Her jaw slackened as she drank in the sight of him. Her vision tunnelled—she could only see him. And even then, he was blurry. Why was that?
“Hey doll, what does a guy have to do to get serviced ‘round here?”
She blinked and turned her head. Funny how time seemed to have slowed.
Ultimate Jerk-off was smiling at her. Weird. He didn’t usually smile at her. And why did Double Jerk have his phone up like he was taking a photo?
“I want a Manhattan.”
“You want a cocktail?” Confused, she simply stared at him. Since when did Ultimate Jerk-off and his cronies want cocktails?
“Yeah. A Manhattan. Or is that too complicated for you?”
She glanced behind him at the peacock pretty dresses. Oh of course. “It’s fine.” She’d been making them since before she was legal. Working in her father’s little hotel bar.
She turned, surveying the gleaming bottles behind her. Back to the show. But it was like her hand was disconnected from her body. She couldn’t get her fingers to move fast enough. She watched, unable to move, as in slo-mo the bottle fell to the floor at her feet. And smashed.
She’d dropped the damn bottle. She never dropped the bottle. She always caught it.
And then, she giggled. And then she giggled some more. Because Savannah never giggled. Not like that.
“Savannah?”
She turned. It was him. Hot car sex guy. And he knew her name? Weird. Everything was weird. “That’s not my name.”
His blue eyes weren’t looking angry anymore. God they were gorgeous. But why was he walking behind the bar?
“Isn’t it sweetheart?”
His voice came from so far away, yet if she wasn’t mistaken, he was getting closer.
She shook her head. Only suddenly stopped because it was like her brain had shrunk to the size of a ping pong ball and was rattling round in her skull. It hurt. “I’m not a sweetheart…”
“No? What are you then?” His arms were around her now and she sighed and fell against him.
That was better. But her head still felt weird, and there was a relentless dizzying noise.
“I’m Sugar.”
When he’d first walked in Connor had thought everything was normal. If it hadn’t been for that glitter in her eyes, he’d never have thought she’d remembered that she’d been out in his car fucking the life out of him less than twenty-four hours before. And she was so gloriously immaculate again. But he knew that perfect presentation was merely a mask.
A mask that had suddenly, alarmingly slipped.
In a matter of seconds she was so flushed, so full of smiles… and then she dropped that bottle. Now he wondered if she was drunk.
But she’d been sipping from a water bottle. He suddenly angled his head to see past her, hunting for that green bottle. But his gaze collided with that asshole’s. The one who’d been harassing her the night before. He was smirking.
Oh no. Oh hell no.
Holding her close he glared at the three men leaning on the other side of the bar and he just knew. How the fuck did they think they were going to get away with it? And how long did those drugs take to kick in? What if she had a bad reaction? His blood iced but his heart raced as he tried to rationalise. They were in a full bar, the assholes couldn’t be expecting anything too awful to happen to her. They’d meant it to be a sick joke. And the aim?
Humiliation.
The shorter guy held a phone. Were they planning to publicly shred her? Post this online for people to laugh at?
Not on his mountain they weren’t.
Connor walked, half carrying the now clinging Savannah into the kitchen out the back. “Luca?” He called, looking for the young manager. “There’s serious shit happening here.”
“Connor?” Luca stepped out from behind a bench where he was what, kissing the other waitress? And they’d left Savannah alone out there?
Connor seethed.
“What’s happened?” Krista hurried out of Luca’s embrace and came forward.
“Connor?” Savannah lifted her head slowly to glance up at him, her expression confused. “Connor?”
“Savannah’s not feeling well.” He lifted her into the other guy’s arms. “Hold her here. I’ll be back in a sec.”
He strode back out to the bar and looked for the bottle of water she’d been drinking from. It had been by the ice bucket. But it wasn’t there now. He saw the smile on the asshole’s face freeze, like he knew what he was looking for.
“Hey…” The other guy next to him tried to smile. “Just a joke, right?”
The tall prick elbowed his thick friend. “Shut up.”
“What was it? What did you give her?” Connor leaned across the bar and snarled.
But the tall guy turned and started walking. Fast. Taking his friends with him.
“You’re not going to get away with it,” Connor shouted over the music. “You’re not fucking getting away with it.”
He didn’t have time to chase the bastards now, he needed to make sure Savannah was okay.
“Savannah?” Luca was looking stunned as he propped her up. “Jeez, Connor, I think she has a fever or something—”
“Connor?” Savannah turned her flushed face towards him. Her eyes looked too large for her scarily white face.
“Krista, I’m going to need you to go unlock my car and then hold the door for me, okay?” Connor tossed the waitress his key and stepped up to put one arm around Savannah’s waist, lifting her arm from Luca’s shoulder and putting it along his own.
“What’s wrong with her?” Luca asked.
“Nothing that a good night’s sleep isn’t going to fix.” Connor said, hoping it was the truth. He was getting her to his home, then he’d get a doctor to look at her. He bent and hoisted her right into his arms.
“Connor…” she murmured, a bittersweet whisper in his ear. “Connor... King of the Mountain…”
He paused and looked down at her beautiful face.
She blinked heavily, and then closed her eyes. “I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” he answered, feeling guilt twinge.
She’d been looking for him and he’d not told her. He’d slept with her instead. But he still couldn’t regret it. He’d never regret those mad moments in his car.
“I’m supposed to hate you,” she said, suddenly lucid.
“But you don’t?”
She opened her eyes and looked right at him. “I think I do.” Tears sheened over her unnaturally large pupils.
Something pulled hard in his chest.
“I hate them too...” she muttered.
“Not as much as I do, Sugar.” He cradled her more closely, trying to ease the anger thrumming in his muscles. He was making them pay.
“You’re hot.” Her eyelids drifted shut again. Twin tears tracked down her white cheeks. “I don’t feel so good.”
“You gonna be sick, sweetheart?” He wished she would. He wanted that poison out of her system.
She didn’t answer.
Connor tightened his grip and turned towards the back door. “Luca, I’m taking Krista with me. You’re just going to have to manage.”
“Krista? Why?” Luca looked even more concerned than he had over Savannah.
Which pissed Connor off even more. “So she can tell Savannah that she’s been treated well this whole time.”
“Why wouldn’t she—jeez,” Luca frowned as understanding finally dawned. “Are you saying—”
Connor stopped, appalled the guy hadn’t worked it out already. “That she’s been drugged? Yes.”
“Drugged?” Luca looked aghast.
“Maybe if you didn’t let jerks harass your bar staff night after night, this might not have happened. But you’re too busy harassing your staff yourself.” It was a cheap shot. But he couldn’t stop himself.
“Harass?” Luca looked anxious. “Savannah can handle them.”
“No one can handle something like this,” he spat. No matt
er how strong they were. Connor fought to relax his muscles and not crush her to him. It was so fucking unfair.
“Connor.” Krista had reappeared and had grabbed a container just in case. Practical woman.
“Just get the door for me, will you?” Connor instructed.
But as he paused to carefully navigate down the steps, Luca grabbed his arm. “Connor please. No one can know. If it gets out that something like this happened here? My dad will—”
“I’ll take care of your dad,” Connor said grimly. “But let’s take care of Savannah first.”
“But—”
“But nothing.”
“Don’t worry.” Krista kissed Luca. “Back soon.”