Jesus. Who was this fucking guy? Royalty? Who gave a shit if a waiter saw you get your ass handed to you?

I sure as hell wouldn’t, but then again, this guy and I clearly had nothing in common.

“Probably because he’s an entitled piece of shit.”

She frowned, drained her glass, and reached for the bottle. Let her have it all. What else was she going to do today? Hell, if I didn’t have practice to get to, I wouldn’t mind day drinking right along with her.

Be there for her.

Soothe her soul.

Make her laugh.

I took a large cooling chug of my own water. Did nothing to help the heat quickly building. Yeah, maybe I was an ass for thinking she was hot while talking about her ex.

But it couldn’t be denied.

Emmersyn was gorgeous.

Every decent man’s wet dream.

Too damn bad I had to keep my hands off her.

“Anyway.” She shrugged and bit her bottom lip. “He dragged me out behind the restaurant and did this…” She circled her face with a finger. “And then after, he told me I could come home when I was ready to apologize for my behavior.”

She had to be joking. Except she wasn’t, which was all the more shocking. “The fuck?”

“Yeah.”

“All right.” I lifted a hand. “I’ve heard enough and don’t get all scared if I sound pissed right now, because I’m fucking pissed off as hell. But you need to hear a couple things and hear me well, okay?”

“Oh. um. All right.”

The glass trembled in her hand as she brought it to her mouth. Great. I was making her shake.

“One, Lincoln, whoever the fuck he is, is a fucking loser and a giant piece of shit. You deserve better, you’ll find better. Any man who puts his hands on a woman is scum. Got it so far?”

I waited until she nodded.

“And second, I don’t know why you and Heather thought the only safe place you could come is here, but you’re here now. And you’re staying for as long as you goddamn want, okay? My season starts soon. I’m going to be on the road a shit ton. Frankly, I don’t mind the idea Alix and I’s places won’t be empty all the time. You want to be here, lick your wounds, get over the fucking punk, you can do it here. And anything you need, just ask, or take. My cars, my food, my wine,” I threw in as she took another healthy gulp.

Her answer was a timid smile. One that looked way too good on her, given the shit I was saying.

Focus. Right.

“It’s all yours. For as long as you need it. Okay?”

“Have you ever heard of Regal Hospitality and Travel?”

“Excuse me?”

“Lincoln. He’s set to become the next president and CEO of the corporation. Regal Hotels? Cruise lines? Restaurants all over the globe. It’s his family’s company, started by his great-grandfather, then his grandfather, and now his father, Elias Powers, owns and runs it. That’s why Heather sent me here without my credit cards or phone. He has the means to find me and drag me back home if he wanted to, so she wanted me somewhere safe where he couldn’t get to me.”