Your Alluring Love (The Bennett Family 6)

“You okay?” Nate asks, visibly calmer.

“Don’t talk to me right now,” I reply, once again fighting to keep my voice down. Realizing I need some fresh air—and by fresh, I mean someplace where there aren’t a dozen people watching us—I head to the staircase leading down to the terrace and into the small garden surrounding the building. Nate is right behind me. I stop once I reach the bottom of the staircase, turning to Nate.

“Alice?”

“Why did you cause a scene? The guests were watching.”

Nate cocks an eyebrow. “He was being a jerk to you, and he needed to apologize. I don’t give a fuck about the others.”

I swallow, trying to calm down. He was just defending me. “But I do. I own this restaurant, Nate. I need to make a good impression on the guests.”

“So I was just supposed to hear him talk to you like that and do nothing?”

“I was handling it.”

“By the smug look on his face when I joined you, you were in for another string of insults.”

“I was trying to handle it diplomatically.”

Nate smiles. “Not your strong suit, eh?”

“Well, no. I’m much better at being rude and straightforward, but as I said, I was trying not to cause a scene. I would’ve gotten rid of him eventually.”

“Let me do the dirty work from time to time. You’re mine, Alice. That means I’ll protect you from anyone, even if you don’t want me to. I’ll protect you especially when you don’t want me to because it’s when you need it most.” Before I can reply, he steps right in front of me. “You understand? You are mine.”

I shake my head. “You’re stubborn and possessive.”

“Sounds like I’m a catch.”

“I didn’t mean those as compliments,” I inform him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“That’s how they sounded to me.”

“How do you figure?”

“You can easily rephrase that to determined and protective. Both positive traits.”

Despite my annoyance, my lips twitch with a hint of a smile.

“I won’t apologize for wanting to protect you.”

“I wasn’t really expecting you to,” I reply, disarmed by his passion and honesty. “But I’m warning you, I’m still mad at you.”

“I’m counting on it, darling. In fact, hold on to the anger until we get home. Unless you want to leave now?”

“No, the event isn’t over.” I’m a little suspicious of his sudden good mood. “Why do you want me to hold on to the anger?”

“Because there’s a kind of sex I’m dying to try with you.”

“What kind is that?”

He wiggles his eyebrows, leaning in. “Make-up sex.”

***

Nate

We arrive at Alice’s apartment hours later, but she’s still fuming. That moron stuck around for the entire event, and even though he didn’t so much as go near her again, I can tell he annoyed her. It sure as hell annoyed the fuck out of me. If I had my way, I would have thrown him out of the building. With a punch, so he’d know better than to disrespect Alice again. Just remembering how he talked to her makes my blood boil. But right now, I have to set that anger aside and focus on Alice. She’s my priority.