Free Rooter (Double H Romance) by Teiran Smith

and Stewarts Root Beer in the cart. The only reason they’re in the cart is because Miranda wanted them and paid for them, but he doesn’t know that.
    “Pardon me,” he chuckles. “Let’s make sure to get brand name processed cheese.”
    We both laugh. A fellow shopper is annoyed that we’re taking up the entire aisle. He tries to squeeze past us and bumps my ankle. I cry out in pain. Rooter grabs the guy by the shoulder and forces him to turn around and face him.
    “What the fuck, man?” Rooter snipes. “You hit her.”
    “I—I’m sorry,” the guy stammers. He’s a big guy, and looks like he could hold his own, so the fear in his eyes as he gapes at Rooter takes me by surprise. “I didn’t mean to hurt your girlfriend, I was just trying to get by.”
    “The words excuse me exist for a reason shithead.” Rooter’s grip on the guy’s shoulder gets tighter causing him to wince.
    “I’m sorry. Really,” the guy says.
    “You’re sorry? Did you not see her crutches or didn’t that matter to you when you rammed your cart into her?” Rooter’s entire body trembles as he struggles to keep his anger in check.
    While I appreciate Rooter’s concern for me, I don’t want him beating the hell out of this guy. We were taking up the entire aisle after all. It’s not worth getting into a fight over and I’d hate to see what kind of shape he’d leave this guy in.
    I reach out and put my hand on his shoulder. “I’m okay, Rooter.”
    “No, you’re not!”
    “I really am sorry,” the guy says. Beads of sweat appear on his forehead.
    “Why are you apologizing to me?” Rooter growls. “She’s the one you rammed with your cart!”
    The guy turns to face me. “I really am sorry, miss.”
    “It was our fault,” I say. “We were taking up the aisle.”
    “Do not make excuses for him, Sophie!” Rooter orders. His face is a deep shade of red.
    “I could’ve said excuse me,” the guy admits.
    “Yes, you could have,” Rooter agrees with a menacing tone.
    “It’s done now,” I say to Rooter. “Let him go.”
    “Watch where you’re going from now on.” Rooter lets go of the guy.
    I watch the guy scurry out of the aisle, unable to believe that just happened. I find myself torn between feeling irritated and being turned on. Rooter didn’t need to take it to that level, but damn, it was hot.
    “You act like he took my leg off. It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
    “It was to me.”
    “Why?”
    “Because it was inconsiderate. He saw that you’re on crutches. He could’ve said excuse me.”
    “Maybe he thought he could get by.”
    Rooter shakes his head and pinches the bridge of his nose. “He fucked up and deserved to be called out on it.”
    “The guy was scared to death. I’m surprised he didn’t piss himself.”
    Rooter chuckles. “Now that would’ve been funny.”
    I have to turn around to hide my smile. I can’t be mad at him. As I start to hobble away I’m stopped by his warm hand on my arm.
    “I wasn’t going to hurt him, Sophie.” His expression is soft, but worried. “I was just trying to teach him a lesson.”
    “I’d say you succeeded.”
    “Are you mad at me?”
    “No.” I shake my head. “I appreciate you standing up for me, but you took it a little too far.”
     
    The ride back to my house is a quiet one, but the silence isn’t awkward. Rooter pulls up in front of my house and helps me out of the truck.
    “I’ll walk you to the house and then bring the bags in.”
    Once inside we find Mike sitting on the sofa. His expression is a mixture of fear and displeasure. The way his eyes are scrunched together and his upper lip is raised in disgust makes me want to laugh.
    “We gonna have a problem?” Rooter asks him.
    “No.” Mike says and softens his expression.
    Rooter turns to me. “I’ll be right back.”
    I shuffle to the coffee table and set my purse on it. Mike looks at me like he wants to say something, but isn’t sure he should.
    After a moment he