Page 47

Thumping a fist on his chest, he growls, “You’ll always be my business. I thought you would’ve come to your senses by now.”

“I have come to my senses.” I got rid of you.

“Betts, come on.” He gives me a patronizing smile. “Hanging out with goths? Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.”

“Please. None of that shit is you.”

“You have no clue what’s really me. ”

Frustration carves deep lines in his forehead. He grabs my chin. “You’re not psychic.”

A fresh wave of rage hits my back and I know it’s coming from Leo. He’s still here and he’s listening to every word.

I smack Zander’s hand away. “Can you please just go?”

“Not until you hear me out.”

“Not interested.”

He leans in, voice low and threatening. “Am I gonna have to make a scene?”

Fine. If listening will get him out of here, I’ll do it. I fold my arms. “Whatever. Say your piece.”

He snatches my arm and tugs me even closer. “He’s not who you think he is.”

My pulse races as I try to wrest free. He won’t let me go.

Close behind me, a deep voice commands, “Get off her.”

How did Leo sneak up on us like that?

Zander’s eyes cut over my head, shooting arrows of pure hate. “Fuck off.”

“You’re hurting her.”

“ I’m hurting her?” Zander yanks me aside, determined to get to Leo.

But Leo gets to him first. As I stumble into the seventeenth century shelves, he seizes Zander by the jacket and pins him to the sixteenth century stack. The whole structure shudders. “If you have a problem with me, talk to me. Leave her out of it.”

As they stand face to face, I see how much bigger Leo is than Zander. If Zander had any sense, he’d walk away. Leo may be quiet and bookish, but he’s strong. And he’s pissed off.

But stupid, drunk Zander argues back, “You gonna tell her, or do I have to?”

“Tell me what?” I snap impatiently at Zander. I’ve had enough of the drama. “Just come out with it and get the hell out of here.”

Leo’s fists strain in Zander’s jacket and his eyes are locked on his face. “Go ahead. Whatever you want to tell her, tell her. ”

“Like I need your fucking permission.”

Leo tightens his grip, and in spite of himself, Zander recoils.

But then he has the gall to grin. “Where are you from Leo Hawthorn? Huh? What’s your address?

Or your social security number?” Leo seethes, but Zander rambles on.

“You a senior? Junior? Grad student, maybe? Because I couldn’t find you registered here at Brownhill. In fact, I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

I’m appalled. “What the hell, Zander? Were you looking him up? Could you be any more psycho?”

But Zander’s not paying any attention to me. “Help me out here, Hawthorn. Answer my questions.”

“He’s a senior,” I say. “And he’s from Pennsylvania.”

“Not you !” Zander barks at me, earning another shove from Leo. “I want Leo here to answer.”

“You can bad-mouth me all you want,” Leo growls back. “But that doesn’t mean she’s going to come back to you.”

Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what Zander thinks. Sensitive, delicate Betts has been snowed by some rogue and once she learns the truth, she’ll “come to her senses.”

“I’m trying to protect her,” Zander declares, challenge in his sneer.

“Protect her? You call this protecting her? You almost ripped her arm off!”

Zander’s blue eyes narrow. “At least I don’t lie to her.”

Leo shakes his head at what a hopeless case Zander is. He lets go of Zander’s jacket and backs away, holding up his hands: the universal guy sign for you’re not worth a fight .

“Zander, go home,” I say. “Please.”

He thrusts out a hand. “Come with me.”

“No,” I croak, stepping back as Leo jumps between us.

Unable to reach for me, Zander jabs a finger in my direction. “I’m telling you, he’s a liar. He’s not who you think he is!”

Tears well up in my eyes as I stand there shaking. I just want him to leave. Please, god, just leave .

Leo gathers me safely behind his back, blocking me from Zander’s view.

“Fine,” Zander spits. “Learn the hard way. But don’t expect me to take you back!”

I shut my eyes and drop my forehead into the valley between Leo’s shoulder blades. It’s safe and dark there. I don’t have to face Zander’s rage-filled eyes, or the gawking of everyone trying to read and study at the tables nearby.

Tension drains out of Leo’s body. “He’s gone,” he finally says, turning around and taking me in his arms. Those same arms that shook with fury as he shoved Zander against the bookshelves. They’re gentle now. Sheltering. I wrap mine around his middle and rest my cheek against his chest.

“What a nightmare,” I say. “I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“Everyone’s staring at us, aren’t they?” It was quite a show we put on.

I feel him turn his head to look. “Only a little. Luckily, there’s barely anybody here.”

I risk a peek around his shoulder and sure enough, the few students in view are watching us, their earbuds dangling down their chests. When they notice Leo and me staring back, they freeze for a second, then immediately drop their gazes back to their computers and books.

Leo nudges me further back in the stacks and out of their line of sight. He tilts my face up and studies me, the crease between his thick brows deeper than I’ve ever seen it. Impulsively, I reach up and smooth the lines away. “I’m okay.”

“I’m sorry. I know you wanted me to stay away. But I couldn’t. Not when he grabbed you like that.” He runs a gentle hand down the arm Zander handled so roughly.

“I knew he was going to come around again. I just didn’t think it would be this soon.” And in the library.

I haven’t let go of Leo’s face. I can’t. His beautiful eyes are trained on mine, searching me. He’s holding me tightly around my back, supporting me with his strength. A rush of need sweeps through me, twisting in my chest and stealing my breath. I whisper, “I’m glad you were here.”

“I promised you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

Suddenly I stop caring that we’re in a public place. I need him. I grab him behind his neck and kiss him. Hard. His hands tighten into fists as he kisses me back, like he’s struggling to stay in control. And losing.

We stumble into the book stack, but he somehow manages to cushion the impact, cradling my head so it doesn’t hit the shelves.

He groans and snakes a hand into my hair, controlling the angle of my head so he can kiss me deeper and harder.

The one cell in my brain still working warns me, Good god, ease up.

You’re going to get arrested. But I can’t stop my grasping hands.

Leo pulls back and gasps for breath. “Let’s go.”

My gaze is glued to his perfect mouth. “Where?”

“My place.”

I barely have time to register his meaning before he’s handing me my open backpack and my book. Heart pumping and hands shaking, I drop the book inside and grapple with the zipper. He snatches it from me to finish the job, takes my hand, and rushes me out of the library.