“You know, I didn’t exactly picture you being such a tease.” Hannah dangled a cheese-laden French fry in front of her face.
I leaned over and bit the fry she held. “What do you mean?”
Hannah narrowed her eyes at me and ate the other half of herfry. “That. That right there. You’re a tease—all flirty with no follow-through. Like earlier in the car.”
I smirked and snaked another fry out of her hand. “Pretty sure that’s the first time in my life I’d ever been accused of being a tease.”
“Well, what would you call it?” Hannah studied me as she leaned over and took a huge bite out of my burger. While she chewed she waved her fry containeras if to make her point, then held a hand in front of her face and spoke through her mouthful of food. “You drew me in and then at the last second backed off. If a chick did that, the guy would label her a tease.”
“Hey, I’m all for gender equality, but I’m no tease.”
“We’ll see. You did promise me earlier that you’d put out.”
I choked on my bite of food.Merde,she was cute. Cute and filthyand entirely not my type. I shook my head and struggled to swallow my food when a guy behind me yelled, “Hey, darlin’, if you’re looking for a sure thing, I’m available. And I’d never leave you high and dry like that douche you’re with.”
The last few bits of my wrapped burger fell to the ground as I pivoted and stared theassholedown.“Ta gueule, connard!”
“Oh, great.” He snorted. “A fuckingforeigner.”
I’d been so pissed I hadn’t realized I spoke in French.
Bolstered by the jeers of his equally drunk friends, theasstook a step closer to me and pulled the brim of his baseball hat around until it unveiled his entire ugly face. Judging by his bloated red complexion and the cooler at his feet, he really liked his beer. “Seriously, sweetheart. You can do so much better. How aboutyou let me show youaround town.”
His friends cheered and hollered like he’d said something clever. In my peripheral vision I saw a few of my security team closing in on us. The last thing I wanted was for them to weigh in. My hands fisted at my sides. I took a step toward theconnardbut froze when Hannah spoke behind me.
“Ah, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to pass. You see I have this little rule—Idon’t spend time with men whose brains are even smaller than their tiny pencil dicks. That goes for your friends, too.” Hannah grabbed my arm and yanked me toward the parked SUV.
“Damn, man.” Theconnardshook his head. “Hope you like the short chain she’s got you on. Maybe later she’ll give you your balls back.”
“Not gonna complain. The view where I’m at is priceless.” I tossed a smug smileat the guys, but inside I was boiling. I waited until Hannah threw open the door to the SUV and climbed in, then I turned to Étienne. “Get us out of here,s’il vous plaît.”
Étienne nodded and closed the door behind me. I waited until the SUV was a few blocks away before I turned to Hannah.
“What the hell was that?” I barked.
Hannah blinked at me. “What?”
“Seriously? Out there. That situationwas dangerous. He was clearly drunk and belligerent. You should’ve let me handle it.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Darcy, but how exactly would you have handled it?”
“I was planning on shoving his teeth down his throat for starters.”
“And then his three friends would’ve jumped in, and we’d be spending the next five hours in an E.R. getting your head X-rayed. So you’re welcome.”
“You are so aggravating.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that before. Usually because I’m right.” Hannah gave me a little smirk, but the corners of her mouth twitched like she didn’t really see the humor.
A little bit of my anger drained out as I looked into her vulnerable eyes. Until I remembered just how big that guy was in comparison to Hannah. “You might’ve been right, but that doesn’t mean you’re right.”
“Ooookay.”
I glaredat her. “You try to think in one language and reply in another. It doesn’t help that theconnardout there got me all pissed off, and you stepped in before I could let off some steam.”
“Connard?”
“Oui.Connard. Asshole. French comes to me first, especially when I’m all worked up.” I tossed her an annoyed look; I was frustrated since the link between my brain and mouth was malfunctioning. “Whatyou did out there might’ve dissipated the situation, but you could’ve been injured. In the future you shouldn’t get in between two men who are clearly about to brawl.”
