Rock with Me (With Me in Seattle, #4)(71)

“Why are you so nice to me?” I ask her. “I was horrible to you.”

“Because I know why you were, and because I love you for wanting to protect my husband.”

I shake my head and wipe the tears off my cheeks.

“Are you crying because of that photo?” She asks softly.

“No.” I shake my head and wipe my nose on the back of my hand. “I feel betrayed by that tattooed * in there, and embarrassed that everyone heard that I’d lost my job.”

Nat nods and then frowns. “You’ll get another job you know.”

I shrug. “They’re not knocking down my door.”

“You will. What does Leo say?”

“He’s moving up here to be near Meg more and the band is going to record the next album here.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She narrows her eyes at me, making me laugh.

“God, you’re such a gold digger.” I fling at her with a laugh. She chuckles and nods her head.

“Yeah, don’t tell Luke. He thinks I love him for his good looks.”

I wipe the rest of the tears from my cheeks and sigh. “Leo says he’ll take care of me.”

“I bet that pissed you off, too,” she correctly observes.

“Hell yes, it did. I don’t need him to take care of me.”

“Nope,” she agrees with a grin.

“What is it with men thinking they can just take care of everything? I’m not a damsel in distress. I got this shit.”

“I hear you.” She shrugs. “But it is kind of nice to know you don’t have to do it all on your own. I like it that Luke has my back.”

“I think he prefers your front.” I smirk.

“No, he loves my ass.” She laughs.

“You have a good ass.” I confirm with a nod and then frown. “I’m still really, really pissed at him. He shouldn’t have told the family.”

“No, that was yours to tell.” Natalie puts her arm around my shoulders. “I’m sorry you’re hurt.”

The front door opens and I expect to see Luke, or my parents, come outside, but instead it’s Leo, moving quickly, a scowl on his face.

“Get in the f*cking car.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll see you later,” Nat whispers and kisses my cheek before letting herself back inside.

“You heard me.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I stand my ground; my arms crossed and glare defiantly at him.

“The f*ck you’re not. Get in.”

“No.”

He stops and turns to me, his gray eyes angrier than I’ve ever seen them. He gets in my face, his voice low and deceptively calm. “Get in the motherf*cking car before I put you there myself.”

“Leo…”

“Get in the f*cking car!”

Jesus, Mary and Joseph he’s pissed.





Chapter Twenty-One


Leo



“Damn, you piss me off,” I mutter and grip the steering wheel tightly, enjoying the rumble of the engine as I stomp on the gas and tear out of Will’s drive way.

“You’re going to kill us both,” she mutters and glares at me.

“No, if I decide to kill you, I’ll choke the shit out of you.” She has the audacity to laugh.

“Do you think that’s the first time I’ve been threatened with a choking?”

“No, sweetheart, I’m sure that happens on a regular basis. You’re so f*cking stubborn.”


She glares again and looks out the passenger window.

I’m so angry with her, I dare not touch her. I’m pissed on so many levels; I don’t even know where it starts and how to dig through to the root of it.

I just know that I haven’t been this angry since I was sixteen years old.

“Leo,” she begins, but I cut her off.

“Stop talking.”

Her startled gaze whips to mine, and I glare at her, seething.

“You’re really upset,” she whispers and sits quietly while I navigate through downtown Seattle to her building. I park, and take the car out of gear so her door unlocks and she can get out.

“I’ll talk to you later.”

“You’re not coming in?” She asks, surprised.

“No.”

“Leo, come inside and talk to me.” I glance over at her, and her eyes are scared, and a piece of me softens. She’s worried I won’t be back.

“Fine.” I turn off the ignition, round the hood of the car and pull her out of her seat, walk briskly into her building and press the elevator button. When the doors close, she tries to speak, but I cut her off.

“No, you want me to talk, fine, I’ll talk. When we get into your place.”

She frowns up at me, about to argue, but she shuts her lips and looks straight ahead. At her floor, I stomp ahead to her door and wait for her to unlock it and walk inside.

“Sit.”

“No, I’m not a f*cking dog, Leo. If you’re pissed, talk. If you’re just going to be an *, go home. I’m sick of you bullying me.”

“Bullying you?” I round on her, the rage rising anew. “Bullying you. I f*cking stuck up for you, Samantha.”