Page 48 of Beat of Love
“And I’ve sat all evening, in the shadows, watching the two of you.”
Her body snapped to attention. “What the hell, Rafferty?”
“It’s all kinds of wrong. I know.” He huffed a breath that could only be described as frustrated. “Red, you’ve turned me into a stalker.”
“Why?” she wailed.
“BecauseIwant to be the one kissing you,” he yelled back.
Her mouth dropped open.
He gave a rough laugh. “Ah, come on, Brandy-Lyn. Don’t act all surprised. We’ve been dancing around this attraction for weeks now.”
“It’s wrong,” she croaked.
“Yes. And therein lies my dilemma.”
“Dilemma?”
“Should I drag you into the shadows and kiss you senseless, erase all memory ofhimon your lips, or should I do the right thing and walk through that door and find the woman who slipped me her number earlier?”
Kiss me. Kiss me.
“Dammit, Red,” he growled, taking a step forward, desire alive in his eyes.
Then he shook his head and pushed past her, slamming through the swing door. Noise blasted around her, then receded. Blasted again. Receded.
The door settled in place.
And Brandy battled acute disappointment while staring at the barrier.
“It’s for the best,” she whispered, echoing his earlier words.
Stas insisted on walking her to her truck when she returned to him pleading a headache and said she wanted to go home. She hated lying, but there was no way she was in any mood to continue the farce of the evening.
It wasn’t fair on him. Nor her.
“Thanks for the escort,” she whispered when he opened the truck door.
“I am a protector.” He gave her a wry smile, and leaned in. “But I know you don’t have a headache.”
Her eyes widened. And dammit, the telltale flush of hers bloomed. She dropped her head in shame. “I’m sorry.”
He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head, his eyes meeting hers. “Does your leaving have something to do with Rafferty Lawson?”
She drew in a sharp breath. It seemed to be her night for men shocking her. “No,” she squeaked.
Stas merely lifted his brows.
“Maybe. It’s … complicated,” she muttered, dropping her gaze.
“Are you leaving now to meet him?”
Her eyes flew back to clash with his, horrified at his question. “No! Why would you even think that?”
“He stormed out moments before you returned from your long bathroom break.”
“Oh.”
