got a grin so big her face is going to split. “Lettie,” I whisper hiss. I just know she’s going to try and do some of her matchmaking.

She leans down. “I’d try to get this one on my hook. Looks like a good catch. A real keeper.”

The others are still talking amongst themselves but PJ, who’s sitting beside me, doesn’t miss it, and neither does Blake. “I’m hardly the fishing kind, Lettie. You know me, I’m a catch and release type of gal.”

PJ jabs me in the ribs from the right. I turn, gaping at my friend who gives me narrowed eyes like I said something wrong. I shrug. “Well, it’s the truth. It’s not like I’m about to get snagged in somebody’s net again. I have a hell of a lot more self-worth than that,” I whisper.

She shrugs. “Not all men are the same. Look at your friends around the table.”

Blake leans in. “Good advice. Our song from this afternoon is on. Dance with me until dinner arrives.” He stands and draws me to my feet. “It would be a shame not to dance in that pretty little dress.”

I blow out a breath. I swear, this man is coming on way too strong, and I am seriously all female right now. One who feels like she’s coming into heat the way his eyes keep roaming over my body like he’d rather have me for dinner instead of dancing.

And when his arms go around me this time and he holds me close, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be going home with him tonight.

7

Blake