Page 4 of Daring the Hockey Player

There has to be an exit out of here.

I hurry down the hallway past the bathroom for the back exit. The sign on the door readsemergency exit only. Yeah, it's an emergency, but if it's armed and has an alarm, I’m not sure that’s quite what they mean. I’ve never been much of a rebel.

My hands tremble, and I remain in the hallway near the bathroom, trying to figure out another way out of the bar without being seen. In order to leave, I’ll have to waltz right past Tripp.

Jasper Greyson heads toward the men’s room.

“I need—" I whisper, my voice trembling as I speak, trying to corner him.

“You want an autograph?” he asks with a warm smile and tilts his head at me. His brow furrows the longer he stares. “Are you okay?” he asks, taking a soft, tentative step forward, a hand reaching out for my arm.

My breath catches in my throat, his concern overwhelming. "I need help."

He slowly nods and glances past me. "Bad date?" he asks.

He has no idea the definition of abad dateright now. "The guy I'm with, apparently, he's done meth, and I don't know. He might be hopped up on something right now. I'm trying to get out of here, but my credit card is with the bartender, and the back exit is an emergency door. I'm kind of freaking out here," I say.

"I can grab your credit card from Pamela at the bar. Do you need me to walk you to your car?"

I hesitate.

"I promise I'll keep my distance and my hands to myself. I just want to make sure that he doesn't follow you to your car."

"Thanks, that would be great," I say.

"Just hang here for a second," Jasper says. He hurries to the bar, standing a few feet away from Tripp. He leans forward, talking with the bartender. It looks intimate; anyone else might think he was flirting, but she glances past him at me and gives a nod.

A minute later, Jasper is hurrying toward the hallway, handing me my credit card. "Truthfully, the meth head should have paid for your drinks."

I shove the card back into my purse and grab my keys. "Thank you," I say, my voice gathering a tiny bit more confidence.

"Come on, I'll walk you out to your car." He stays on my right side, walking close but not touching me as he protects me from Tripp.

The minute that I exit the hallway and am back in the bar, Tripp's eyes are on me. He stands and approaches Jasper and me.

"What are you doing?" Tripp asks, staring at Jasper. Not once does he meet my gaze.

"Back off," Jasper says. "She isn't interested in you."

Tripp huffs under his breath. "And you think she wants you? Come on, baby doll, I'll take you home if that's where you want to go." Tripp reaches for my arm, and Jasper stops him before he can even lay a hand on me, yanking the man's arm behind his back.

"Keep your hands off her and stay the hell away," Jasper growls and shoves him into the bar, forcing Tripp to stumble a few feet.

Tripp huffs and shoves his ass back down on the stool. "You jocks are all the same."

Jasper ignores him. His attention is entirely on me. The level of devotion makes my stomach flop. "Where's your car?" he asks.

"I parked around the side," I say and gesture to the right. I could probably walk myself to my vehicle at this point, but there are a few people outside, and it's dark. The parking lot isn't very well-lit.

"Come on," he says and walks me outside, opening the bar door for me as I step out into darkness.

Jasper walks me to my beat-up, two-door car. "I know it doesn't look like much, but it's dependable," I say.

He doesn't say a word, and if he's judging my ride, he's silent about it. "Does that meth head know where you live?" he asks.

I shake my head. "No." I hit the unlock button on the car and reach for the door handle, yanking it open. "Thank you."

"I never got your name," Jasper says.