“Do you think you could stop staring at that blonde chick for maybe… thirty seconds so we can finish our conversation?”

Snapped.

“Sorry,” I mutter as I reluctantly pull my eyes from the stunning blonde at the bar.

“No, you’re not,” she grumbles.

“I am.” I nudge her hand with mine. “Carry on.”

She starts talking again about some woman at her yoga class, and I zone out after a few minutes, my gaze drifting to the blonde in the red dress yet again.

I know I shouldn’t be looking when I’m sitting here with Olivia, but I can’t help it, it’s like a gravitational pull. I can’t take my eyes off her for long – not since the moment she walked in.

I glance back at Olivia, and she’s still talking, about someone at work this time, and she hasn’t noticed that my gaze has drifted once more.

I nod and smile when she does, but I’m not really paying the slightest bit of attention.

The blonde woman is talking to a guy at the bar. I’ve seen him in here before, hitting on women and, more often than not, taking them home – a different woman every time.

I get a bad vibe from the guy.

I don’t know this woman from Eve, but I don’t like her talking to that sleaze. It just doesn’t sit right with me.

“How’s the new job going?” Olivia asks, and I’m forced to focus on her again.

I shrug. “So far, so good. I haven’t met the team in person yet, but we’ve made all of our selections from the pre-season games.”

“That’s good.” She smiles warmly at me, and I feel bad for ignoring her for half of our conversation. “You’re going to kill it, B.”

I risk one more glance at the blonde, deciding that it will be my last.

She turns away from the bar to look at something over her shoulder, and I see the guy she’s talking to move his hand; the movement is so fast I almost don’t catch it.

“Did you see that?” I hiss, even though Olivia couldn’t possibly have seen what just happened over her shoulder.

“See what?” She frowns at me.

“Over there.” I point to where the two are talking again, the pretty blonde with a smile on her face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The blonde reaches for her drink, and I know I can’t sit here and do nothing.

“I’ll be back.” I jump to my feet and stride across the room, heading directly for the woman who has captured my attention from the minute she set foot in the room.

“Brody!” Olivia calls after me, but I ignore her.

I reach the woman as her wine glass touches her mouth, and I shove past the guy she’s talking to, to reach her.

“Don’t drink that,” I blurt out, my heart thumping.

Her eyes narrow in confusion at me, but the glass lowers slightly from her plump lips.

“And why not?” she asks, her voice just as sexy as I expected it to be.

“I think he just spiked your drink.”

I turn my attention to the douche she’s with, but his face gives nothing away.

“Me?” he questions, his tone full of cocky outrage. “Don’t be stupid.”

He’s good, I’ll give him that, but I know what I saw.

“When she turned away, you put something in her glass.”

He stands up from his stool, his posture staunch.

He’s a tall guy, but I’m taller. I’m broader too, and he knows it as I watch him size me up.

“That’s a big accusation.”

It certainly is, and I could be wrong, but I really, really don’t think I am.

I can’t let her drink that.

“Please don’t drink it, I’ll buy you another one, just… don’t, please?”

She eyes me curiously before shifting her gaze to the man she’s been talking with for the past hour.

“Did you put something in my drink?” she questions him, holding the glass up in his direction.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Mandy.”

“It’s Morgan,” she bites back swiftly.

“Morgan, sorry.” He grimaces and, if I’m not mistaken, he’s starting to look a little hot under the collar. There’s a fine layer of sweat over his forehead. “You don’t believe this clown, do you?” He glares at me.

She looks between the guy who has been working hard to literally charm the pants off her, and me, a complete and total stranger.

I might not know her, but at least I’d never forget her name. What a fucking idiot.

“I saw him put something in there, I swear,” I tell her softly. “I’ve got no reason to lie.”

She watches me carefully for a few beats, before her gaze settles on her suitor. “You promise you didn’t?”

He nods furiously.

She raises the glass to her lips, and I’m contemplating knocking it from her hand when she shoves it abruptly in his direction. “You drink it then.”

“Wha… what?” he stutters.

She shrugs, her eyes gleaming. “If you didn’t try to drug me, then you drink it.”

“I ah… I don’t like wine.”

He tugs on his tie, his expression starting to look panicked.

“Pretend you do,” she insists.

We’ve drawn the attention of half the bar now. Even the bartenders have stopped what they’re doing to take notice.

He glances around nervously, all too aware that he’s being watched.

She raises a brow at him as she waits for him to take the glass from her.

He reaches his hand out, and I don’t miss the slight tremor in his fingers.

He’s panicking.

He definitely tried to drug her. He looks guilty as hell now that he’s being faced with putting that shit in his own body.

“Bottoms up,” I prompt, crossing my arms firmly across my chest.

He tips the glass to his mouth and takes a small sip before setting it down on the bar.

“All of it,” Morgan says without flinching.

He winces and lifts the glass again, this time downing its entire contents.

I don’t know what he put in that glass, but I sure hope it was fast acting; I’m going to look like a fool if he walks away from here unscathed.

For a few beats nothing happens, and I start to wonder if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but then he speaks.

“See? I’m fine.” He blinks slowly a few times, and it’s obvious he’s feeling hazy already.

I meet Morgan’s eyes, and she sucks in a breath, her eyes wide. She can see it too.

The asshole tries to take a step towards her, reaching for her arm and stumbles a fraction.

“Fuckwit.” I sneer as I shove him backwards. “Don’t you fucking touch her.”

I don’t want him anywhere near her. Every part of me is screaming to keep her safe.

The crowd of people behind him move, and he falls to the floor, groaning.

It’s not even half of what I want to do to him, but it’s clear he’s in no state. He can’t even get up off the ground.

“Oh my god.” I hear Morgan gasp from next to me. “He really tried to roofie me.”

“Are you okay?” I pull my attention from the prick on the floor and rest my hand on her arm.

She nods, her green eyes wide.

I lean across the bar and catch the attention of the bartender. “Call the police, would ya?”

He nods quickly, his expression shocked. “Good catch, man, thank you.”

I nod at him once before turning my attention back to the woman next to me.

“Morgan?” I question.

“Yeah.”

“I’m Brody.”

“Thanks, Brody,” she whispers, her eyes fixed on the man that is now being dragged to his feet and out of the bar by two of the security staff.

“Anytime.” I smile.

Olivia shoves through the crowd and tugs on the sleeve of my shirt. “Holy shit, that was insane. Are you okay?” she asks Morgan.

“I’m fine,” Morgan replies, her voice returning.

“I’ll be over in a minute, Liv,” I tell Olivia. She nods, and heads back towards our table.

“Are you really okay?” I ask, my eyes travelling over her face and down to her sexy red dress. It’s probably not the most appropriate time to be checking her out, but I can’t help it. Her curves are smokin’ hot.

“Thanks to you, I’m fine.” She reaches out and lays her hand on top of mine. “Seriously, thank you.”

I have to restrain myself to stop from flipping my palm so I can intertwine our fingers.

I don’t know what to do now. I don’t want her to think I’m hitting on her, but I also don’t want to leave her here alone.

“Are you here with anyone?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Just me.”

“Do you have a car?”

She shakes again. “I took a cab.”

“Come on.” I tip my head in the direction of the table I’ve been sitting at, watching her all evening.

“Come where?” she questions, her expression curious.

“You’re coming to sit with me, I’ll get you a new drink – sans drugs.”

She giggles softly. “That’s very sweet of you, but I don’t think your girlfriend would appreciate me crashing your date.” She tips her head in the direction of Olivia who is still watching us with interest.

“Liv?” I question with a chuckle.

She nods.

“Well then, I guess it’s lucky she’s my sister.”