He had no intention of letting his brother in on the fact that Meg was pregnant. His sibling would have a field day with Scott’s interest based on that alone. He’d be wrong. But it wasn’t worth the hassle or discussion.
“Sorry,” Tyler muttered, obviously uncomfortable.
Scott wasn’t sure if he was referring to the divorce, the reason behind it, or Meg’s lack of interest. All were enough to shit on his ego.
Meg shoved her chair back and headed for the back of the restaurant, where the restrooms were located, and Scott breathed easily for the first time since realizing she was there.
“You going after her?” Tyler asked.
“No.”
“It’s not like you to give up when you want something.”
Good point, Scott thought, but he remained seated. Watching but wary.
Meg returned and stopped by one of her friends, whispering something in her ear. The women spoke, and suddenly the guy who’d been inching closer to her all evening walked up to them. They talked. Looked more like an argument.
And then he grabbed Meg’s arm. Scott bolted out of his seat and came up behind Meg. Her soft scent invaded his senses, but his focus was on the asshole who hadn’t released her.
“Let. Go,” Meg said through clenched teeth.
Scott’s hands fisted at his sides. “Touch her again and you’ll answer to me.”
Meg didn’t know where Scott Dare had come from. She hadn’t noticed him in the bar earlier, and she was always aware when he was near. How could she not be? He was everything that appealed to her in a man. Tall, with jet-black hair that always looked as if he’d just run his hand through the inky strands. Full lips. Straight nose. So damned handsome.
Though he had a dominant streak a mile wide, one she couldn’t miss during their few encounters, he’d been warm and caring when taking her statement in the hospital. And he was a cop, which meant he wasn’t her typical bad boy, but he gave off a masculine vibe that just did it for her.
“Who the hell are you?” Ken asked Scott, interrupting her blatant perusal.
“A friend who heard her tell you to get lost.” If Scott’s pissed-off tone and much bigger build wasn’t enough to make his point, he pushed his jacket back, revealing his holstered gun. “I’m off duty, but it still works.”
Ken raised both hands and took a step back. “Easy, man. It’s not my fault she gave off the wrong signals.” He shook his head and stormed off, his friends pushing their chairs back and quickly following.
“Are you okay?” Lizzy asked, her hand protectively on Meg’s arm.
“I’m fine.”
“And who is this?” Allie asked, coming up on Meg’s other side.
She tipped her head toward Scott, still not meeting his gaze. She wasn’t ready. “Liz, Allie, this is Scott Dare.”
“Holy hell, girl,” Allie whispered none too softly. “I can see why you weren’t interested in the Ken doll.”
Meg’s cheeks burned.
“Nice to meet you both,” Scott said in that voice that Meg heard in her dreams.
He turned toward her, giving her no choice but to look into those sexy navy—almost violet—eyes, made more vibrant by his light-blue shirt. “Meg, a word?”
She shook her head. She’d managed to put him out of her thoughts, which hadn’t been easy, and here he was, coming to her rescue and making demands. If she wasn’t so determined to turn over a new leaf, be independent, she’d respond to his sexy tone and probably do anything he asked. Her damp panties were proof of that.
“I was just telling my friends I’m going home.” She kissed Lizzy on the cheek and squeezed Allie’s hand, reassuring them both she was fine.
She strode past Scott, knowing full well he’d follow. He waited until they were on the street away from the crowds before he grasped her hand and turned her to face him. “Meg.”
“Thank you for getting rid of the creep.” She pulled her phone from her bag and scrolled for the app that would let her call for a car.
“I’ll drive you home.”
“Was that an offer or an order?” she asked, unable to help her sarcastic mouth. He brought that out in her.
He shot her a look. One that had her quivering inside. And giving in to his demand. “Okay, you can drive me home.”
And then she planned to walk herself inside, close her front door, and forget about Scott Dare.
Without a word, he grasped her elbow and led her to a parking lot where his Range Rover was parked.
“I can’t believe what a mess tonight turned out to be,” she muttered once they were settled in the plush leather seats.
“What were you doing there in the first place?”
She swung around to face him. “I can’t go out to a restaurant with friends?”
“Of course you can.”
He wanted to say more. She could tell from the tense set of his jaw.
She sighed and decided to save him the trouble. “No, you’re right. Lizzy and Allie had this idea of taking me out so I could pick up a guy and have one last fling before I start to show.” She slid her hands over her stomach. “And before I’m busy being a mom.”
His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “You were going to hook up with some stranger?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“What? No! I said they thought I should. I just went out to see my friends. Then that guy sat down and—Why am I explaining myself to you?” she asked, trailing off.
But it had been this way with Scott from the first time they’d met. She found him easy to talk to. Understanding. Like he heard what she said and cared, unlike her ex. Or any of the men in her past.
She watched the palm trees and scenery as he drove. She’d already told him where she lived when she’d explained how she’d ended up in the hospital a little over a month ago. She just couldn’t believe he remembered. All too
