Chapter Six
Xander thought that Greer was handling her break up rather well considering how fast everything had come about. They had just reached his Bronco when the little weasel, Sam caught up to them, his date running rather unsteadily behind him, probably due to the absurd sky scraper heels she had on.
Apparently, Kelsey hadn’t been very successful with holding him off. Xander saw the front of his light gray suit had a big wet spot right over his crotch, making it look as though he’d pissed himself.
“Greer!” Sam shouted. “You come at me and make a scene when you’re out with some other guy? You’re a fucking hypocrite.”
Xander’s skin prickled at his tone and he took a step closer to Greer.
When Greer put a hand on Xander’s shoulder, the heat of her palm burned through his shirt, and electricity sparked across his body.
“This is the man who found me lying unconscious after I hit my head and took me to the hospital. We stopped for food because…wait, I don’t need to explain myself to you. You cheated. I didn’t. We’re done.”
Xander was disappointed when she stopped touching him, and went for the car door before he could get it.
But Sam lurched forward, gripping her arm viciously.
“You humiliated me!” he snarled.
Greer tried to shake him off, but Xander could see his hold tighten. An unexpected growl escaped him, and his wolf rustled just below his skin. The anger and resentment radiating off the other man was agitating his beast and he wanted Sam gone.
“Take your hand off her,” Xander said softly.
Sam, oblivious to the danger he was in, snapped, “You aren’t even a part of this so shut the fuck up.”
With lightning speed, Xander wrenched Sam’s hand from Greer’s arm and tilted his fingers back until he was whimpering.
“I’m going to let you go and you’re going to walk away. After that, you’re to stay away from Greer. Understood?”
When Sam opened his mouth, Xander could tell he was going to protest and he increased the pressure. Sam finally yelled, “Fine, shit, let me go!”
Xander released him abruptly and stepped back. He caught the horrified expression on Greer’s face and he cursed himself. He’d let his emotions get the best of him, which only proved how dangerous she was to him. Only hours after meeting her, he was ready to throttle any man who hurt her.
This was definitely not good.
Sam cradled his injured hand to his chest, wrenching away from Patty when she tried to touch him. “I’ll sue your ass!”
“You can try, but I’ve got nothing you’d want.”
“Come on, Sammy, let’s go,” Patty said.
Xander couldn’t believe the man let her call him Sammy as though he were a child. And what’s more, he couldn’t imagine what Greer had seen in the douche.
Once they had walked away, Xander opened his passenger door for her.
“What was that?” she asked quietly.
Xander had sensed by her reaction that she was upset with him, but there was no way he could have stood by and let that piece of shit manhandle her.
“I was protecting your honor?” His attempt at a joke fell flat and he sighed, “I’m sorry. I know I don’t know you well, and that I should have just let you handle your own business, but he had no right to touch you like that.”
“I agree, but you could have really hurt him.”
“I was in complete control,” he lied.
“It looked to me as though you were ready to lose your shit on Sam if he made a wrong move.”
Xander shook his head. Humans. They never understood the strength shifters had. Not that Greer had any idea what he was, and it was obvious that this whole misadventure had been a bad idea. He shouldn’t have strayed from his course. He should have taken her to the hospital and let her friend pick her up. Getting involved with her was dangerous and stupid, to say the least.
When he’d been standing inside waiting for the food, he’d overheard a couple of elderly gentleman talking about shifters and why all of them should be rounded up and taken care of. It all laid credit to the fact that Idaho was definitely not werewolf friendly and he’d do best to conclude his mission and move on. Maybe back to Blue Creek. Let Barbara Wolfe find him a mate.
“I wouldn’t have hurt him unless he gave me a reason to.”
Greer tilted her head, studying him intently. “Are you a convict?”
“What?”
“Have you ever been in prison?”
He sputtered. “No. Have you?”
“No, I just…you sounded so cold and hard just then, I thought maybe…”
She trailed off and Xander ran a hand through his hair impatiently. “Look, I’m not dangerous and I would never hurt you. If you want to go inside and call your friend to pick you up, I won’t stop you. But I’m still willing to see you home safely. It’s up to you.”
For a moment, he really did think she was going to take her meal and pie and walk back inside. Instead, she hauled herself up into the seat without a word.
Just as he was about to close the door, she reached out and put her hand on his arm.
“I do appreciate you stepping in with Sam. Your chivalry has been unexpected.”
Xander let out the breath he’d been holding when he thought she was going to run from him and smiled.
“I would never let anyone hurt you. You have my word on that.”