Lydia stared back at him, accepting as her comeuppance the unspoken words she saw in his stare. He’d want to talk about this some more once they were alone. “Yeah. Imagine it.”
Steven glanced at both of them, his brows lowered. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” Lydia assured him quickly. She forced a smile before turning back to Holt. “Anyway, like Steven said, I have a headache. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m g
oing to—”
“Late night?” Holt interrupted, a brow raised.
Her cheeks heated. “Something like that.”
“That’s what I asked her, too,” Steven said, crossing his arms. “Turns out, her dick of an ex-boyfriend broke up with her the other day, so she had a girls night out.”
Holt nodded as if he listened intently. “Girls night out, huh? That’s the perfect thing to help a girl recover from heartbreak. Or…so I’ve been told.”
“I’m sure it helped her. She has great friends,” Steven said.
Her cheeks went hot. “I broke up with him, not the other way around. And she is right here and can answer for herself.”
“Yeah.” Holt stared her down. “I can see that.”
“I’m going to go now,” she said, managing to smile at both of them even though she wanted to scream. “It was lovely to meet you, Holt.”
Holt’s jaw flexed. “Likewise.”
“I’ll give you a ride home. Just let me say my goodbyes to—”
“Steven!” Cooper called out, motioning him over. His fiancée, Kayla, did the same. A pretty brunette woman stood next to Kayla, looking at the three of them. “Come here and meet your new supervisor.”
Steven stiffened. “Son of a bitch. I’m too late. Can you wait a little longer, Lyd?”
“I can just get a cab,” she said quickly. She could feel Holt’s stare burning into her. The sooner she got out of there, the better. “I’ll be fine on my—”
Steven glared. “No way. I’m not letting you fight for a cab out there. It’s dark, and this isn’t exactly the best section of the city.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m not a child anymore,” Lydia said.
“The hell you aren’t.” Steven fisted his hands. “You’re not going home alone, and that’s that.”
Lydia stiffened. “You listen here, you big oaf. I’ll—”
“Now, now. Enough fighting, kids. Cooper’s watching, and so is your new boss,” Holt said, his voice sardonic. He stepped forward and rested a hand on Lydia’s lower back. “I’ll take her home and make sure she gets inside safe and sound. You have my word.”
Her heart stammered before ramping up to full speed. She couldn’t do this. Holt was the reason she was leaving. To be alone with him, in a car, would be dangerous in more ways than one. “N-No. I couldn’t ask that of a man I just met. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“I’m taking you home,” Holt said, his voice leaving no room for arguments. “And that’s that.”
“Yes, sir,” she muttered sarcastically.
Holt flexed his jaw, but remained silent.
“Perfect.” Steven clapped Holt on the back. “Always the man of the hour, ready to help a guy out.”
“Not always,” he said under his breath.
The smile on Steven’s face slipped for a second, but then it corrected itself. “Thanks, man. And, hey—” Steven glanced at Lydia, and then whispered something in Holt’s ear before pulling back. “Got that?”
Holt flexed his jaw. “Yep. Loud and clear.”