“Look, if you want, we could go sit and talk. We never got the chance—”
“I don’t think so, Brent.” She took a deep breath and made her voice as light and airy as she could manage. “Besides, I’m here with someone. I don’t think he’d appreciate us spending time together. He’s got a bit of a jealous streak.”
“You’re here with someone?” Brent asked, and the disbelief in his voice made her want to scratch his eyes out. Why hadn’t she stayed in the suite? This was so not happening how she’d planned it.
Buck up, girl. “You’ll meet him at dinner.”
“I didn’t realize you were seeing someone.” He took another step closer, far too close now.
“Bite me, Brent,” she said, voice as upbeat as she could manage. It was rude, but the last time she’d seen him, he’d been wrapped in her best friend’s arms.
“Don’t be like that. Baby—” He touched her shoulder, a friendly gesture, but more than she could deal with from him.
She stepped back, right into a hard body.
“Excuse me—” she began, and tried to step away from the person she’d run over. But unyielding hands gripped her shoulders, holding her fast against the man’s firm body. Panic spiked through her.
“Everything okay here, beautiful?” Noah’s voice vibrated against her back and relief flooded her.
Chapter Three
“Who is this, Alice?” The man crossed his arms and took a step back.
“I’m her boyfriend, Noah Thorpe,” Noah said. Alice stiffened under his hands. This was her idea, hopefully she could play along. He let his own guard down, knowing some of what he felt showed through on his face to the man in front of him. The man’s eyes widened slightly, and a muscle in his jaw ticked.
Rage had rolled through him at the sight of the pretty boy staring at Alice. And when he touched her, Noah wanted to do more than just step between them.
It wasn’t so much the look on the man’s face, and not even the possessive way he’d touched her—although that made Noah want to tear his hand off—it was Alice’s reaction to the man that made his hands clench at his sides in an effort not to hit her ex.
She looked smaller, somehow. Her shoulders drew in, even as her chin jutted out in defiance. He’d known, even without seeing her face, how upset she was. Noah might not have a claim to Alice, but that didn’t mean he was going to let some asshole hurt her.
The blond man looked taken aback at Noah’s appearance, but he quickly smoothed his features to show only polite interest.
“And you are?” Noah asked.
“This is—” Alice began.
“I’m Brent Strub. Alice’s…former fiancé.” Brent glanced at Alice, worry creasing his brow.
The man was smooth, he’d give him that. The concern draping his features when he looked at Alice proved he was good at hiding his true nature. But if he was digging for a reaction, Noah wasn’t going to give him one. He’d known who Brent was the second he laid eyes on him, if not his name or that they were actually engaged. What had Alice—lovely, smart, kind Alice—seen in this man? He radiated smugness the way a vampire on the hunt exuded violence. Cruelty hid behind his condescending expression.
He wasn’t good enough for her. And more than that, he would never be good to her.
“Nice to meet you,” Noah said, but he didn’t offer his hand to shake, and neither did Brent.
Sure, he was decent looking—handsome even—if a woman liked her man fully manicured and wearing cologne. Noah was certain he had a degree from somewhere impressive, Harvard maybe, or Yale. But he wasn’t special, and he was no deeper than a puddle. Just another narcissistic asshole.
Noah pulled Alice back a step, out of the way of a group of loud twenty-somethings exiting the casino. Cheap beer and perfume rolled off of them, and Noah blew out a breath to clear the scent from his nose.
“Well, it was nice to see you again, Brent,” Alice said. “But we have to be going.”
Her heartbeat still thudded too quickly for the calm tone her voice had assumed, but at least she sounded better. And she felt wonderful, so soft against him. He shot a quick glance at her, before returning his gaze to watch Brent.
She’d leaned into him, as if needing his body to support hers. And though the top of her head only barely reached his chin, she fit against him perfectly. The smell of her shampoo swirled around him, something sweet and fruity. Did the woman always smell of fruit?
Her body was so soft against his that he fought not to snuggle a little closer. Nuzzle her neck and flick his tongue against her skin. See if she tasted as good as she smelled. Show Brent she belonged to him.
A loud squeal came from inside the casino, and an alarm sounded. Jackpot.
He shook himself mentally. What the hell was he thinking? Alice didn’t belong to anyone, least of all him. Facing down Brent was messing with his instincts.
Reluctantly, he released his grip on her shoulders, sliding his hands down her arms before he realized what he was doing. Her skin felt as soft as it appeared.
“Oh,” a surprised voice said from behind them.
Noah glanced over his shoulder. Svelte and wearing an uncertain smile, the brunette was tall, nearly as tall as Brent in her heels. Which probably put her at around five-eight without them. A bit too thin for Noah’s tastes, but her features were stunning. A pained expression crossed her face and she rushed to Brent’s side.
“Kristen,” Alice said, voice catching. “How are you?”
The emotion she’d managed to hide when she saw Brent seemed to be coming out through the cracks in her defenses, so Noah stepped next to her and wrapped his arm around her. He held his other hand out to the woman who approached.
“Noah Thorpe,” he said, forcing a smile.
She paused, unsure of herself, then took his hand and shook it. Her grip was surprisingly firm, but her palms were damp and her pulse beat like she’d just run a mile. “Kristen, Brent’s fiancée. Nice to meet you.”
If Alice had been stiff under his arm before, she turned into a block of ice at Kristen’s words.
“Noah is Alice’s boyfriend,” Brent offered, his nice-guy mask on full.
A woman in her early fifties bumped into Noah, and he spared her a glance. Paying him no mind, she yelled at her friend in the casino far too close to Noah’s ear, and he cringed. She smelled of old cigarettes.
When he looked back, Kristen’s eyes were narrowed at Brent, but when she recovered, her smiled looked genuine. “Oh, Alice, I’m so happy for you.”
As if Noah didn’t exist, the woman wrapped Alice in her arms, forcing him to release his hold.
Kristen pulled Alice to the side and Noah watched warily for any sign from Alice that she didn’t want to go. But Alice flashed him a hesitant smile and followed Kristen, although she didn’t radiate the enthusiasm the other woman did. Kristen murmured to Alice quietly, while Alice stood stiffly with her arms crossed. Noah tried to listen in, but Brent pulled his attention away.
“So how long have you two been dating?” Brent asked.
Noah opened his mouth to tell Brent that their lives were none of his damn business but thought better of it. That kind of answer would only fan the man’s suspicions. And like a shark, once he smelled blood in the water, Brent would go after his prey mercilessly—and Noah had no doubts that Brent was the worst kind of shark.
And his prey was Alice.
“A few months. But we’ve known each other for years.”
“How do you know each other?” Brent crossed his arms and frowned.
“We’re neighbors. Well, we were. Alice has moved half her stuff into my house already.”
A real smile, full of triumph, encompassed Brent’s face. “Oh, did she?”
His tone was too casual. Fuck. He’d said something wrong. Something that had made Brent suspicious.
They needed to get out of here. Get their stories straight before he screwed this up for her. Because no matter how this had all started, no way was he letting Alice fall into this man’s clutches again. Over his dead—truly dead—body. She might not be his, but she was a good person and she roused all of his protective instincts.
The whispers from Kristen and Alice grew louder. Noah’s stomach twisted at the sight of Alice’s faltering expression. She was trying to put on a good show, pretend she wasn’t at all bothered by talking to these two, but her mask was slipping.
“Kristen,” Brent called. “Why don’t we get some drinks with the happy new couple? We can catch up and,” he shot Noah a confident smile, “get to know Noah better.”
“Actually, I really need to get back to the room. I have to clean up and unpack.” Alice said, voice wavering.
Had he ever heard her sound so unsure of herself before? He’d keep her safe from this man if he had to lock her in their cabin all week to do it. Flashes of what they could do while locked up alone ran through his mind. He gritted his teeth and concentrated on withdrawing his fangs.
“That’s fine. How about in an hour?” Brent said.
“Oh, I don’t know if we should intrude…” Despite her words, Kristen sounded hopeful.
Alice opened her mouth to answer, and he could see her resolve wavering.
“Maybe tomorrow? We have plans already,” Noah cut in.
Brent grinned at them, and if Noah hadn’t sensed his true nature, he would have called the expression charming. Even endearing. Definitely a shark. “Wonderful.”
“You could have let me answer for myself,” Alice said for the third time since they’d left the bar.
“You seemed unsettled.” His jaw tensed like he wanted to say more.
She mentally shrugged off his curt response. Was he angry? She was more than a little irritated, herself. But she wasn’t entirely certain why he would be mad. Unless Brent had said something while Kristen dragged her off to make small talk.
Brent was her greatest mistake.