Safe in His Arms by Billi Jean

Her eyes darkened, the fun gone and replaced with hurt—for him this time.
    “Bad, but over. What doesn’t kill you—”
    “Makes you a dumb-ass!” She laughed playfully and swatted his chest with her knuckles. He took her hand and grinned at her. He loved her lightheartedness. Her hand was warm, small, and perfectly fitted his. She curled her fingers through his and her face flushed. He still made her nervous, he guessed by her rapid pulse, but she wasn’t running from him, or avoiding him.
    “You remember.”
    “Yeah,” she breathed, “I remember.”
    “Rob loved that, but hell if he wasn’t right, huh? I survived to know how much of a dumb-ass I was.”
    “Mac, you’re many things, but dumb isn’t one of them.”
    The way she said that twisted him up inside. She believed that. She still believed he was a hero. After all he’d done, part of her still saw him as a man of worth. “I was, with you.”
    Her gaze skipped to his and something painful flashed in her eyes. Before he could ask what he’d said to upset her, Eagle and Katya joined them. She kept her hand in his, though, squeezing it lightly once.
    Katya bent and hugged Mandy. “Hey, you! Come on, Lacey loves this song. Come on, let the men talk. We’ll go dance one more, then join them.”
    Mandy met his eyes, but quickly nodded to Katya and let go of his hand. Katya pulled her up and tossed him a wink. The brat had interrupted them on purpose. He didn’t see animosity, though, in her green eyes, so whatever she was up to, she wasn’t angry with him. He breathed easier. If the girls were against him, he’d have a hell of a time getting Mandy alone.
    Eagle moved in and tugged Katya back by the hem of her blue sundress, gave her a smirk at her giggle and kissed her on the neck. “We’ll get some drinks. What do you want, Kat?”
    “Whatever you’re having, love.” Katya kissed Eagle long enough that Mandy smiled over at him and backed up when he motioned for her to come closer. He mouthed ‘Chicken’ at her and she flapped her arms like wings.
    He settled back in his seat, promising Mandy with his eyes that she’d be at least getting a kiss before the night was over. Her delicate eyebrows shot up but she grinned at him, then turned and wiggled her lush ass out on the dance floor with Katya to join Lacey.
    “Damn, those girls are having fun,” Eagle called over the new song.
    “Yeah, they are.”
    “It’s good to see, you know?”
    Mac nodded. Lacey deserved this time away from all the shit she’d been through, and if it brought Mandy back to him he’d take her out dancing every night.
    “One of us is supposed to go check on the men outside. Want me to go?” Eagle offered, already pushing back in his chair.
    “Hell, no. I’ll go. When I get back, though, I’m dancing.” With Mandy . She shot him a flirty smile and his blood heated. Taking this slow might be hard, but he wanted her to be happy.
    “Sounds good, man. I’ll hold down the table. You go get some air and check the unit.”
    Mac finished his bottle of Corona before nodding to Eagle. Lacey still wasn’t safe. The men outside were there to see she had a good time, a safe, good time.
    He stopped at the bar and ordered another round for the table, and some of the snacks Mandy always loved—nachos with cheese and a veggie platter with artichoke dip—before heading outside to do a quick check. Everyone was in place. He checked in twice, making sure that nothing had come up before he headed back towards the club.
    Maybe he should have ordered some of the grilled chicken with pineapple, too. She needed to eat. He didn’t want her drunk. He wasn’t even buzzing. He’d not allow that. Memories of the night he’d claimed her shot through his mind. They’d both been drinking but he’d not allowed either of them to get drunk. He’d been scared as shit to hurt her. Besides, he’d been drunk enough on her. He’d gone slow, so damn slow and careful it had hurt him when