Page 25 of Pumpkin
Dosia winced as Bartleyrevealed her name. Shit, so much for slipping out of here with Vodka/Pumpkin hopefully not knowing her name. If he looked her up, he’d find JJ. Clearly, he hadn’t given up his womanizing ways. He had a son with no mother and was likely sleeping with his nanny.
Dosia winced internally. That judgement seemed harsh, but she couldn’t risk that sort of influence in her daughter’s life. Who knew what else he was into?
Frankie’s eyes flicked between them before her lids narrowed. “I thought you knew each other?”
Dosia opened her mouth to say that they didn’t, but then Vodka/Pumpkin threw over his shoulder, “We do,” like Bartleywasn’t there shouting at him.
A waitress slipped up beside their table. Dosia automatically realized that she too was keeping herself back, using Vodka/Pumpkin for protection. “Um, everything okay here, Pumpkin?”
“All good, Piper,” he answered.
Shit, maybe his namewasPumpkin. Had Dosia remembered it wrong all these years? She didn’t think so. She’d seen his cut when she’d gotten dressed the morning after they’d slept together. With his back to her, she couldn’t look to see what the patch over his left breast said now.
Piper?He knew the waitress too? The way he said her name didn’t sound like he’d just read it off her name tag.
“Everything is not ‘all good’!” Bartleyshouted, trying to step around Pumpkin. “I am taking Dosia home!”
Pumpkin snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. The movement caused him to sway slightly, an act that made Dosia wonder ifhewasn’t entirely sober. “Sir, if you don’t want to leave here with more than a black eye, I suggest youback off. Call the date a bust, whatever strokes your ego, andgo home. Dosia is no longer your concern. She’smine.”
Dosia’s heart stuttered as her breath gasped.His? No, she hadn’t heard that right. Or, she’d misconstrued it. That was better. He wasn’t saying that she washis, as in his possession, but just hisconcern. Yes, that was it. That had to be it. He certainly wasn’t… No, he couldn’t. But the way he said her name. It was like a fucking caress to her ears. She wanted to hear him whisper it in the dead of night, like a vow that sealed their fates and twined their souls.
Fuck, what was happening to her?
“Dosia,” Bartleysneered out her name, snapping his fingers at her like she was a disobedient dog. “Come here?—”
Bartleynever finished his sentence. Pumpkin moved so fast, he was like a blur of motion. He grabbed the hand Bartleyheld out at her, twisted, and there was an audiblesnapas Bartley’s hand hung uselesslyfrom his wrist. Dosia’s eyes widened as Bartleyscreamed in pain, falling to his knees.
“I told you,” Pumpkin growled, “she’s not going anywhere with you. She’smine.”
Holy fuck. Dosia was fairly certain that sound coming from his mouth had caused her to start ovulating. She wasn’t sure a sexier sound existed, and if there was, she doubted she wanted to find it.
Piper cursed and ran back into the kitchen area.
Pumpkin swayed slightly on his feet again. Frankie let go of Dosia’s hand as if to go to him. But Dosia moved first. She wasn’t certain of much right now, but the one thing she did know, was that sheneverwanted to see Frankie’s hands on him again.
Fuck, maybe shewasjust as drunk as he was.
Dosia looped his arm over her shoulders, steadying him, and realized his body was trembling more than swaying.
Piper came running back out with an ice pack, holding it out to Bartleyas she said to Pumpkin, “You better go!” Her eyes looked around, as if just noticing the witnesses.
“No need,” a young man with a badge stepped forward. He wasn’t in uniform, and likely off-duty. “I saw the whole thing. A little excessive, Pumpkin. I’ll try to talk him down from pressing charges.”
Pumpkin nodded, “Thanks, Danny.”
Shit. Charges? As much as she didn’t want to be involved any more than she already was, Dosia knew she could not let Pumpkin get in trouble for defending her. Just because she didn’t want this man in her or her daughter’s life did not mean that she wanted him to go tojailfor her.
“If he presses charges against, uh,Pumpkin,” Dosia stumbled over the name, “then I’ll press charges against him. He grabbed me earlier and was threatening me.” The latter was a bit of an exaggeration, but she hoped it was enough to keep Bartleyfrom pressing charges.
Danny nodded at her. Then he bent down to assist Bartleyto his feet. “Come on, Mr. Anderson. Let’s you and I have a talk outside.”
As the two men started towards the exit, Dosia thought she heard something along the lines of “arrest them” from Bartley.
Dosia’s jaw dropped. “What did I do?”
“Nothing but be your amazingly sexy self,” Pumpkin answered, his body still trembling.
Frankie rushed forward. “Will you please sit? You’re about to fall over.”
