“What?”
Dan sighed and looked at Jeff as if he was the stupidest person he’d ever met. “Flex your stomach because I don’t want to be accused of sucker punching you.”
Jeff gaped in confusion, but Dan didn’t offer a third warning.
His arm moved in a blur, arcing back gracefully before giving a sharp thrust forward, driving firmly into Jeff’s stomach. Jeff let out a choked squeal and keeled over, gripping his torso.
Dan turned from the crumpled mess and stalked back toward Harper, adjusting his cuffs with sharp jerks. Without a word, he snatched up their coats and placed a hand on Harper’s back, guiding her to the door.
CHAPTER 20
DAN
There was too much space between them. Dan wanted to tuck Harper into his chest, kiss away the worried creases around her eyes, take her home and hold her all night.
Instead, he stayed rooted to the spot on the sidewalk, watching her retreat further and further into herself, back hunched and arms wrapped around her body as she looked at him.
“Are you okay?” he managed to ask.
She nodded and continued to stare.
“I’m sorry if I upset you,” he said, raking his hands through his hair.
“Upset me?” She blinked at him, eyes owlish and vulnerable.
“Upset you by hitting that guy. By stepping in. I-I’m not usually…” He loosened his tie, searching for the words. “I’m not like this.”
She gave him a blank look. “Like what?”
Dan groaned in frustration, throwing his arms out. “Like this! I don’t hit guys at parties or yell at old men visiting the dentist. I don’t show up uninvited to bars or dance in kitchens to awful nineties songs. I don’t do possessiveness. But when it comes to you…” He gestured at her and started pacing.
“When it comes to you, I’m an idiot. I say something stupid or do the wrong thing. I have this caveman urge to strangle every guy who looks at you the wrong way. I want to walk three steps ahead of you to protect you from the world, because you’re nobody’s punching bag.” He glanced at her, his voice softening. “I constantly want to touch you. Hold you. Smother you with kisses. I dream about you. Think about you—it’s just you. Twenty-four seven. Only you.”
He stopped, scrubbing his hands over his face before arching his neck and looking up at the sky.
“And the thing is, I know you don’t need me. I know you don’t need me to protect you or shield you or play some hero at the party, but I can’t sit back and let you go it alone.” He huffed out a breath, turning to look at her.
“I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to you. I don’t know if I’m a meathead idiot or the friend you asked for, or something in between. I’m wrecked. I’m turned inside out and—”
Harper stepped forward, placing a finger to his lips, shutting him up.
He was frozen, trying to read the emotions flicking through her eyes. They stood still for several seconds, just staring.
Slowly, her hand slipped to the nape of his neck, tugging him down, hugging him to her.
His heart felt like it might crack from the gesture.
Dan wrapped his arms around her waist, enjoying the simple pleasure of being held and holding her back. He breathed into her neck, absorbing her heat and the sweetness of her skin. He wanted to stay there forever.
“What did they mean about your dad?” she whispered against his throat after a pause.
His spine stiffened. He didn’t want this moment to be tainted, for the closeness to end. Harper strengthened her grip around him, kneading her fingers into his neck to release the tension.
“Don’t pull away,” she said, her breath warming his skin. “You don’t have to tell me, but please don’t pull away.”
He’d lay his soul bare if it meant he could continue to hold her. Allowing himself one more second in that perfect moment, he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, memorizing the feel of her hair against his skin.
With a sigh, he pulled back just enough to look at her.
“Have you heard of the Craige-Cochran Caries Detection and Prevention System,” he asked, his tone going flat.
She gave him a wry smile. “Duh, it’s one of the greatest advancements in cavity prevention since water fluoridation.”
Dan nodded. “So you’ve heard of Dr. James Craige.”
“Of course. He and Dr. Cochran are the fathers of contemporary restorative dentistry. What’s your point?”
He gave her a pointed stare.
Dan could see the wheels turning in her mind and her face snapping into wide-eyed fascination when it finally clicked into place.