Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
And, yeah, he had no right to judge the fucker sitting there and staring at Caren’s cleavage.
But he was.
Was she okay with the way that asshole was drooling over her? Who was he, anyway?
The guy reached out a hand toward her and he felt himself tighten. Were they on a date?
What the hell? She’d only been in the city a couple of weeks. How the hell was she going on a date?
Maybe she used an online dating service like he had.
What the fuck was she thinking? That wasn’t safe for a woman on her own. Not in this city.
And yeah there was a part of him that was aware he was being a hypocrite since he’d used a service to meet women.
But that was different. He wasn’t a threat to any of those women. And none of them had been under his protection.
She isn’t either.
No. But it was clear she shouldn’t be allowed to live in the city without someone to watch over her. Going on a date with someone she didn’t know?
Unacceptable.
Of course he ignored the voice in the back of his mind that reasonably pointed out that she might know this guy. That he had no clue how she’d met him.
Or that she was even on a date.
And that he had zero right to insist that she allow him to protect her.
He was too outraged that she might have put herself in danger to listen to that very reasonable voice.
This was his cousin’s friend. And that meant that he had to look out for her.
As the guy tried to touch her, she shied back.
Oh, that just fueled his anger even more. It was clear she was uncomfortable. Maybe she wanted out of the situation. Did she even have a backup plan? Did anyone actually know she was here?
What if something went wrong with this guy? What was her security net?
He was about to inform her of the error of her ways. As soon as he got her away from Mr. Touchy.
Storming over to the table, he spotted the moment that she saw him. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock. He came to a stop behind her date. This guy was even bigger than he’d thought. Not that Travis was intimidated. Few people were as well-trained and deadly as he was. He knew how to take care of himself.
And Caren, too.
“Travis? What are you doing here?” she asked.
She had on that same bright red lipstick and feather earrings that had been dyed orange. The whole thing should have looked ghastly. Instead, there was a kind of charm about it.
The guy finally realized that there was someone standing behind him and turned to frown up at Travis.
What an idiot.
No survival instincts.
“Who are you? Do you know him?” the other guy demanded, turning back to Caren.
“No, she just guessed my name,” Travis drawled. What a fucking idiot! What was she doing with this guy?
No doubt she’d be grateful that he’d rescued her from this situation.
Although he was still going to scold her for coming here without an exit plan. With a stranger.
You still don’t know that . . .
“Yes, I do know him,” she said. “River, this is Travis. Travis, this is River.”
Huh, he didn’t look like a River.
River stood and Travis took a step to the side, not wanting to actually come in contact with him. River looked confused for a moment. Then a look of superiority entered his face as he took Travis in.
Probably sizing him up and deciding that he could take him if necessary.
Think again, asshole.
“Well, Travis, we were just leaving. Good to meet you.” There was a sneer to River’s voice that told him that he didn’t mean that at all.
That was fine with Travis. He wasn’t here to make friends with this dipshit.
Travis moved closer to Caren. “What do you think you are doing?”
“Sorry?” she asked.
“Yes, you will be soon. Get your stuff, you’re coming with me.”
Her mouth opened and closed as she continued to gape up at him. “Sorry?”
She didn’t seem to be getting this. He bit back a sigh.
“Caren, gather up your things. You’re coming with me. Don’t know who this guy is, but you shouldn’t be going out with people you don’t know.”
“How do you know she doesn’t know me?” River asked.
“You’ve met her before tonight?” Travis asked, wondering if he’d made a mistake and they were friends or something.
River shifted from foot to foot. “Well, no, but we’ve talked and⎯”
“Doesn’t count. Caren, come.” He held out his hand to her.
“Caren come?” she repeated. “Is this happening? Are you . . . are you all right, Travis? Are you having some sort of . . . moment.”
“Ahh, shit.” River grimaced. “Sorry. Didn’t realize. You okay, man?”
“What? Of course I’m okay.” What the fuck was going on now?
“Are you sure?” Caren asked. “Because you’re acting very strange.”