My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 965

Emily Blair watched as Larkin Porter flicked out his tongue, running it slowly along the corner of his mouth.

He leaned in, his gaze dropping to meet hers. “So, what do you say? Want to have a little fun? I promise you’ll enjoy yourself.”

Emily fought the urge to throw her drink in his face, taking another two steps back. “Mr. Porter, I already said I’m not interested. Please leave me alone.”

Her refusal was unmistakable—there was nothing coy or playful about it.

Larkin’s smirk faltered, but he wasn’t ready to give up. “What’s wrong? Am I not good enough for you? Or did I do something to put you off?”

Emily’s patience was wearing thin.

Does he understand English but not hear a word I’m saying?

She drew a deep breath, darting a glance to the side—then froze.

Her eyes locked with Andrew Lane’s, dark and unreadable across the room. “I told you, I have a boyfriend,” she said, her voice steady.

Larkin spread his hands and stepped closer, undeterred. “So what? I’ve got a girlfriend too. Doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun on the side. I won’t tell if you don’t. Or are you really going to stick with just one guy your whole life? That’s so boring.”

Emily’s expression turned icy as she grabbed her glass. “Don’t come any closer. I said no, and I meant it.”

She made as if to throw the drink, and Larkin immediately raised his hands in surrender, backing away.

“All right, all right, I get it. No need to get crazy. Don’t throw that.”

Only when he’d retreated a good three steps did Emily slowly lower her glass.

But before she could relax, Larkin flashed a grin and lunged forward, grabbing her wrist, his body pressing in close.

Emily tried to wrench free, sloshing wine over the rim of her glass.

She gritted her teeth. “Let go of me, Larkin!”

His grip was steel; she couldn’t break away.

He leered at her. “Come on, just relax. I guarantee you’ll have a good time—so good you won’t be able to forget me.”

Emily cradled her aching wrist, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Larkin spat out a curse through gritted teeth. “Fuck!”

He scrambled to his feet, glancing from Emily to Andrew, fury and embarrassment warring on his face.

Pointing an accusatory finger at Andrew, he snapped, “So this is your boyfriend? You said he wasn’t here! And now he hits me?!”

Emily was quick to protest, “He—”

But Andrew cut her off, his tone cold. “Yeah, I am. And if you’re harassing my girlfriend, you’re damn right I’ll step in.”

Larkin’s jaw clenched. “Fine. Fine.”

Andrew took a step forward, eyes hard. “Or did you want to go another round?”

The memory of the punch clearly lingered—Larkin edged back, shaken, and kept his distance.