This group looks to be made up of college-aged frat boy types with some bored-looking girls sitting beside some of them. They’re probably here for the music festival that is going on in the city an hour away. Why they would wander into our parts eludes me. Usually, the tourists are older couples looking for a nice relaxing weekend with our majestic mountains in the distance and the beautiful lakes that sit just past the town limits.
Ana has her smile pasted on her face as she refills water glasses at one of the tables. It’s the smile she gets when she’s faking it for the customer’s benefit. I watch with narrowed eyes trying to decide if it’s because she’s hungover or if it’s the diners she’s serving.
I don’t have to wonder for long…
“Come on, baby. Don’t be like that. We just want to take you out on the lake,” he looks her up and down salaciously, “I can imagine your tight little body wrapped up in a barely-there bikini. You’d be the prettiest arm candy of them all.”
The girl sitting next to him looks beyond pissed but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m working, but thanks for the offer,” Ana says, her voice strained, but her smile never drops. “Can I get y’all anything else?”
The douche who was talking licks his lips. “Nothing but you, baby.” Before she can move out of the way, the idiot pulls her in close, practically onto his lap. “You shouldn’t be such a cock te-”
I don’t let him finish his disgusting sentence. I grab my girl and carefully set her out of harm’s way before turning my burning eyes on the jackass and his friends. “Hands off, asshole.”
The kid looks up at me, then up some more as I tower over him. I don’t usually use my stature to intimidate people, but I’m making an exception this time.
“We’re just having a bit of fun, man. Chill.”
I growl low in my throat. “If you think abusing the waitstaff is just a ‘bit of fun,’ then you should go back to the city and stay there. We don’t tolerate that kind of behavior here in Sugarhill.”
He sputters as I take a step back. I turn to look at Ana, who is standing there looking at me like I just grew two heads and horns.
The idiot makes a colossal mistake. He stands up, being braver than he should be with his little friends to back him up. I’m a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Him and his puny friends have zero chance of intimidating me. “Hey dick,” he says, trying to sound hard. “You don’t tell me where to go. Do you know who my parents are?”
I laugh. “I don’t care if your mom is the Queen of fucking England, you don’t treat ladies like they are a commodity. Not in my town.”
I see it before he even moves. The look in his eyes says that he’s about to do something stupid. And two seconds later, his fist flies out in a weak punch. I grab his fist in one of my hands and squeeze until his bones grind together. Not hard enough to break, but hard enough that he realizes I could break every bone in his hand with just a bit more pressure.
“Hey man, chill,” one of his friends says. “He was just fucking around.”
I let go of his hand and point to the door. “Lunch is on me, asshole. Now get.”
I’m mildly surprised when the whole group leaves without a word—a little rush of disappointment courses through me. I wanted to pound his face in. The adrenaline high fighting gave me is right there, teasing through my veins. I watch as they scurry off with their tails between their legs.
I turn my attention back to Ana. She’s staring at me in shock. “Are you okay, darlin’?”
She blinks a couple times then seems to snap out of it. “I’m fine. I had that under control,” she says petulantly.
“Sure, you did,” I agree, realizing that I’ve hurt her pride.
Her eyes burn blue fire at me. “I did, I worked at Hooters while I was in college before I moved back to take care of my grandma Ruth. I know how to handle assholes.”
My back straightens, anger burning through me at the thought of her working at a place like that with their itty-bitty uniforms. Part of me wants to rage at her for working there. Another part wants to see if she still has that uniform—mainly my cock.
“Well, most assholes,” she corrects. I don’t miss the fact that it’s a dig against me. I don’t care if she thinks I’m an asshole. I am one… but when it comes to her, it’s only when I feel the need to be protective… some might say obsessive—either way.
I take a step closer to her and wrap my arm around her lower back, pulling her to me. “I’m not your enemy, Ana.”
She looks at me confused for a minute. She probably sees me as the enemy. I realize my gruff ways have done more damage than good over the last several months. It’s time I fix that because I’m done keeping my distance. Ana will realize soon enough that she’s mine.
She pushes at my chest, trying to put distance between us. I tighten my grip on her, not giving her the space she wants. Her blue eyes shoot daggers at me, but I ignore it. “I will never allow someone to do anything to you, Analise. You’re too precious to have someone treat you that way.”
“But-”
I cut her off with a kiss. Right here in the middle of the diner, in front of half the town and God himself. I’m announcing to the world—and Ana—that she’s mine and I protect what’s mine.
She’s stiff at first, still pushing against my chest, but then she softens, her hands fisting in my shirt as her mouth opens to my tongue. She relaxes, losing herself to the
