My pulse is racing. Not only am I going to have her in my car, I’m going to take her home. To an empty house. “I’ll take good care of her.” I do my best to keep my words steady, the innuendo thick, but luckily Martin is focused on his task.
He slaps my shoulder. “Thanks. I trust you with her. You’re one of the only ones I trust with her. I may have only been her father for a few years, but I swear, if anyone touches her…” He shakes his head. “Man, I feel like I want to cut their fucking fingers off.”
With that, he laughs, then waves his hand in the air as he turns, calling for the three guys. They half stumble toward him, making their meandering way for the front door of the restaurant.
I follow behind them as the last stragglers from the party file out of the room, saying good night to the staff as they pass. With a glance, it’s clear that Holly isn’t among them and I need to find her, fast.
When I don’t see her in the open area of the restaurant either, but when I pass the coat room, I practically lose my shit.
“No, thank you…” Holly is pressed up against the wall, turning her head away as Nathan, one of the newest members of our rough carpentry crew, leans in close to her, holding a twig of some greenery over her head.
“Just pretend… It’s mistletoe.” His words are thick. He’s not even old enough to drink, but clearly the bar tender didn’t ask for ID because he’s loaded.
“She said no, asshole.” I bark, marching forward in three long strides and putting myself in the small space between them my hands balling into fists at my sides.
Nathan’s eyes go wide and he lowers his hand. “Just having some fun.” He slurs out. “Besides, look what she’s wearing! She’s lookin—”
“Pushing yourself on a woman who is clearly not interested is not in any way, shape or form fun. Nor is it acceptable. Capeesh? No matter what she’s wearing. So, if you want your head to continue to be attached to your neck, you’ll get your drunk ass out of here in the next three seconds.”
“Cole…” Holly’s voice comes from behind. “It’s okay.”
She’s sweet. Too sweet.
I spin my head around and shoot her a warning look. “Not okay.” I turn back to Nathan, who is still standing there looking stupid. “Did I stutter? Can you not count to three? Get. Out.” I bark the words right into his face, and it finally snaps him out of his stupor. He turns his face away and nods as I look back at Holly. “Don’t leave this room. I’ll be right back.”
She starts to protest, but the look on my face shuts down whatever defense she was about to mount. A moment later I’m on Nathan’s heels, marching him to the front of the restaurant my hand gripping the back of his shirt practically lifting him off the ground. I find a chair and drop his ass down making sure he knows he’s going to wait there while the hostess calls him a cab.
He can wait the fucking hour Martin said they’d take for all I care.
When I’ve got that settled, I go back to the coat room, grab her coat.
“Put this on.” I hold it out and she slips her arms in giving me a confused look.
When I’ve got her coat on, I take her hand and half drag her behind me heading to the front door.
“Is the party over?” She looks into the back room to see it’s empty. “I just went to get some gum out of my coat and he followed me. I tried to just be polite…”
“Sometimes being polite can get you hurt. Sometimes you need to be a bitch.”
She gives me a wary look. “Yeah, I’m not so good at that.”
That’s why you need me around.
It’s what I want to say, but I hold back, instead leading her past where Nathan sits giving him another death glare and out into the chill of the parking lot.
“Where are we going? Where’s my dad?”
“He’s driving a few other over-indulgers home. Said for me to give you a ride to his house. I’ll wait with you there.”
She looks like she’s going to protest but I keep us moving, needing her in my car, next to me, more than I need my next breath.
I lead her out into the cold air, a fine freezing mist covering everything with a layer of ice. I hold her elbow as she tries to stay steady on the heels she’s wearing until we’re at my pickup and I open the door, helping her up and inside.
“Oh my God it’s freezing out.” Her shoulders quiver and she rubs her hands together in front of her chest.