The Fighter (The High Rise, Book 1) by Harper Bentley Page B

like that and
taking in his spicy, manly scent all but did me in. He may be a
bastard, but he’s an undeniably hot bastard.
    “I’ll walk you
back,” I hear him say from behind us.
    I start to
protest but the Three Wise Men have suddenly made themselves known
and my tongue feels numb, like it’s flaking out on me, so I just
wave a hand in dismissal as we go outside. The Wise Men have
apparently taken over Dani’s entire body because she’s stumbling
along beside me and it’s all I can do to keep her steady.
    When we get
across the street, she looks over her shoulder as we walk and asks
Heath, “So did you have a date tonight or did you just come to get
your drink on?”
    “I was
working,” he answers.
    For some
reason this makes her giggle but as she proceeds I understand why.
“Oooohh, are you a male escort? So what are the rates these days?”
She asks this as if she knew the old rates which makes me snort.
And even though it’s a silly question, I’m glad my best friend is
giving him shit because she knows what a huge jerk he’s been to
me.
    He chuckles.
“You couldn’t afford me.”
    “Oh, my God,”
I scoff thickly and hear him laugh.
    At the
apartment building, Heath slides his security card into the slot
then holds open the front door for us. I consider not allowing him
to be this polite but nix that idea because it’d be rude. Instead,
I go on inside the building at least succeeding in letting him know
I’m not fooled by his chivalry as I stick my nose up while turning
away from him. His muttered words along with a snicker stop me in
my tracks which makes Dani stop too and she giggles again at being
wrenched to a standstill.
    “What?” I
snottily inquire of him but I don’t think I’m coming off as
condescendingly as I’d like since I’m definitely drunk. And as
suspected, Dani’s worse than I am because I’m barely able to keep
her from toppling at our abrupt stop.
    “You’re
welcome,” he retorts.
    I frown. “Oh.
Yeah. You’re welcome ,” I snip and keeping hold of Dani walk
toward the elevator dragging her alongside.
    “Thank you,”
Heath says with a chuckle and I have no idea what’s so damned funny
so I just shake my head throwing in an annoyed huff for good
measure.
    Inside the
elevator I resist the urge to push every floor button because for
some reason I think it’d be cool. But Heath’s standing next to the
panel, and the alcohol’s now screwing with my head which is making
my brain waver between my mostly feigned revulsion of him and the
genuine attraction I feel toward him and I don’t want to get too
close to him for fear of acting on my impulses. Whether it’d be
another attempted slap or me feeling him up is a toss-up.
    Between floors
six and seven he breaks the silence. “You gonna stay mad at me
forever?”
    Dani’s
informed me she’s tired and is now leaning her head against my
shoulder so that when I turn toward him, a chunk of her hair gets
in my mouth and I have to sputter to spit it out then use my hand
to smooth it back down on her head. I raise an eyebrow at him, or
at least I think I do because my face is now numb, and counter,
“You gonna hate me forever?”
    He’s facing
the front standing like a bodyguard, holding his hands together in
front of him and, my God, even his profile is freaking sexy. Ugh. I
want to roll my eyes at thinking that but I’m fairly certain
they’re now numb too.
    “I don’t hate
you,” he mumbles quietly still staring forward.
    “What? What’d
you say?” I ask. Hey, it bears repeating.
    He glances
over at me, the look on his face so suggestive, so full of wicked
intent, it makes my womb dip. Holy gah!
    “I said…” he
begins and takes a step toward me. “I don’t hate you.”
    We’re staring
at each other, me over the top of Dani’s head, him still looking at
me like he wants to devour me and I think I’d like that. God help
me.
    The elevator
dings and right before the doors open, Dani announces, “Why