Page 30 of New Girl in the City
He chuckled and then nodded at Liam. “This guy bothering you?” His eyes weren’t friendly, not really. when they looked at Liam. I began to wonder what was going on. Even if the words were easy going, the tones and looks between both men were...well, not.
“What? No, of course not,” I said, unsure if it was a real question or not. I had thought they were friends, but I wasn’t so sure anymore.
“She’s fine,” Liam bit out. He moved, turning me right side up so that I was sliding down along the front of him. He caught me before my feet hit the ground and practically hitched me up so that my legs swung around his waist. His arm tightened on my hip, and his hand curled under my thigh.
How the fuck did this happen? Both of my arms were around him as well, one hooked around the back of his neck. It was pretty awesome. I was fine with my legs wrapped around Liam’s waist while he held me tight.
“Yeah, I can see that man,” Brad replied, and he made no effort to hide the appreciative look in his eyes as he gave me a once over. “Real fine.”
I decided then that I wasn’t a fan of Brad.
“She your new girl, or what?”
“I’m not a girl,” I bit out. Brad raised his hands in apology.
“Sorry. Woman. She your new woman?” he asked, and I grit my teeth. I really, really, didn’t like Brad.
“Yeah, she is. So put your eyes back in your head and go punch a bag.” Liam didn’t sound happy, the edge deepening until it was a cut, a deep cut capable of damage and I looked up at him in surprise. Brad chuckled and moved, feet taking him backwards and away from us.
“Sorry, man. You know me. Had to come check out the new class piece. Good work on it.”
“Class what?” I spluttered out in indignation, but Liam flipped him off.
“Yeah, yeah, keep moving.”
Brad laughed when I glared at him then shot me a wink. “You get bored of his low life ass, you give me a call honey. I’ll show you what a real man can do.”
“You’re disgusting,” I told him.
“Only in bed, honey.”
Liam’s hold on me tightened. “Say another thing and I’m gonna make you pay on Friday.”
Brad whistled and rocked back on his heels. “Promises, promises. You better not leave me hanging.”
Liam said nothing, but he didn’t have to. Brad left, still chuckling. I only didn’t flip him off because I still had my legs wrapped around Liam. And he’d called me his woman.
“You called me your woman,” I said.
He nodded, the hand on my thigh flexing slightly as he said, “Sure did.”
“What’s on Friday?” I asked.
His eyes left Brad and slid to me. “That’s private, Princess.”
I pursed my lips but decided to let that go. “Fine, for now.”
He grinned and then moved, gently setting me on my feet. “I’ll tell you soon.”
“Promise?”
He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah, I promise.” And then he stepped back from me and held out his hand. “Now, give me your wrist. I want you to practice that knee kick again but pretend it’s that idiot.” He nodded in the direction that Brad had gone. I laughed because there was nothing I would like more than to make believe I was attacking that jerk.
“Gladly!” I came forward and put my wrist in his hand. We spent the rest of the afternoon practicing a variety of holds and defensive moves before it was time to leave. Then, just like he promised, he took me for Korean barbecue.
If it had been a date it would have been the perfect one and on the ride back to my place, I pretended that it was.
