Page 3 of Baited

Riley swatted at him. Ethan’s grip tightened. He shifted his eyes to her. She had come onto him? Ethan shook his head. He may not know her well, but he was a damn good judge of character. It didn’t ring true.

“I don’t believe you. But even if that’s true, you should know better. If I ever catch you feeding shots to a young woman andtrying to take her home, Ryan,” he emphasized his name for good measure. “I’ll break every bone in your face, understood?”

Sweat broke out on Ryan’s brow. He nodded. Ethan stood and Riley dropped to her knee next to Ryan.

“Don’t listen to him. We’re not together, honest.” She whipped her head over her shoulder and glared at him. “Go away.”

Ethan’s head pounded. What in the hell was the matter with her? Did she not know what this idiot had in mind? Ryan rose to his feet and brushed off his pants.

“I have to go.”

Riley’s hands fell away from him. He skulked the rest of the way to his Mustang and got in. His tires screeched as he peeled out of the lot.

She reeled on him. “You idiot. I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you need to mind your own goddamn business.” The tip of her index finger stabbed into his pec muscle.

He brushed her hand away, annoyance gnawed at him. He rested his hand on the back of his neck. The tension had turned into an angry ache. He worked his jaw.

“Are you kidding me right now? Are you completely unaware what that guy was planning to do once he got you back to his house?”

“This is insane.” Her voice raised an octave. “I barely even know you.” Her arms waved in the air between them. “And for the record, I didn’t ask for your help.”

“You fell on your ass for god’s sake.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Didn’t anyone teach you what happens to young women in bars? I feel like you need some education on the subject.”

Her eyes sharpened on him. A deep blush stained her cheeks. If smoke could billow from her ears, it would have.

“I’m not stupid,” she hissed. “And if you come near me again, I will punch your lights out. Got it?”

A laugh bubbled in his throat. He couldn’t stop it and didn’t try to. He was easily two times her size Not to mention her fist could fit in his palm.

She seethed. Her foot stomped in the dirt, kicking up a small cloud of dust. A growl gurgled from her throat before she spun on her heel.

Her hair fanned out behind her as she stormed away.

The laughter gone from his voice, he jogged after her. “Riley, come on. Let me give you a ride home, you’re drunk.”

She whirled around so fast he had to catch himself from barreling into her. This close he could see the rise and fall of her chest. Her breasts overflowed the top of her skimpy shirt. Her sweet-smelling perfume permeated the air around them.

“Are you deaf? Or are you really that stupid?” She flung her hair over her shoulder and rested her hands on her hips to stare him down.

His temper crackled in his ears. “You’re calling me stupid?” He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “I can’t believe I have to spell this out. That guy was going to rape you, Riley. I just saved you.”

Something flashed in her eyes. She took a step closer to him, the toe of her boot stepped on his loafer. She didn’t back down.

“Did it ever occur to you that I wanted him to take me home? That maybe I was looking for sex?”

The muscles in his face went lax. Holy shit. He pulled his hat off to scratch his head. Damn, this was uncomfortable. He stared at the fiery little blonde. She may be dressed the part and her actions now added up to her words…but something didn’t fit.

Her eyebrows bobbed at him waiting for a response. She was accusing him of cock blocking. Unbelievable. Or would it even be called that? He didn’t want to explore the female version.

She was trying to make him squirm. For a heartbeat, she’d succeeded.

Now he was going to knock some sense into her stubborn head.

“And I ruined it for you, is that it?”

Her lips spread into a smirk. “Obviously.”

“And that’s the kind of guy you want to fit the bill? Someone who drags you across the parking lot? C’mon, Riley you’re not fooling anyone.” He opened and closed his hands, hesitation built in his chest at the questions screaming in his head. “Are you against nice guys or something?”

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