“What the fuck, Billy?!”

Jax had his hand to his face, muffling his curses as he took a step back. He wasn’t retreating though. I could see in his eyes that he was thinking of his next move. If this turned into an all-out fight, my already-trashed bar was going to be destroyed, and Billy would get his ass kicked. I didn’t doubt that for a minute.

Part of me wanted to let it happen because Billy had been out of line. Not to mention the fact that when he pulled this possessive bullshit, it didn’t make me feel safe and protected. It made me feel like I was a piece of property. That I belonged to him, and no one else was going to get to play with his toys.

Not exactly how a girlfriend wanted to feel. Not this girlfriend, anyway.

“You heard him,” Billy said, his face red.

“Yeah, I did.” I stepped between him and Jax. “And absolutely nothing he said made him deserve a punch to the face.”

I didn’t mention the fact that, right before Billy arrived, I’d thought Jax was going to kiss me. It would only make things worse, and I didn’t even really know that’s what Jax had been thinking. He could’ve been staring at me like that because he was trying to figure out the best way to convince me to sell.

Sometimes, lying to myself was the only way to get through the day.

Besides, even if Jax had kissed me, that would’ve been for me to deal with, not Billy. Not unless I had needed his help. And Jax wasn’t like that.

“I can’t believe you’re defending him,” Billy said. His voice had taken on that whining tone that always set my teeth on edge. “You’re my girlfriend! You should be on my side.”

“That’s enough,” I said sharply. “You need to apologize and back off. Jax didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Jax?” Billy glowered at me now. “What happened to Mr. Hunter?”

I shook my head, my patience wearing thin. “Suck it up and apologize to him. You were in the wrong here.”

Tension stretched in the silence as I waited to see what Billy would do. He’d never gotten violent with me, but I knew he had a temper. And a childish streak that could make him unpredictable at times. If he thought I was taking Jax’s side over him, he could sulk and leave, or he could make matters worse.

“No fucking way.”

Okay, so it was making matters worse.

“Can I get some ice?” Jax asked. He was holding the bridge of his nose, but I didn’t see any blood, so I hoped that meant nothing was broken. “I have a meeting next week that I’d rather not have black eyes for.”

He was taking this rather well. I took a step toward the kitchen, intending to get him what he asked for, but I didn’t make it any further because Billy’s hand closed on my upper arm.

“Don’t.”

I turned around, looking down at his hand, and then back up at him. “Let go of me.”

His grip tightened, a stubborn look on his face. “I mean it, Syll. Don’t.”

I tried to pull my arm free, but his fingers dug in, and I made a pained noise.

“She said to let go.” Jax was suddenly there, towering over us both. “I suggest you do it.”

“Or what?” Billy said belligerently. “I can break your nose this time.”

“I don’t think so,” Jax countered, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re not going to catch me off-guard again. That was your one freebie.”

“You know what, Billy,” Syll sighed, “get out.”

Both men looked at me, surprised, and I took the opportunity to pull my arm free. I took a couple steps back but didn’t take my eyes off Billy. I pointed at him. “You need to leave. You’re behaving like a child, and I’ve got enough to deal with right now. I can’t handle this too.”

“C’mon, Syll,” Billy protested. “I’m your boyfriend, and you’re going to kick me out?”

“You’re the one causing the problems,” I said. “Leave.”

“Say the word,” Jax said quietly, “and I’ll make him go.”

For a moment, I worried that, rather than preventing a fight, I was provoking one, but then Billy scowled and looked away. “Fine.”

I waited until he left before looking over at Jax. My annoyance shifted from my boyfriend to this near-stranger as I saw him looking far too pleased with himself. “And what the hell were you thinking? Provoking him like that?”

His eyes widened. “I provoked him? Do I have to remind you that he punched me in the face for no reason?”

“I don’t know about that,” I said. “He came in here and saw a strange man in a trashed bar with his girlfriend. For all he knew, you’d done that to get to me.”

Jax shook his head, but he looked amused more than angry. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

I pushed back sweat-dampened curls from my face and sighed. “I believe that I’m tired of men talking over me and around me.”

“That’s not what I was doing,” he said. “I was trying to protect you.”

“Protect me? He’s my boyfriend. I was never in any danger from him.”

“I think the bruises you’re going to have on your arm would say otherwise.”

I glared up at him, all my previous thoughts about how gorgeous he was disappearing as I realized how annoying he was. “I had it under control.”

“Yeah, you did.”

I reached out and poked him in the chest, then tried not to show how surprised I was at just how hard his chest was. “You don’t know me. I don’t care how much research you did on me and my family before you came in with your offer, but that doesn’t mean you know shit about who I am, or what I’m capable of.”

He held up his hands in the universal I surrender gesture. “Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I’m just saying that I can fight my own battles. I always have.”

Something in his face softened. “But you shouldn’t have to.”

No. I didn’t want him to say something like that. I didn’t want him to look at me like he wanted to protect me. I didn’t need that from anyone. I never had. My father had raised me to be tough, to think for myself. I knew he hadn’t wanted to leave me so young, but he’d always meant for me to be able to look after myself when he was gone. He’d never trusted Billy to do it.

And I was starting to think that I never had either.

“Don’t get cute,” I said quietly. “Billy’s my boyfriend. Yeah, he was out of line, both with you and with me, but what would you have thought if you’d been in his position?”

He was silent for a minute, considering the question before answering it. “Did you call him as soon as you saw this?”

“Right after I called the cops.” I narrowed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“The cops have been here and left again,” he said. “I didn’t see any of them, so I’m guessing they were gone about five to ten minutes before I got here. But he was completely calm and relaxed when he got in here. Acting like it was okay that it took him all this time to get here.”

“He was at work.” Even as I defended him, I couldn’t help but remember how frustrated I’d been when he hadn’t answered his phone.

Jax moved into my personal space with one step, his expression serious, his eyes darkening. “No work, no person – nothing in this life – would have kept me from getting to the woman I loved if I thought she was in trouble.”

Oh.

Then he was cupping my face and lowering his head.

His mouth was firm against mine, nothing timid or hesitant about it. His lips moved, parting mine so he could trace my mouth with the tip of his tongue. His teeth scraped against my bottom lip, and I made a sound I’d never made before.

It startled me enough to make me realize what he was doing. To really realize it.

I pushed him away, intending to simply tell him never to do it again, but then I saw the smirk on his face, and my temper got the best of me.

I slapped him.