Page 27 of His to Defend

Nina shook her head and reached for a shot glass that had been delivered to the table. “That was an attempt to forget about what I was really thinking about.” She tipped the glass back and let the liquid warm her as it slid down her throat. “Obviously, it was a poor attempt.”

“And what is it you’re trying not to think about?” Harper pushed despite the fact that she knew the answer. She was Nina’s best friend, for God’s sake. “Ryker?”

Nina shot her a look. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, I think it does.” Natalia spoke up.

Nina stared at her in question. “What does it have to do with you?”

“He’s my brother,” she said calmly. “And your mate.”

“What the—”

“Hey,” Chloe interrupted. “Look who’s here!”

All the women looked over to see the group of men walk into the bar. Including Ryker. Her heart skipped before increasing its frenzied pace in her chest.

He looked through the room, directly to her. Around her, the music faded away; the voices and chatter muted. It was just him looking at her.

Vaguely, she was aware of the other men coming to greet their girlfriends and partners before pulling up another table to join them, but still Ryker didn’t move.

What was he waiting for?

She’d told him it was nothing. It would never happen again. She’d lied. It was something. She just didn’t know what exactly it was. But maybe she should find out.

Nina swallowed and then, letting herself go, she offered him the brightest smile she could and raised her hand, just a little, in a wave.

Surely he’d come over now.

But he didn’t. As Nina watched, Ryker finally broke eye contact with her. He dropped his head and shook it slightly before turning and walking back outside.

Nina couldn’t be sure whether the gasp she heard came from her or someone else, because all at once, as if someone had turned on a switch, the sound of the room rushed back into her head. The floor beneath her tilted dangerously, but she knew now it wasn’t because of the alcohol.

“Nina?”

It was Natalia. She turned to look at Ryker’s little sister. Her familiar eyes were clouded with concern, her pretty mouth turned down in a frown. “Are you…what was…I don’t know what my brother is thinking, but—”

“I’m fine.”

She shook her head and flipped her hair back off her face. Whatever had just happened, she was not going to let it ruin her night and she was definitely not going to let it ruin Harper’s party. She just needed to shake it off.

A new song came on. Still with a good beat, although a little slower than the songs before. She spun in her seat, determined to get on with her night, and her eyes landed directly on Matt.

It wasn’t ideal. But it was a whole lot better than being openly rejected. She slipped off her stool, ignoring whatever it was that Natalia was saying, and walked directly over to him. “How about that drink?”

Two more shots later, Nina was pleasantly numb and this time when Matt slipped his arms around her and pressed up against her, she didn’t pull away.

The fresh mountain air should have filled his lungs and cleared his head the way it always did. It should have given him a moment to think clearly. But it didn’t. All Ryker could think of was Nina.

She filled his senses. Overpowering and overwhelming.

He needed to get hold of himself. He could not go back in there and let his bear take control.

Earlier, when he was out on the river, he’d convinced himself that maybe his bear was right. That his cousins were right. That it didn’t matter if Nina wasn’t a grizzly. Nothing mattered except the scent of honey and apples and having her in his arms.

Having her.

He’d been in control.