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“Well, I’m glad you decided to come tonight. Your friends might be stealing all the attention, but they left the most beautiful girl here all alone.”

Randa looked around for the most beautiful girl, already preparing to hustle her towards Mannus and Daven. She’d shove that pretty woman into their path and…

Oh. Wait.

Randa suddenly realized Ben meant her. She glanced back at him in surprise, feeling uncomfortable. Hang on, what was happening here?

His greasy smile widened, sensing her unease and enjoying it. “You work at the police department, don’t you?” Ben snapped his fingers, trying to recall her name. “Randy?”

“Randa.”

“I knew it! I’ve seen you around town.” He leaned closer to her, breathing in her perfume and licking his lips. “You’re hard to miss.”

Randa leaned backwards, not liking this at all. “I’m very busy, right now.” She told him, hoping he’d take the hint.

He didn’t take the hint. “I plan parties for a living, so I’m always around gorgeous girls. But they’re all fake and hollow. You, though? You are something real. Something special.” He pointed at her nose. “Come on. I want to show you my boat.”

“I’d rather not.” She tried as diplomatically as possible.

Ben didn’t seem to hear that. “It’s nearby, at the marina. We can walk down there together. What do you say?”

“I say ‘no.’”

Frustration flickered. “One ride will change your life. You know you want to see me shirtless and tanned at the helm. And I sure want to see you shirtless and tanned, down below…”

Wham!

A massive palm slammed onto the tabletop, causing the glasses to jump. Ben and Randa looked up in perfect unison to see Kahn looming there.

For no reason at all, Randa’s growing trepidation vanished. Safe. She instantly felt her tension lessen, and she knew she was safe.

Ben’s face tightened, taking in the massive, glowering barbarian. “This is a private conversation.”

“That’s now over.” Randa informed him firmly. “Please leave.”

Ben’s face grew red, infuriated by the dismissal.

Kahn’s head tilted to one side. Black eyes pinned the human, as if he was already picturing his body at the bottom of a deep, dark hole. “Run.” He said simply.

Ben wasn’t an idiot. He fled, shooting angry, humiliated looks over his shoulder.

Kahn grunted in satisfaction at his victory and sat down in the abandoned chair. Crossing his arms over his chest, he settled into the seat, as if he had no intention of moving for the rest of the evening.

Randa considered her options. “Thank you.” She murmured.

“I told you to stay close to me tonight. This place could be dangerous.”

“I don’t think Ben was a threat. Just annoying. And he’s gone now, so you can go back to mingling with potential Matches.” She didn’t even care that he was here to pick up women. Not at all. Nope.

Kahn grunted again.

Randa was acutely (and maybe-more-than-scientifically) aware of how very, very handsome he was. She should have let him get a larger-sized shirt. All the women in the bar were watching him with hungry expressions.

Including her.

Off balance, she picked up her club soda and took another sip.

Kahn didn’t seem to notice the awkwardness. He lounged there, taking up space and glaring at every man who scurried past her table.