Page 39 of Read Between The Lines

‘Excuse me, but this lady is taken,’ he called back towards an astonished Marc, his voice echoing around the bar. We couldn’t have made a more dramatic exit if we’d tried.

ChapterFifteen

As soon as we got into the street, I broke free of Leo’s hold and spun round to confront him.

‘I can fight my own battles, thank you very much,’ I said, trying my hardest to keep my voice steady as I moved a safe distance away. If I stayed close to him for any longer, I was worried I might lash out at him in frustration, or worse, inexplicably find myself back in his embrace thanks to some primal instinct I knew I was better off ignoring. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I could hear my blood rushing through my head, and my waist was tingling, still experiencing the warmth from where his arm had wrapped around it.

‘Of that I have little doubt,’ he said.

‘Then why did you feel the need for that ridiculous performance?’ I waved my hand in the direction of the bar we’d exited at speed.

Leo’s lips twitched. If he dared to smile at me right now, I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.

‘Ridiculous? That’s the first time any aspect of my performance has been called ridiculous. I obviously need to work on my technique.’ His voice was low, so I had to lean in closer to hear what he was saying. Was it my imagination, or had his gaze dropped briefly to my lips again? Last time he’d done it in jest, but now I wasn’t sure I wanted that to be the case, and I didn’t know how to feel about it. I flushed, experiencing an unwanted flashback to moments earlier when he’d practically scooped me up, his breath warm against the nape of my neck as he whispered, ‘Let’s get out of here.’ A centimetre closer and he could have dropped a kiss on the sensitive skin there. I shivered. Why was I allowing myself to get distracted by such a ridiculous and unwanted idea? Leo had acted in a completely overbearing manner, swooping in to save me when I hadn’t asked for it, and most certainly did not need it. Just because such alpha he-man action would have been followed by a swoon-inducing snog in Doris’s romance books, didn’t mean such things would happen in real life. Thank goodness. The last thing I wanted was that kind of complication.

‘Are you cold?’ he asked. ‘I would offer you my jacket, but I left it behind in the bar in our haste to depart.’

‘Yourhaste to depart. Don’t let me stop you going back in to claim it,’ I snapped, still battling to get myself back in line.

‘I think perhaps it’s best for both of us to steer well clear of that bar. Your over-eager friend might feel the need for a show of strength to try to rebuild his bruised ego.’

‘He’s not my friend. And add it to your expenses claim, why don’t you?’

‘I didn’t realise I was entitled to expenses. That’s good to know.’ Leo smiled, supremely relaxed, as if we were standing in the street passing the time of day. In some ways, it would have been much easier if he’d shouted back at me. But I already knew that he wasn’t that kind of person.

‘You’re not entitled to them. Our original agreement stands, although I’m questioning the wisdom of that right now. And, as usual, you’re completely missing the point. I had things under control. I’m quite capable of looking after myself. I certainly didn’t need rescuing, especially not by a galumphing neanderthal declaring that I was “taken”.’

I’d definitely gone a bit far there, but I wasn’t going to back down now.

‘Galumphing neanderthal? You do fling some interesting compliments at me. Well, it didn’t look very under control from where I was sitting, but if I got the wrong idea about what was happening, don’t let me stop you going back inside to pick up where you left off. Be my guest.’ Leo gestured towards the entrance.

I folded my arms and frowned at him. Much as I’d like to prove my point about being able to stand on my own two feet, there was no way I was heading back in there.

‘I thought not,’ he said quietly. ‘Look, it’s nothing to get het up about. Everyone needs a helping hand now and again. It doesn’t make you any less of a person.’

Before I could respond, there was a burst of noise behind us as the door of the bar opened again and a loudly swearing bloke who I recognised from one of the other Single Mingle tables staggered out into the street, accompanied by the thick stench of alcohol.

Despite the fact that I was in the middle of delivering my strong independent woman speech, I couldn’t help flinching at the noise and taking an involuntary step backwards.

Leo neatly sidestepped and placed himself between me and the drunk lurching slowly towards us, ready to shield me once again from any potential threat.

‘Alright, darling? Can I get you a drink? Those stuck-ups in there were doing my nut.’ The drunk gazed blearily towards me, his eyes unable to focus.

I rapidly calculated whether it was better to ignore him or politely turn him down.

‘No, thank you.’

‘Think you’re better than me, do you?’ he retorted in a tone which made me want to take another step back.

‘I’ve got a boyfriend,’ I said, looping my arm through Leo’s. Much as I hated using the ‘not available’ defence I’d just been riling about, sadly I knew it was the only one that a lot of men would pay any attention to.

‘Course you have,’ slurred the drunk, before slapping Leo heartily on the shoulder. ‘Sorry, pal, no hard feelings.’

Somehow, I wasn’t surprised he’d said sorry to Leo rather than the person who actually deserved the apology.

I watched the man stumble down the street until he’d disappeared out of view.

‘Okay?’ asked Leo.

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