Chapter Four #3
Feeling confident, she headed down to the bar and looked at what was available. There were a few she fancied, so she asked the bartender for recommendations between those she was thinking about. Once she was ready, she ordered her drink.
It didn’t take long to arrive. Drink in hand, she turned around to head back to the table. Only, she was blocked in. A man was right there, breathing in her face. Their bodies were almost touching.
She tried not to wince at the acidic smell from his breath. His eyes were red, like he hadn’t slept in a while. His gaze took a leisurely stroll over her body, and it made her feel cold.
“Can I get past, please?” she asked politely.
“Hey, beautiful,” he slurred, and leaned closer. “Not seen you here before. Fancy a dance?”
He tried to take her drink, so she backed off.
Unfortunately, the bar was right behind her.
It was crowded around her, so she had nowhere else to go.
Glancing around, the bartenders were over on the other side so she couldn’t get their attention.
No one else was paying attention, or they were choosing to ignore it.
“No, thank you,” she responded, making her voice sterner this time.
“Just one. Come on.” Now he was right in her face, leaning closer like he wanted to kiss her.
“I said no!” She turned her face, so he was talking to her cheek.
“Pretty please?”
This time, he got the drink out of her hand and put it on the bar. Her hand now free, he grabbed it and pulled her with him. Panic engulfed her. Her worst fear was coming to life. Maybe he did just want to dance, but he didn’t seem to like the word no.
Fight mode engaged, she tried to yank her arm out of his grip. Managing to get her on the dancefloor, he wrapped his arms around her to stop her from leaving. Her foot lashed out to kick his shin, and all he did was laugh.
Trying to step around him and still trying to free herself, she saw the most wonderful sight. Spencer was on his feet, standing at the top of the stairs, glaring at the situation. His gaze slowly swept the room, and anyone with a phone out to record what was happening was asked to stop.
She assumed it was because she was flailing and drawing attention.
She hated that their first reaction was to record it and not help.
However, when she saw what their cameras were pointing at, she caught her breath.
Hank and Louis were coming down the stairs.
They were taking slow, measured steps. And they were ready to go to war.
Hank was resting his hand on Louis’s shoulder, which seemed to hold Louis back from going at full speed.
Three hockey players were ready for a showdown. They had fans here, because some had tried to get autographs. Hank had been generous and done a few, but Louis and Spencer had made it obvious that this was their downtime. Clearly, some people knew who they were and were taking this moment to record.
Right now, she should be controlling this, so they didn’t get seen on any media ready to fight. But she couldn’t have felt any more relieved.
He promised! He kept his promise. He’s coming!
There had been no chance to go to Hank or get his attention to make this subtle. But it didn’t matter, what mattered was that they cared enough to help. Hank was clearly calming the situation down by controlling Louis.
“Louis!” she shouted, just in case he was just going back to the dancefloor and hadn’t seen her struggle.
How he heard her over the noise she had no idea, but he had. His gaze met hers, and he gave a single nod. He was coming, and he would save her.
No wonder Louis was the team captain. He had this aura. His expression was deadly calm. The crowd parted for him. With deliberate and precise movements, Louis invaded the man’s space to pull him away. Once there was room, he stepped between the man and Rosie, using his body to protect her.
Relieved, she grabbed hold of Louis’s back so he couldn’t leave her.
It also helped keep her steady since she was swaying, panic well and truly had settled in.
Without saying a word to the man, Louis turned so his gaze could meet hers once again.
His hand grazed her cheek, making sure she was feeling safer.
“Did he hurt you?” Louis asked, his voice hoarse.
“No . . . but he wouldn’t let me go.”
Louis’s expression showed he was about to get very dangerous. Glancing up, he looked at Hank who was behind her, but giving her space while protecting her back. They both nodded, like they had decided something. Panic became calm. Standing between these two men, she knew she was safe.
“Hey, I was talking to her!”
The stranger shoved Louis’s back. The captain was like a rock and didn’t move.
It was still an absolutely massive mistake.
Calm as could be, Louis turned slowly and went chest to chest with the man.
Well, in theory. Since the man’s head only came to his chest, the man was basically talking to a brick wall.
“I believe she said no,” Louis stated. His voice was deadly serious. “Or did you not hear her?”
“Loud in here, mate.” The man laughed. “You sure she said that? She asked me.”
Louis’s laugh was pure evil. “Funny how I don’t believe you, since I could see her lips move from across the room, and you couldn’t when she was right in front of you.” Poking the man’s chest, the smaller man was pushed back a step. “Back off.”
“What’s it to you?” the stranger snapped.
“What is it to me?” Louis leaned down slightly so now they were eye to eye. “She came here with me. So, this has everything to do with me. My job is to protect her, and I assure you, I will. And I will enjoy doing it.”
Why was that so sexy?
Louis was clenching his fists. His body was tense. He would hit this man if he had to. She didn’t want him to get into trouble for her. Hoping to soothe him, she touched his hand. Instantly, his body relaxed, and he stood back to full height.
“I highly recommend you don’t come near her again.” He paused. “In fact, don’t go near any woman again.”
Shoving past him, Louis knocked the man’s shoulder and used his body as a shield to walk her past him.
Staying behind her, Louis was making sure she remained protected from the threat.
Leading her up the stairs, Spencer met them.
Both men surrounded her as they watched the dancefloor.
They were tense, expecting the stranger to retaliate or make a bigger scene.
The man was now shouting in Hank’s face, who just smiled. An arm around the man’s shoulder, the big man started to lead him out. The smaller man struggled, but he had no chance against the goaltender’s strength.
For a moment, she leaned on Louis’s chest and breathed. She was safe.
“You kept your promise,” she mumbled. It was barely a whisper, and she was sure he didn’t hear her.
“Of course I did.” His hand rubbed her back, surprising her with how gentle the touch was. The comfort was much appreciated.
“Spencer was smart to make people stop filming. I wouldn’t want you in trouble for me,” she stated, clinging on and afraid to let go.
Her job was to protect them, and she was the reason they were filmed.
No, you weren’t! That man was.
And that was when she got it, especially for Spencer. It wasn’t always their choice when they found themselves in situations. She punished instead of listened, and she vowed to do better.
Lifting her chin with two fingers, Louis made her look up to meet his gaze. “He wasn’t doing it to protect us. He did it so no one saw your fear. People were filming because they wanted to know what we were doing, but he stopped it to protect you.”
Her mouth dropped. They were all protecting her. Even Spencer who had every right to throw her under the bus.
His arms wrapped around her, making her feel secure.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
“Very much so.”
Security arrived with Hank. The first thing Hank did was check on her and give her a hug.
All the while, she remained attached to Louis, who seemed in no hurry to let her go.
She had almost no idea what security said, but Louis was nodding.
She caught snippets every so often, and it sounded like the man had been banned.
It wasn’t the first time he had been here causing problems, but it had never been reported officially as the women fled. Tonight was his last strike.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Once the two security staff left, Rosie finally felt calm enough to step away from Louis’s warm embrace. He didn’t fight it, realising she needed space. Independence. To not be afraid.
“You have nothing to thank us for. We have your back. I have your back.” His voice was gruff.
Even though the man was gone, the magic of the night had deflated. Goosebumps erupted on her skin and all she wanted was the safety of her own walls. To retreat and hide so she could recentre herself.
“I am ready to go home now.”
He didn’t argue or push her to stay. Instead, he collected her bag and wrapped his jacket around her. The three men gathered their things, too.
Alarmed, she shook her head and tried to make them sit back down. “You don’t have to leave.”
“No, we don’t. But we want to,” Louis assured her. “Let’s get you home. Want us to walk you home or call you a ride?”
That was really sweet. Especially because she didn’t want to call for a taxi since it meant being in the car with a stranger. She felt too vulnerable for that right now.
Feeling shy, she asked, “I don’t live far, if you don’t mind walking me?”
All three of them nodded and followed her out to walk her home. She should have insisted that they stayed, because she did not want to ruin their evening. But they hadn’t argued with her, and their willingness to make sure she got home safely was truly appreciated.