She pushed at his chest. “I don’t give a shit about Clyde or his wine. I want you to make a commitment to me.”
He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. He didn’t want to do this here, but she hadn’t left him much of a choice. “That’s not gonna happen. We’ve only been dating two months and I’m not ready to live together.”
She poked at his chest. “You know what? You’re a sonofabitch. I thought we were heading somewhere. You led me to believe—”
He was going to have to stop her there. “I never made promises to you, Laura.”
And now the tears. He’d seen a lot of those lately, too. Especially when she’d been drinking.
“I thought we were in love, Tucker.”
“I never said that, either.”
She broke down then and sobbed.
Well, shit. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry my ass. You’re not sorry at all.”
He didn’t know how a woman could be so drunk, yet so accurate, but her knee hit his crotch at just the right angle, and he went down like a fighter who’d just been blasted by a perfect punch.
Lights out. Only instead of a hit to his jaw, she’d KO’d him right in the balls.
He vaguely registered her slurred words. “You’re a prick. We’re done, Tucker. I’m calling a taxi to take me home.”
He heard the click of her heels on the stone floor as she walked away.
He couldn’t even breathe, let alone care that she’d just fucking left him on the ground.
Jesus Christ, that had hurt. His balls throbbed like someone had— Well, someone had shoved a knee into them.
He lay there for what seemed like hours, but he knew it was only minutes before he managed to stagger to his knees. He found the wall, still struggling to catch his breath.
In a minute. He’d be able to stand in just a minute.
“Oh, my God. Are you okay?”
He heard a female voice.
Great. Just what he needed. A witness to his humiliation.
Then cool, soft hands swept across his forehead.
“Are you hurt? Did you fall?”
He shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“You are not fine. You’re sweating and practically hyperventilating. Tell me what happened.”
His eyes were still closed and he concentrated all his effort on trying to determine if his balls were still attached to his body. He did not want some woman being nice to him.
Actually, he wanted nothing to do with any female. Possibly ever again.
He managed to stand—with the woman’s help, unfortunately.
“Tell me where you’re hurt,” she said.
He shook his head. “I’m not hurt. Just go away.”
“I am not going to go away. I’m a doctor and I can help you.”
Awesome. This night was getting worse by the second. “I don’t need a doctor.”
“How about you let me be the judge of that?”
He opened his eyes and looked over at his unwanted savior.
She was, of course, gorgeous. Which made her immediately untrustworthy, since he’d just vowed to never again fall for a beautiful woman.
She was average height, with short blond hair and the most intense blue eyes he’d ever seen. She also had the most perfect mouth— Not that he was ever going to think about a woman in a sexual way again. Thoughts like that only led to trouble, and crushed testicles.
He leaned against the cool wall and tried to think about anything but this humiliating situation.
She slipped her fingers around his wrist.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Shhh.”
Fine with him. Maybe if he didn’t say anything, or look at her, she’d disappear.
But she didn’t. She kept holding on to him.
“Your pulse rate is a little high.”
He opened his eyes and looked down at her. “Not surprising since I just got kicked in the balls.”
She pursed her lips as she met his gaze. “Literally or figuratively?”
“Literally.”
“Ouch. I can’t speak from experience, of course, but that must have been painful. What did you do to deserve that?”
Figures she’d think he was deserving of a knee to the groin. “Nothing. I had a drunk girlfriend who had it in her head we were supposed to move in together. When I tried to let her down easy, that was her response.”
“Ouch again. Sorry.”
He shrugged. “Not your fault.”
She rubbed her hands together. “I should examine you.”
He let out a laugh. “Honey, no offense, but the last thing I want is any woman near my balls tonight. Or possibly ever again.”
She smiled. “You say that now. You’ll change your mind once they feel better. And you need to let me take a look and feel them to make sure your girlfriend—”
“Ex-girlfriend.”
“Okay. To make sure your ex-girlfriend didn’t seriously injure you.”
“Uh, no. I’m okay.”