Page 88 of Breaking Point
She rolls her eyes, leaning further into O’Connor. “Not them. It’s for her and me.” She scoffs. “I’d never cover your guys’ drinks. No offense, but have you seen the difference in our bank accounts?”
Valenti, sitting across the booth, throws a rolled-up napkin at her head. “I’m gutted you won’t cover me, C. Truly gutted.”
“Go cry into your pile of millions,” Cindy retorts.
Turning away as they all begin to bicker, I ignore the leering eyes of not only women but men who are fans and are no doubt dying to ask questions about tonight’s game or get a photograph. I usually would, but not now. I just need to find?—
A breath I didn’t realize I had been holding whooshes from my chest as I spot Bella at the far end of the bar, her hands clutching two glasses of white wine. Warmth flows through me again, the tension in my body loosening at the sight of her. Until I see the adamant shake of her head, the wide eyes, and the disgust that comes over her features as she says no.
That’s when I notice the drunk guy next to her, wrapping his disgusting meaty hands around her wrist and pulling her into him despite her saying no again and shaking her head. I don’t need to see more before I’m livid.
Blood roars in my ears, everyone in the crowded bar disappearing. I’m beside her in a heartbeat, just as she hisses, “Stop! You’re hurting me!”
I place both my palms on his chest and push with all my might, sending the dick tumbling.
“Get the fuck off her!” I growl. “No means fuckingno. Are you daft? Do you need to go back to school?”
Bella’s intake of air behind me and the small hands I feel on my back do nothing to settle the simmering rage pulsing throughmy body. He kept touching her, crowding her personal space. She saidnofor fuck’s sake.
The guy’s eyes widen, not out of fear, I realize with disgust, but awe. “Crawford! Good game, man,” he slurs.
Shoving him away, I don’t bother to deign him with a response. I simply lift my gaze to Luke, the security guard in the corner who has already clocked us. As soon as I give him a toss of my head, he’s beside us, wrapping his hand around the drunk’s arm.
“Let’s go, pal, you’ve had enough.”
He’s so drunk he barely kicks up a fuss. His red glazed eyes remain glued on mine as Luke drags him through and out the bar. If people weren’t looking before, they certainly are now.
My chest is heaving as I spin, ignoring the sets of eyes on my back. The first thing I see is the red mark on her wrist. “Are you okay?”
Gently picking it up, I turn it this way and that, inspecting it even as she huffs, “Thank you for that.”
“Not something that needs to be thanked. I’m surprised no one else stepped in.” I say this with a pointed glare to the men around her, who conveniently advert their gazes to the TV above their heads, which is ironically playing my highlights from tonight.
First game of the season and we won. Three to one.
None of that matters, though. Not in this moment.
Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I tuck her into my side, loving the feel of her body as it melts perfectly against mine as I steer her back toward the booth with everyone.
Cindy’s eyes are wide as we finally part through the crowd. “Jesus, Bella, are you all right?” Her hand is on her chest. “I’m so sorry, I should have come with you!”
“So we could have both been cornered? It’s okay, you didn’t know, and it didn’t go too far.”
Cindy shakes her head with disgust, and I realize the guys all have mirroring looks of it as well. Sliding into the booth, as if it’s second nature, my arm instinctively wraps around her, pulling her body closer so it’s nestled into mine.
And so help me God, when she scoots in closer I can’t help it, I do what I’ve been craving to do since the moment we sat next to each other in my kitchen and I smelled her perfume.
After all, I warned her that I love affection. This is all part of the deal.
Turning my head to the side, I bury my face in the crook of her neck and inhale, greedy as I drink in the scent of her before I force myself to pull away.
But not before I plant a gentle kiss against her temple.
Bella’s chest rises and falls faster with every passing second and I note her hands are shaking as she slides the glass of wine Cindy’s way.
Are her hands shaking from the drunk guy at the bar or because I kissed her temple?
I feel like punching myself. Did I seriously just do that after what happened? I’m just as bad as the guy at the bar.
