Page 27 of The Cowboy Complication

Then they drove out of town, leaving behind any messes they made without looking back.

Isla’s expression turned even more hesitant as she took in the men milling around the bar. “Sounds like you have your hands full.”

“They’re not my problem tonight.” He’d pulled rank and didn’t feel the least bit bad about it. “Tonight I get to take care of you girls.”

“And how’d you manage that?” Gertrude eyed him suspiciously. “I thought we were on a rotation.”

“You’re only on a rotation when no one wants to be in charge of keeping you ladies in line.” He forced himself away from Isla, turning his focus to the women seated around them. “But you’re stuck with me because I’m not afraid of a little vomit.”

“Oh, it’s not gonna be a little.” Betty snorted. “We went out for Mexican before we came here.”

Isla’s skin paled a little.

“Are you kidding me?” He lifted his brows at the women. “You had her take you for tacos knowing Muriel was probably gonna hurl it all back up?”

He liked the women who called themselves the Bridge Bitches. They were actually some of his favorite Moss Creek residents. But right now he was considering making good on his own threat and cutting their night short. Taking each one of them home so they could think over what they’d done.

“I guess it’s a good thing you showed up when you did.” Gertrude met his gaze. “Now she can barf in your car.”

He wanted to point out that they didn’t know he’d be there when they were stuffing chips and salsa into their puke prone friend, but it was a pointless argument. These women were too old to give a single fuck what anyone said, and too stubborn to change their ways.

“No one’s puking in anyone’s car.” Cooper pointed at where Muriel sat. “No more drinks for you.”

Muriel’s mouth dropped open on a scoff. “You can’t tell me?—”

“I’ll let you play with the siren on the way home.”

“Deal.” She didn’t even think about it or try to negotiate for more.

Which was a little surprising.

Thankfully, the rest of the table also seemed fine with the arrangement—probably because now they wouldn’t have to deal with Muriel upchucking on any of them—and they went back to chatting. Leaving him to wait them out and pretend he wasn’t overly focused on the woman beside him.

Isla sat quietly, occasionally taking a sip of her drink, as she listened to the conversation going on around her. She didn’t seem to be having a great time, but she also didn’t appear miserable. At any rate, he’d be saving her from Muriel’s temperamental guts, so while it might not be the greatest first girls’ night ever, it certainly wouldn’t be the worst.

“Shouldn’t you be patrolling the area or something?” Betty lifted her brows at him. “No one else sits here all night monitoring our conversation.”

“I’m not monitoring your conversation.” He’d actually tuned them out right after making his deal with Muriel, his attention going somewhere more interesting.

Somewhere it definitely shouldn’t be, but he was having a heck of a time redirecting it.

“Mmm-hmm.” Betty’s eyes moved to where Isla sat at his side before fixing on his face. “We can handle things around here. Hovering is just going to get annoying.”

“I’m not hovering and I’m not monitoring.” He sounded way too fucking defensive. Because he kind of was hovering. And monitoring.

Just not any of them.

He was simply making sure his friend Isla was safe and comfortable on her first night out. He was serving as a deterrent for any ranch hands who might try to fuck it all up.

“Sure.” Betty took a drink. “Whatever you say, Officer Staks.” She gave him a conspiratorial wink. “Now go away.”

He huffed out a breath, aggravated he was being run off. “Fine. I can take a hint.” He was on his feet when Isla’s hand came to his arm, holding tight.

There was a hint of panic in her eyes as they moved over his face. “You’re leaving? I thought you said you were staying?”

A little of the irritation crawling up his spine eased at discovering she wanted him there. Leaning down, he rested one hand on the back of her chair as he brought his lips close to her ear so he wouldn’t have to yell.

So what he said would be just between them.

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