Page 107 of Tate
Oh, he was going to?—
“That’s enough.” Rags’s voice cut through the fog. He probably saved Tate from an assault charge because the man stepped between him and Sloan, turned to Tate, his hands on his shoulders. “Step back, man.Back!”
Out of the corner of his eye, Tate spotted the crowd gathering. And a few cell phones out.
Nice.
“He doesn’t get in this car,” Sloan snarled. “Leave him on the street.”
“No,” Glo said, and Tate looked at her. She pressed her hand to her lips, as if reeling from the kiss.
Yeah, him too, but for an entirely different reason.
“No. I’m going home, Sloan.”
“Glo—” Sloan started.
She gave him a look, her mouth tight. “I’m tired. And this has been…” She swallowed, something raw and almost broken on her face. “A big night.”
“Then I’ll go with you,” Sloan said.
Hardly. Rags’s hand tightened on Tate’s shoulder and he pushed Tate back.
“No. Thank you, but I think I need to be alone.”
Sloan glanced at Tate, but Glo interjected, “Really. Alone.”
As if fromhimtoo. Tate stared at her, but she shook her head, tears in her eyes.
Oh no, what had he done?
Clearly, he’d just made a bigger mess of things. Tate drew in a breath, nodded. Allowed Rags to push him away, into the front seat.
In a moment, Glo climbed into the back.
He wanted to weep when she raised the partition.Glo?—?
Then she turned on the radio, and he listened to country songs break his heart all the way home.
Glo dreamed of it all night long.
Tate, turning to her, so much earnestness in his eyes. Wrapping his big hand around her neck.
I love you, Glo.
His kiss, not gentle in the least, but as if he’d been holding it in all night, waiting, angry, desperate?—
She could hardly blame him. She’d wanted to do the same thing. Watching him watch her had sent a tiny fire through her, and the agony in his eyes as he watched Sloan put his hands on her tore her asunder.
She’d cast him a look right after Sloan kissed her and felt a little sick at his drawn expression. She hadn’t seen the kiss coming—if she had, she would have dodged it. But there she was, in front of millions, trapped.
She could hardly push Sloan away in front of the entire world.
And especially not with her mother looking on. Her mother, who’d suggested she take Sloan for appearances. At the time it seemed smart.
Especially with Tate’s words ringing in her ears.I’m so afraid of making a mistake too. Of walking into an ambush.
Never mind his fears that she’dbe the death of him.
