Hard

The door opened, but it wasn’t Zachary who came out.

“Excuse me, is there a man in there with shorter blond hair and a button-down plaid shirt?”

The older man shook his head. “Nah, I was the only one.” He moved past her without saying anything else.

Dread settled inside her, and she made her way quickly out of the bar. Standing outside, she glanced at the parking lot but didn’t see his car.

No. Fucking. Way.

She took a couple of minutes to walk the parking lot, knowing exactly where they’d parked. She saw her car, but Zachary’s truck was missing. No one wanted to be ditched on a date, but it looked like that was exactly what he did to her.

When she was able to catch her breath, she grabbed her phone.

Damn, that shot is making me extra tipsy.

Knowing she had to drive, she’d been a fool to drink so much.

Closing her eyes and rubbing them for a second, she opened them and focused on her phone again. First, she called Mel. Her coworker had gotten her into this, and the least she could do was bitch at her about it. But after calling her twice and getting her voicemail each time, she sent Mel a text telling her the asshole had left her at the bar.

Keys in hand, she walked over to her car, got in, and shut and locked the door. She couldn’t drive, not when she was buzzed like this.

She couldn’t call Crestin, not when her friend lived so far away, and aside from Mel and a few other coworkers, all of whom were not answering their phones, Izabella didn’t have anyone else to call.

But as she looked at her phone, she thought of one other person, but she didn’t know if calling him was the best choice. What if he was with someone? But she had no one else, and even if she could have called a cab, a part of her still wanted to call Corbin. Maybe it was because she was drunk and not so inhibited right now, or maybe she wanted to be a masochist because he could easily shoot her down.

Without thinking anymore, she dialed his number and put the phone to her ear. She just hoped this didn’t backfire on her because she hadn’t been close with Corbin in so long.

6

Corbin’s cell rang, and for a second, he thought about saying fuck it and turning the damn thing off. He’d already ignored three calls from some chick who wanted to fuck, and although he hadn’t seen her in longer than he could even remember, she’d been drunk and desperate for some cock.

He kicked his feet up on the coffee table and leaned back, but at the last second, he grabbed his cell. The number that flashed on the screen had his skin tightening for a second.

Izabella.

He sat up at the same time he hit the accept button. “Hello?” There was a pause before he heard her sigh.

“Corbin?”

“Is everything okay?” He instantly heard the slurred quality in her voice, but something in the back of his mind pricked at the fact she was supposed to be on a date and had called him. He was worried about her, and that had every part of him coming to attention.

“No, everything went to shit.” She started chuckling, but he could tell she wasn’t laughing because this was humorous. “I’m drunk, my date left me at the bar, and I don’t want to drive home.” Another moment of silence passed. “I hate to bother you, but can you pick me up?”

“Of course,” he said right away. “Tell me where you are. I’m on my way now.” She told him the restaurant, and after he got off the phone, he felt his rage rise. Some little motherfucker had left her alone at the bar. He didn’t know the reason, and he didn’t fucking care. He’d take care of her, and when she was sober and thinking clearly, he’d tell her exactly how he felt.

“Thanks for the lift,” she said, hearing the slurred quality of her voice, but feeling so good, despite her situation, that she found herself smiling.

God, my face hurts and feels so hot. Corbin must think I’m an absolute idiot.

“It’s not a problem, Izabella. I’m glad you called,” Corbin said, leaning against her doorframe, looking so damn good. “I’ll have your car picked up and dropped off at the house, that way it’s one less thing you have to worry about.”

She was drunk, so she knew she was blatantly checking him out, which was so inappropriate, but after the night she’d had, she just didn’t give a shit. “Thanks,” she whispered. The silence stretched out uncomfortably.

“That guy was an asshole, and if I find him, I’ll beat his ass for leaving you there.” He had a stoic expression.