Jesse continued to explain. “But Danny was out to push Heath’s buttons. He knows you are Heath’s Achilles heel. He said if Dean was smart he’d be seven inches deep into you by now.”

I blushed. “The jerk!”

“Heath didn’t hold back then. He broke Danny’s nose and a couple of teeth,” Jesse continued. “It took three bouncers to get him off. I’ve known Heath a long time Harlow, and I’ve seen him fight. But I’ve never seen him like this.”

“This is bad,” I whispered.

“Yes,” Piper agreed. “He’s already on probation. If Danny presses charges, then he’s gonna be in some serious shit.”

“That douche bag won’t press charges,” Jesse said blowing out a funnel of cigarette smoke. “The guy’s got so many warrants out for him, he won’t be going anywhere near a police station.”

I exhaled deeply. It was almost one am. “If you guys want to go, I can make sure he gets home.”

“Are you sure?” Jesse asked. “I mean, if you have somewhere you need to be …”

He and Piper looked at me weirdly and I twigged. They were wondering if Danny Woods was right. They were wondering if I had come here from Dean’s bed. Seriously, what sort of girl did these people think I was? Was it a stretch to think I was just hanging out with Dean as a friend?

“You guys go. I’ll make sure he gets home safe. Thanks for calling me.” I started to walk away and then swung around. “And guys … when you called, I was in my bed asleep. Alone. Dean is just a friend. No more. And just in case it matters, if I were to date anyone, it wouldn’t be him.”

Because they both looked so relieved, I shook my head as I walked away and entered the hospital.

Inside, I told the triage nurse I was there to pick up Heath and she buzzed me in. I found him in a cubicle in the ER receiving stitches to a small gash in his left eyebrow.

I leaned against the doorway. “So I miss one gig and this is what you get up to?”

It was a feeble attempt to lighten a dark moment and it didn’t work. Heath’s face was pure thunder. He was pissed at me. So pissed I doubted the pain from the needle was even registering.

Just like Jesse and Piper he thought I’d come from Dean’s bed.

Not that it should matter. How many groupies did he have for dinner tonight?

But he wouldn’t look at me, instead he studied his fingers. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to take you home.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll hitch with Jesse and Piper.”

“I sent them home.”

He looked up, his face still thunder. “Why did you do that? Don’t you have somewhere you need to be?”

“I am where I need to be.”

“Aren’t you on a date or something?”

How many times did I have to tell him it wasn’t a date? I gritted my teeth and was going to snap something at him but the nurse dropped the suture into a stainless steel bowl with a clang.

“All done,” she said. I watched as she stuck medical tape over the cut. “You just need to sign out at reception and you’re right to go.”

“Thanks babe.” He winked at her and I couldn’t help but feel it was for my benefit.

We walked in silence to the reception where I watched him sign insurance papers, observing his drawn in brows and the anger simmering just beneath the surface. He still wouldn’t look at me. Wouldn’t talk to me. I wasn’t stupid. He was angry at me for not showing up at his show and was now determined to make me pay.

I sighed. “You’re pissed at me. I get it.” I unlocked Bridget’s car. “I’m sorry I didn’t show up tonight.”

Heath said nothing as he climbed in the car and slammed the door.

Inside I turned to him. “Heath, I’m sorry I didn’t make it tonight. I didn’t realize it was such a big deal. I did send you a text message.”

He snickered. Actually, it was more like a scoff. “Yeah. Nothing like a bit of salt in the wound.”

I shook my head. “I don’t get you. Why are you so upset with me?”

He didn’t say a word but just glared ahead, his big arms folded across his broad chest.

“Now you’re just acting like a child.” I inserted the key in the ignition but looked at him before turning the key. “Jesse and Piper told me what happened.”

He turned away from me to look out the window and I could see the thick beat of his pulse against his throat.

“The guy is a jerk,” he said.

Nodding, I said, “Yes. And he was wrong.” I sighed and asked quietly, “Can you answer me one question?”

He turned to look at me, his brows drawn in, his lips full, his chin dimple deep in the shadows of the car.

“Did you hit Danny because he said those things about me? Or because I went out with Dean?”

His eyes held mine and then slowly he turned his head to look out the window again.

“Like I said, the guy is a jerk. He has trouble keeping his mouth closed, so I helped him shut it.”

I shook my head and started the car. We drove the few blocks to his home in silence.

When we pulled into his driveway he ripped open the door and stormed up to the house. Something inside of me ignited.

“Oh no you don’t!” I snapped, jumping out of the car and following him up the front path to the porch. “You don’t get to treat me like that and then just walk away,” I yelled at him.

Ignoring me he slammed the key into the front door. He pushed the door open and disappeared inside.

Angrily I followed him in, determined to put an end to this ridiculous tantrum.

Inside, a single couch-side lamp barely made a dent in the shadows. The house was quiet. Leigh was at work and Nikki was out of town on a modeling assignment. I let the door bang closed behind me. Heath stood across the room with his back to me, his broad shoulders stiff. The distance between us was tense and I didn’t need to see his face to know how angry he was.

“Heath!” I was ready to fight but stopped when he turned to face me.

His eyes reached out for me from across the room. A look of anguish on his face.

Within seconds he had crossed the distance between us and slammed his lips to mine, knocking the wind out of me. Powerful hands cupped my face as his strong tongue filled my mouth in a kiss that left me dizzy and turned my world upside down.

Instead of pushing him away like I knew I should I grabbed his t-shirt with two fists and pulled him closer.

He walked me backwards until my back was against the wall, moaning as he held his body firm against mine. My world toppled. I could see nothing. Only what was happening in my mind’s eye as he awakened things in me with the slow, powerful rhythm of his mouth.

A guttural groan escaped from deep within him and I could feel all of him. Every muscle. Every thud of his pounding pulse. Every deliciously hard part of his body against me.

I knew I should stop. I knew this was overstepping the line of our friendship but I was too intoxicated by the tempo of his tongue in my mouth and the sweet serenity of his luscious warm lips against mine to see sense. And suddenly it wasn’t enough.

I wanted him.

Every single delicious inch of him.

I felt breathless as he stopped our kiss and pulled his face back. But only slightly, so we were almost touching.

His eyes were dark and they dropped to my lips. “Did you fuck him?” he breathed heavily.

“Heath—”

He stopped me by nudging my head with his.

“Tell me,” he demanded.

His breath was a warm caress against my neck and I could feel the heat radiating from his body as it trapped me against the wall.

Excitement mingled with anxiety. I was mortified by his question, yet aroused by his display of emotion. He wasn’t supposed to care this much. Yet pinned beneath him I could feel his desperation. He nuzzled his face to my neck and I could feel his lips against my throat as he spoke.

“Tell me.”

“No.” I swallowed hard, more aroused than I had ever been in my entire life. “No, I didn’t.”

His body relaxed slightly, as if he was relieved.