Mel’s eyes lit up, and she nearly spilled onto the floor as she jumped up. BJ pulled her back toward him, his voice smooth but his eyes chilly.
“The lady’s with me. Go get your own woman, Phillips. And get the hell out of my face.”
Well, shit.
Lawson glanced back at the guys who’d promised to keep him out of trouble. They didn’t appear to be paying attention. Which was a pity. Damn shame. Lawson smiled. His fists curled. Screw the consequences. This was going to feel good.
“Why don’t you come with me outside?” Lawson took a step forward. Then someone’s hand grabbed him from behind.
“Hey, there, buddy.” Griffin’s smooth, easygoing voice floated over his shoulder. Griffin stepped up beside him, keeping his hand anchored on Lawson’s shoulder. “Hey, Mel,” he said.
Mel grinned, but her gaze was locked on Lawson. At least she wasn’t draped on BJ anymore.
“Not you, too,” BJ huffed. “Come on, baby. Let’s get out of here.” He wrapped his arm around Mel’s waist, but she shook her head.
“No, I think I’ll stay.” She winked at Lawson.Great. Just great.Chivalry had its consequences. It either earned him enemies, as in Julie’s case, or stalkers, as in Mel’s.
“Actually, I called you a cab, Mel,” Griffin said. “It should be here any minute. I’ll walk you outside and wait with you.”
Before she could argue, Griffin gently took her arm and started charming her all the way to the door. Lawson would have to thank Griff for that later.
“You’re an asshole,” Lawson said, turning back to BJ. “I mean it. Stay out of here.”
BJ lifted his beer to his mouth, casting Lawson what was supposed to be a fuck-you look. His hand shook, though.Good.
Heading back to his table, where Micah was still seated, Lawson tried to collect himself. He’d been itching for a fight, but he was glad he hadn’t done anything he’d regret in the morning. Or in Dr. Pierce’s office at his next appointment. Not that BJ didn’t deserve an ass beating. He sure as hell did. And hopefully someone somewhere would give it to him one of these days. That guy couldn’t be Lawson, though. Not with the watchful eye of his commander on him, waiting for him to implode.
He glanced over at Julie’s table again. He was itching to do another thing he might regret in the morning, like heading over and asking her to show him those yoga moves she’d been doing the other day. Another very bad idea. He was full of those tonight.
—
Julie had stopped having fun an hour ago when her buzz had worn off. The feeling had only gone downhill when she’d watched Lawson pick a fight with another guy over a pretty brunette. He hadn’t been flirting with her exactly, not that she’d care if he had. But he’d looked protective of her, like he wanted to chew the young Marine up and spitball him to the other side of the earth. And something about that left her unsettled.
Val and Kat giggled across the table. They were toasted in the best kind of way.
“I’m going to call a cab home, girls,” Julie said, shifting and getting up.
“No!” Kat protested, but Julie raised a hand.
“No arguments. You’re still having fun and I’m not ruining it. I’m leaving, you’re staying. It’s final.”
“You’re pushy, you know that?” Kat said, feigning a pout.
It was supposed to be a criticism, but Julie took it as a compliment. After three years of being controlled by Daren, she was proud of being called pushy. She flashed her cellphone at her friends. “The reception in here is awful. You two have rides, right?”
“Micah,” Kat said. “Love you. Call you tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Julie waved and headed outside, gulping in the fresh salt air. She stared at her cellphone screen and began to sidestep around, looking for the best reception to call a cab.
“The dance floor is inside.”
Julie froze. She knew that deep voice, smooth and Southern. At least she hadn’t jumped this time. Turning, she forced a smile. “Hey. I was just, uh, looking for a signal on my phone.” She held it up to show him.
Lawson stepped closer. “I needed some fresh air.”
“That, too.” She returned her focus to her phone. She stepped left, then right, took a few more steps away from Lawson, pretending the poor reception was leading her. In truth, she just needed distance between herself and him. There was a charge in the air when he was around, and happily single or not, she wasn’t immune to his good looks.
“Here.” Lawson handed her his phone. “Mine is picking up better.”
