The Free Spirit

Chapter 3

Sam dared a glance over her shoulder. He was still watching her, just as intently as he had been for the last half hour, ever since the other two men left. But he wasn’t coming over.

Sam almost hoped he didn’t.

He was far more attractive than she thought he would be. Black hair brushed neatly back from his face. A sharp, square jaw. Broad shoulders that filled out his green shirt in a way that made it stretch across his chest.

A part of her longed to feel the muscles she knew must be hidden underneath.

The man next to her laughed at one of his own jokes again, the harsh sound cutting into her thoughts. The sour smell of beer on his breath washed over her face, making her stomach twist. She’d struck up a conversation with him in hopes of luring the other man over, but it hadn’t worked the way she planned. Now she was stuck in an uncomfortable conversation with a man who was becoming increasingly handsy.

Josh… or Jordan… or something like that set a large hand on her thigh, right at the hemline of her skirt, his thumb brushing over her skin. She shuddered in revulsion, but Josh-or-Jordan only smiled, clearly misreading it as something else.

“Do you live around here?” he asked, leaning close enough for another wave of sour beer breath to hit her.

“Umm… no.” She gently pushed his hand away, forcing a polite smile that felt brittle on her face.

“I have a place pretty close by,” he replied, clearly not getting the hint.

“Really?” She inched as far away from him as she could without tipping off the stool.

“We could go over there,” he offered. “Keep this conversation going.”

“No thank you.” She tried to keep her voice pleasant, even as unease skittered up her spine. “I’ve enjoyed talking to you, but I think I’m going to head out.”

The man’s face fell before hardening. “So that’s how it is?” His tone sharpened instantly.

“I’m sorry?” She blinked, startled by the sudden shift.

“I buy you two drinks, talk to you, make you laugh, and you’re just not interested?” His dark eyes glittered with something ugly.

Sam’s stomach tightened. “I appreciate you buying the drinks,” she muttered, sliding off the stool.

“Typical,” the man scoffed. “I should’ve seen it.”

She stilled. “Seen what?”

“That you were one of those women,” he snapped.

“Those women?”

“Yeah. You let a nice guy like me buy you drinks and then just walk away like I don’t have feelings. I’ve been nothing but nice to you, but you were just using me.”

Sam narrowed her eyes, irritation beginning to push past the fear. “So you think a couple drinks entitles you to s*x?” she shot back. “I didn’t ask for those drinks. You didn’t even ask if I wanted them. You just bought them. That’s not my fault, and it certainly doesn’t make you entitled to my time and attention. I don’t owe you anything.”

She turned to step away, but his hand snagged her wrist in a bruising grip. Her breath hitched.

“You come in here dressed like that.” He nodded toward her dress. “And you talk me up and flirt with me and then get mad when I have expectations.”

Before she could respond, a large figure stepped between them. Josh-or-Jordan released her wrist instantly as he was shoved back against the bar with a sharp thud.

“What the f**k, man?” he shouted.

Sam blinked, stumbling back a step before her gaze locked onto the green shirt stretched across a broad back.

“Care to talk to me about your expectations?” a deep voice growled.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Someone who doesn’t like seeing innocent women pestered and manhandled by little boys pretending to be grown men.”

Josh-or-Jordan looked ready to fire back, his gaze sliding toward Sam before returning to the man in front of him. He hesitated. Her protector was huge. Easily a head taller than the man in front of him and at least twice as broad.

The man folded his arms across his chest, muscles flexing beneath the fabric. Sam watched the movement, oddly transfixed.

Josh-or-Jordan muttered something about wasting his time before skirting around the larger man and disappearing toward the exit.

The man turned slowly. He was even bigger than she realized from across the room. She had to tilt her head back just to meet his gaze. Brilliant green eyes scanned over her quickly before settling back on her face.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly.

She nodded, swallowing thickly. “Y-yeah. Thanks.”

He smelled incredible. Deep. Earthy. Like oakmoss and leather warmed by sunlight. He tilted his head slightly, studying her in a way that made her stomach flip and butterflies erupt low in her belly.

“Your eyes are incredible,” he murmured.

Her cheeks heated instantly. She’d heard that compliment thousands of times in her life, but something about the way he said it made heat spread through her whole body.

“It’s called heterochromia,” she stammered. “Sectoral heterochromia, to be specific. I was born with blue eyes, but my mom said they started to change when I was about three months old and they thought I’d end up with brown eyes. But then… bam… both eyes kind of only changed halfway and left me like this.”

She gave a nervous laugh, suddenly aware that she was rambling.

The corners of the man’s mouth lifted slightly, and she got the distinct impression he was trying not to laugh. “That’s a cool story,” he said simply. “I was just born with green eyes. Like my dad. Nothing special.”

She let out a soft laugh. “I really appreciate you helping me with that guy.”

He nodded, the hint of amusement fading from his expression. “Of course. He was completely out of line. I didn’t like the way he was acting toward you.”

“I’m Sam,” she said, offering her hand.

He took it slowly, curling his fingers around hers. Warmth spread instantly up her arm, a strange spark of electricity that made her breath catch.

“Ronan.” He held her hand for a moment longer than necessary, tilting his head slightly. “Have you had dinner yet?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I was planning to eat something here before dickhead started talking to me.”

“I’m starving.” He released her hand reluctantly. “There’s a nice diner just around the corner. Would you like to join me?”

She hesitated, her mouth suddenly dry.

He lifted both hands in a placating gesture. “No strings attached. Promise. I just have some time to kill, and you seem like nice company.”

She smiled despite herself. “Sure,” she said. “Sounds great.”