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The man rubbed his wrist, gawking up at Seb. “I just wanted a dance.”

“Then you should have asked,” Seb snarled. “Go home. Sober up. Don’t come back until you know how to keep your hands to yourself.”

Tonya rounded the bar. “All right, everyone, it’s over. Nothing to see. Tim, you’re in time out. Go sit down, and I’ll bring you coffee in a minute.” Tim shuffled off, and she looked at me. “Hey. Are you okay?”

The concern in her eyes seemed genuine, despite the fact that she definitely wanted to fuck my husband. Numbly, I shook my head. “I froze. I can’t believe I froze.”

17

SEB

The look on Lila’s face had me reaching for her on instinct, even knowing that I was the last person she wanted comfort from. I tucked her under my chin, my hand rubbing up and down her spine.

“Hey.” I kept my voice soft and calm, despite the rage that still coursed through my veins. “You’re all right. You’re safe.”

“I know I’m all right. No thanks to myself. Dammit.” Her voice cracked, and she stepped back, rubbing her nose. “What is wrong with me?”

I reached for her again, but Tamilee shooed me away and wrapped Lila in her arms. “Nothing is wrong with you. Not a damn thing. You were in shock, that’s all. That’s a normal response, especially after all you’ve been through. But we can’t have that happening again, so here’s what we’re going to do. You and I are going to spend some time working on our self-defense skills.”

Lila gave a watery laugh. “I don’t have any self-defense skills. Clearly.”

“That’s okay. I’m going to teach you. We’ll start tomorrow. Okay?”

“Okay. Thank you.” She inhaled and let it out slowly. “I need a minute. I’m going to the ladies’ room.”

“I’ll go with you.” My hand was already on her elbow.

She shook me off. “No.”

“Lila—”

“I’ll go with her,” Lennon volunteered quickly. “You can see the whole hallway from here, Seb. You can still keep her safe.”

Gritting my teeth, I nodded. Lila didn’t look at me as Lennon linked their arms together. I scrubbed my hand over my face as I watched Lennon walk Lila down into the alcove. Two unisex, one-toilet bathrooms were on one side, a door to the kitchen on the other, and an emergency exit at the end. Trouble could come from any of them.

“She’s not hurt,” Holly said. “She’s just shaken up a bit.” She had her back to the wall and her eyes on the room behind me. There was some comfort in knowing she was watching for trouble, too.

“She could have been hurt. I was right there, and he still managed to get his hands on her. What if it hadn’t been Tim? It only takes a second. I should have kept her closer.”

“What are you going to do, wear her under your shirt? Come on.” Holly scoffed.

I shrugged, keeping my eyes on the hallway. Lila disappeared into the bathroom. Lennon stood outside the closed door, arms crossed. “If I have to.”

“She won’t let you.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“Find the guy. Remove his balls through his throat.”

I snorted. “That’s the plan. It’s taking a little longer than I hoped, though.”

Lennon stepped away from the bathroom door as Lila exited. They both glanced at us and then pointedly faced each other again without taking a single step in our direction. Our conversation replayed in my mind. I’d told her the truth—I hadn’t slept with Tonya, or anyone else in Mercy River—but it wasn’t the whole truth.

Yeah, I’d slept with women in the last three years. And every single time, I’d done it while wanting her. The whole fucking time, even when I swore to myself I wasn’t. Sex felt good; almost as good as BASE jumping. I’d wanted sex with a woman, and if that woman wasn’t Lila, then it didn’t much matter to me who she was.

Sex was different with Lila. I wanted her specifically. It fucking mattered.

I sighed. “She’s mad at me.”