“If you hurt her, I’m going to have to beat your ass,” Alec warns.
“Same,” a voice says from behind me.
I turn around and find Mason and Tristan walking up.
“Just left breakfast with my girls,” Tristan says, sizing me up as he walks over to us. I knew Georgia left early this morning to meet her mom and sister for breakfast. She was gone before I woke up and left me a note that she’d be by later with a new recipe for me to try. But I didn’t realize her dad would also be there, or that we would be the topic of conversation. But I guess I should’ve expected that. I’m just not used to parents interfering. I mean, my mom cares, but she’s not one to make a fuss. And Victoria’s parents were barely around. Nobody ever cared or questioned anything we did.
“Breakfast’s already over?”
“Nah,” Tristan says, shaking his head. “They’re still at the house, eating and gossiping. I overheard Lexi asking her sister about what she walked in on as I was walking out the door… Figured I must’ve misunderstood, because the last I heard, you promised to bring her home and take care of her.” Tristan tilts his head to the side slightly. “Wasn’t aware taking care of her meant almost sleeping with her.”
I stifle a groan. “Nothing happened.”
“Yeah, because Lexi and I showed up,” Alec points out.
“Good job, Son,” Mason says, patting him on the shoulder.
“Look, I get it,” I tell them. “You guys are all protective of Georgia, but I’m not the bad guy here. I didn’t plan for this to happen, but when she said she planned to go back to that club to find the perfect guy—”
“The fuck?” Mason hisses at the same time Tristan barks out, “Like hell.”
“Exactly!” I throw my hands up in the air. “Anyway, she said that shit and it just happened. I kissed her, but nothing more than that happened.” Not much anyway…
“So, you kissed her to stop her from going out?” Tristan eyes me accusingly.
“What? No. Don’t twist my words.” I hit Tristan with a pointed look. Georgia’s father or not, I won’t be accused of shit that isn’t true. “I like her, and when she said that shit, it made me admit it.”
“So what exactly are you two?” Mason asks.
“Dad!” Georgia yells. “I knew it!” She stomps up the station’s driveway, and I can’t help but smile. She’s dressed in light blue skinny jeans that show off her sexy curves and a thin pink tank top. White Vans on her feet. Her hair is straightened, and she’s wearing a little bit of makeup. Not a lot, but enough to make her emerald eyes pop and her lips look all silky and kissable. And I would totally kiss her, if it weren’t for the scary way she’s glaring at her dad as she stalks toward us.
“Georgia, honey, what are you doing here?” Tristan asks, his voice now soft. I’ve been around Georgia and Lexi long enough to know they have their dad wrapped around their fingers.
“The second the door closed, I knew where you were going!” She steps in front of me and turns around to face her dad. I can’t see her facial expression since I’m now standing behind her, but I can see the way her arms cross over her chest and hear her humph in aggravation.
“Georgia, why don’t you just let the men talk?” Mason says.
“Excuse me?” Georgia shrieks, making me snort out a laugh. Is he crazy? “This is my business, not any of yours.”
“Well, it’s kind of mine, too,” I point out playfully, placing a reassuring hand on her hip and ignoring the way all three guys glare down at the gesture.
“Mine and Chase’s,” she corrects, glancing back at me with a soft smile. My stomach knots and it takes everything in me not to crush my mouth to hers right this second.
“You were drugged a few days ago,” Tristan says, his eyes darting between Georgia and me. “You can’t blame me for wanting to protect you.”
“I get that,” Georgia says. “And I appreciate your concern, but maybe next time talk to me.”
Tristan nods and Georgia hugs him and then Mason. Lastly, she hugs Alec. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
“I don’t care if we work together, or that he’s my friend,” he says to her, making sure I can hear. “If he hurts you—”
“Then I get hurt,” she says. “I won’t allow it to affect your friendship. I know Chase’s past, but I believe him when he says I’m his future.” Fuck, and there she goes again, squeezing the hell out of my heart.
Alec looks like he wants to argue but instead nods. “All right.” He hugs her again. “I need to get going on my chores.” He hugs his stepdad and shakes Tristan’s hand before disappearing inside.