Page 289 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Luther took the opportunity to move out of the line of fire.

Brooke spun around. “Oh, yeah, then who is?” She gave him a look so sour it would’ve curdled milk. “Is it you? You stand to profit quite a lot from this little venture, don’t you Nash?”

His jaw went hard. “As do you.”

“You’re all miserable leeches!” She regretted the outburst the minute it left her mouth, especially when she saw the dark look on Nash’s face.

He leaned in so close that she could feel his warm breath on her face. His voice had the dangerous control of a rattlesnake getting ready to strike. “We’ve got eighteen long months to sort out our differences. So shut your mouth and act the part of the simple-headed debutante you’ve been trained to be.”

She gasped, tears stinging her eyes. “How dare you!”

The cowboy standing next to Nash let out a whoop of admiration as he slapped Nash on the back. “It didn’t take you long to train your little filly, did it?”

The swift anger that rolled over Brooke was so intense that it caused bright lights to explode in her head and begin falling around her like shooting stars. Her fingernails itched to claw that smart mouth right off the cowboy’s face, and then she would make her way to Nash. Instead, she forced a laugh, zeroing in on the cowboy. “Spoken by a man who couldn’t get a woman if his life depended on it! Oh, and in case you didn’t notice, this is a wedding—not a rodeo … so you can lose the silly hat and boots.”

The cowboy’s face went scarlet, and he gulped like he was trying to swallow his tongue.

A trace of amusement flickered in Nash’s eyes as he turned to her. “Well, it’s obvious that you haven’t lost your bite.”

She got up in his face. “And it’s obvious that you’re still the same conceited jerk you’ve always been.” She lifted her chin in the air as she gathered up the train of her dress. “I’m going to get some fresh air.”

She only got two steps away when Evie realized that she’d left her post. “Brooke, get back here,” she commanded. “You have to mingle with the guests.”

She spun around, shooting death darts at her mother and daddy. They were the ones who’d gotten her into this mess! “You greet them, Mother!” she yelled, ignoring the shocked looks coming from the guests. “This is your little shindig, and I’ve had enough!”

The cool breeze felt good against Brooke’s hot cheeks as she stepped outside. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and there was no making sense of anything. When she went on the rampage, most men went to great lengths in order to stay out of her way, but not Nash. When she lambasted him, he’d socked it right back to her without so much as blinking. Nash had always been that way—ready to fight with the slightest provocation. He would take a horsewhipping before he backed down from a fight! While there was something to be said for his unconquerable spirit, he was the only man that could make her so angry that she couldn’t think straight.A simple-headed debutant?Was that really all she was to him? She hugged her arms and walked over to a fountain in the hopes that she could escape the viewof the people in the ballroom. Outdoor lights resembling street lamps were placed strategically around the grounds, providing enough light for her to see a football field’s distance in every direction. The fragrant scent of flowers perfumed the air. She looked up over the tree line at the stars twinkling against the velvety sky. The full moon had an orange glow that caused the night to take on an element of magic—a bitter reminder that her life was anything but magical. For better or worse, she was now a married woman. Her bags were packed and loaded into the limousine that would take Nash and her to the ranch where they would continue this ridiculous charade. The eighteen months ahead stretched like a never-ending treadmill where she would be forced to keep taking step after mindless step.

She stood staring at the sky for a few more minutes until the wind picked up, raising goosebumps over her flesh. As tempting as it was to stay out here and hide, she knew full well that if she didn’t go back in soon, her mother would send out the posse. She blew out a breath and turned to head back inside. She ran headfirst into the Marlboro Man that had been ogling her earlier. She took a step back from him. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I was just leaving.”

“What’s your hurry?” His eyes shamelessly raked over her.

“Really? You’re flirting with me on my wedding day?” She shook her head in disgust. “Unbelievable.”

He laughed. “Nash and I go way back. We ride the same bulls. I figured we might as well share the same girls.”

A hysterical laugh rose in her throat. “Are all cowboys thick-headed Neanderthals? You’re pathetic! Now, get out of my way!” She stopped cold when she saw the merciless look in the man’s eyes. Then she caught a whiff of his breath. “Ew! You reek of alcohol!”

He grabbed her arm and began pulling her in the direction of the trees. “Come with me, and I’ll show you what a real man can do!”

An icy fear gripped her as she began hitting him. “Let go of me!” Tears started streaming down her face.

He laughed and held on tighter. “Not so tough now, are ya?”

Wide-eyed, Gracie turned to Gertrude. “We have to help her!” After the wedding, they’d gone into invisibility mode so that they could stand close enough to Brooke and Nash to hear what transpired. They’d heard the heated exchange between them, and when Brooke stomped out of the ballroom, they’d followed her out here.

“Don’t panic.” Gertrude pointed. “Help is on the way.”

“WHAT—IS—GOING—ON—HERE?”

The thundering voice seemed to shake the ground as Marlboro Man dropped Brooke’s arm like a hot potato. Relief swept through her as she stumbled and then fell into Nash’s arms. He searched her face, gently wiping away the tears. “Are you okay?”

She nodded.

Concern etched his features, and then the rage set in. “Did he hurt you?”

Marlboro Man let out an uneasy laugh. “Ain’t no sense in getting all riled up. This is just a big misunderstanding.”

Brooke’s eyes lassoed as she shot the man a look of pure hatred. “There’s no misunderstanding! He tried to attack me!”

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