He saw Harlow’s eyes widen. Then he turned and strode out.
Dammit, he wanted to pull Armand’s arms out and break every bone in the man’s body.
Old memories stirred, a bad taste rising in his mouth. He’d done horrible things to the enemy in the past. Knew ways to extract information that no man should ever do to another.
You’re not at war anymore, Easton.
Even now, some of those things haunted him. He shouldn’t be anywhere near Harlow, let alone touching her with his stained hands.
He reached the street. The temperature had dropped, and he pulled on his coat. He closed his eyes for a second. He liked the cold air on his face; it helped clear his head.
He wasn’t letting Harlow have any more cozy dinners with Antoine Armand, that was for damn sure.
“Easton?” A feminine drawl.
He opened his eyes to find a smiling Helena standing in front of him.
He frowned. “Why are you still here?”
She moved closer, a sexy smile on her face. She touched her hands to his chest.
“I sensed you didn’t want to mix business and pleasure.” Her smile widened. “Our business is over now, so we can deal with the pleasure part of the evening.”
Easton sighed. He was used to dealing with forward women. Power, wealth, and good looks attracted most of them. Few were actually really interested in him. The man.
“Helena—”
The doors behind them opened, and he heard Antoine’s smarmy accent.
Easton was about to step back when Helena pressed into him and kissed him.
This was almost over.
Little pricks of relief stabbed at Harlow as she walked out of Acquerello beside Antoine. She was careful to keep a decent distance between them. She did not want to touch the man.
She watched the doors ahead get closer.
It helped to know that Easton was waiting for her. She’d gotten so used to being self-sufficient. She’d always sucked at asking anyone for help.
They stepped outside and the cold air hit her. Winter was well and truly on the way.
Then Antoine gave a low laugh. “I guess your boyfriend lost patience waiting for you.”
Frowning, she glanced up.
Shock was a hard punch to her gut. Easton and the slim lawyer were kissing on the sidewalk.
Harlow sucked in a breath. Damn, this hurt so much.
Stupid. Easton was a rich, powerful, and gorgeous man. He could have whomever he wanted, whenever he wanted them.
Easton stepped back, a dark scowl on his face.
Harlow turned away, her chest tight. “Are we done?”
Antoine stared at her. “Our dinner is over. I wasn’t an ogre, was I?”
“I’m leaving.” She wanted to get home and shower this night off, then climb into bed and pull the covers over her head.
No criminals. No hot bosses. No fathers in trouble.
“Harlow.” Antoine grabbed her arm. “My offer still stands. Be mine, and I can make all your troubles go away.” He glanced past her.
She followed his gaze and saw Easton bearing down on them.
“If you were mine, I wouldn’t be kissing another woman.”
It was a twist in her gut, but she was well aware that this man was a manipulative bastard who disregarded rules and laws. He took what he wanted. He wouldn’t know loyalty if it smacked him in the head.
“Don’t touch her.” Easton slid between them and took her other arm.
“You’re a fool, Norcross.”
Harlow yanked free of both of them. “I’m going home.”
“Harlow—”
She met Easton’s gaze. “Go back to your friend.”
His jaw tightened. “You’re coming with me.”
She straightened. “Believe me, I want to be alone right now.”
“No.”
“Leave me alone, Easton!”
She spun and started down the sidewalk as fast as she could walk in her heels. She wanted to escape, put some space between her and him. Then she’d call an Uber and get the hell out of here.
Seeing another woman kissing him shouldn’t hurt this much. God, she was an idiot.
A dark SUV screeched to a halt beside her.
She slowed, her brows drawing together. The doors flung open and two men leaped out.
“That’s her,” one muttered.
What the hell?
Before Harlow could say anything, one of them grabbed her. “Hey, what do you—?”
The other grabbed her hair, yanking it back hard.
Harlow screamed. The men started shoving her toward the idling SUV.
Shouts echoed down the sidewalk. Please let Easton still be there. He’d come for her. He’d help her.
If these men got her in the car…
She had to stall them.
Harlow stomped her heel down on one man’s foot. He cursed.
She elbowed the other one, and he yanked her hair harder. His elbow collided with her cheekbone and she saw stars.
“Ow.” Her eyes watered. Anger exploded inside her, and she turned her head and bit the man’s forearm.
He yelped and shoved her. Then he punched her hard in the stomach.
Harlow flew back and landed on her ass. God, that really, really hurt. She wrapped an arm around her middle, fighting back the need to vomit.
Easton sprinted into the fray.
He landed a hard punch to the man who’d hit her. The man’s head jerked back. With a low roar, he charged at Easton.
Harlow’s heart was beating so hard that her chest hurt. Easton’s face was set, hard like stone. Almost as scary as Vander.
Easton’s next moves were so fast and brutal.
He landed a punch to the man’s gut, dodged the guy’s fist, then rammed a vicious elbow into the man’s face.
The second man rushed in.
“Easton, watch out!” she yelled.
Without missing a beat, Easton pivoted and kicked the second man hard. The man flew back and collided with the concrete. He let out a low groan.
Oh, God. God. Harlow rose on shaky legs, watching the fight with her heart in her throat.
Easton was a badass.
The first guy reached under his jacket and pulled out a gun.
All the air rushed out of Harlow. She tried to scream.
Easton turned and kicked the handgun out of the man’s fingers. The guy stumbled, and Easton kicked the gun away, sending it skittering well out of range.
“Fuck,” one man bit out.
“You got more?” Easton asked darkly.
The SUV’s engine gunned.
Suddenly, the two men sprinted for the vehicle. They dived inside and as it roared away, its tires screeched.
Oh, God. God.
She watched the taillights disappear into the darkness.
Easton strode toward her and Harlow flew at him.
Then she was in his arms.
“God. God.”
“Are you okay?” He held her to him, his arms tight.
“Yes…I think so.”
She was now. He was so warm and hard and strong. She clung tighter.
“I’ve got you.” He stroked a hand down her hair. It had fallen free and was tumbling around her shoulders.
“That guy hit you hard.” Danger vibrated in Easton’s voice. His hand slid under her coat, one big hand spanning part of her rib cage. He probed gently.
She winced.
“Just bruised,” he murmured.