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I clench my jaw. "A man from Scotland would."
Calli hobbles between the angry elf and me, holding up a hand to each of us. "Let's all calm down. This was obviously a huge misunderstanding, and that's my fault."
The elf points at Calli's ankle. "He broke your leg."
"Don't be so melodramatic. I twisted my ankle, that's all."
I glance down at her ankle and grimace. How could I have hurt a woman? Even if it was an accident, I feel awful about it. So I rub the back of my neck, rolling my eyes up to look at Calli. "I'm sorry. Didnae mean to hurt you."
"She needs medical attention," the elf pronounces. "I'm calling nine-one-one."
"No," Calli says. "A twisted ankle is not an emergency. I need to sit down, that's all."
The tiny lass eyes Calli warily. "You sure?"
"It was an accident, and I will be fine." Calli raises a hand, palm out. "I swear it."
The doors to the club proper swing open, and a man in a firefighter outfit saunters down the hallway toward us. He holds a boom box on one shoulder. Pouting like a male model, he nods at Calli. "Hey babe, where's the bachelorette party?"
She hooks a thumb over her shoulder. "In there."
The real stripper pushes past her. She tries to sidle out of the way, but her ankle gives out, and she staggers into me. I catch her by the shoulders, steadying her against my body with both hands. She turns her gaze up to mine.
"Thanks," she whispers.
She has the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen.
Whoops and catcalls erupt inside the party room once again. Music starts up too, full of pounding bass and electric guitars.
I lean closer to Calli to be heard above the din. "You need to rest your ankle. Let me help you find a place to sit."
The angry elf lingers nearby, but her focus is on the festivities inside the room. She bites her lip, casting Calli a sideways glance.
Calli waves me away. "Go on, I'll be fine. I appreciate your concern, but you must want to be out there. Don't let me disrupt your plans." To the elf, she says, "You go on too, get to your party. I'll be right there."
The other lass squints at me, probably because I still have my hands on Calli's upper arms. "I can't leave you alone with a stranger."
"I'm not a stranger," I say. Then I offer my hand to Calli. "Aidan MacTaggart. There, now you know me."
The woman I want to marry settles her hand in my palm. I love the feel of her delicate, warm hand in mine.
My future wife coughs and says, "I'm Calli. Nice to meet you."
"Enchanted to meet you." I lift her hand to kiss it. "But I feel responsible for your injury. Please let me take care of you."
"No need. I can get my own butt into a chair."
The corners of my mouth twitch, almost forming a smile, because she is the most wonderful woman I've ever met. "I'm sure you can, but a gentleman offers aid to a lady in distress."
"That's sweet, but—"
"I'll see you to a chair and leave you be." I place a hand on her back and spread the other arm wide, indicating the doorway to the party room. "After you."
Kicking off her shoes, Calli starts to reach down for them, but I snatch them up and offer her my arm. She hooks her arm around mine, curling her hand around my forearm as she lets me guide her toward the doorway. Thankfully, her limping improves with each step.
At the threshold, she pulls away from me. "Thank you, but my ankle is feeling much better. You can go back out there and find a hot chick in a slinky dress to occupy your time."
My gaze travels the length of her succulent body, down to her toes, and back up to her face. "Donnae need to go anywhere to find that. You are exceptionally hot, and your dress is slinky enough to capture any man's interest."
