Page 65 of The Cowboy Complication

Isla shook her head, the motion jerky. “No.”

“Good.” He stepped closer to her. “Do you want this guy touching you?”

Again, she shook her head. “No.”

The cowboy’s head tipped back in shock. The ass genuinely thought he was getting somewhere. Really believed Isla was into him.

She wasn’t. She was just too sweet to tell all the men around her to pound sand.

And it was time to find out if that included him.

Cooper inched closer, bumping the confused cowboy out of his way as he lowered his voice. “Whodoyou want touching you?”

Isla’s eyes dipped to his mouth before coming back to his. “Only you.”

“Good.” He held out a hand. “Come on. Time to go home.”

She didn’t hesitate to slide her palm into his, holding tight as he pulled her off her stool and tucked her into his side. He turned to where Griselda sat. “I’m calling Grady to come get you two before you cause more problems.”

Griselda leaned closer, eyes narrowing. “It doesn’t look like we caused you a problem. It looks like we found you a solution.”

There was something in the way she said it. Like things had worked out exactly the way she thought they would. But that wasn’t possible. Gram-Gram didn’t know?—

A crash sounded behind him and he turned to find the rejected cowboy slinging a punch at the guy next to him.

Of all the fucking times?—

Isla wrapped both arms at his middle, holding tight as the crowd started to shift, bumping into them from every side.

This was a bad situation and could get out of hand in the blink of an eye. As much as he wanted to get her home—to himself—he had to do his job.

Calling in the altercation, he scanned the bar in search of the familiar face that was usually lingering—especially on the weekends. To his relief, Leland was already headed their way, sending people outside as he cleared away as much of the overwhelming volume as possible.

Leaning into Isla’s ear, he urged her to where Evelyn sat, tucking her behind Grady’s wife so she would be safe as he said, “I’ve got to deal with this. Stay right here.”

She nodded, shrinking back as far as she could as he went to help Leland break up the fight.

By the time it was all said and done, they made three arrests. The cowboy who tried to put his hands on Isla, and two other ranch hands—one a local, the other from out of town.

“I can’t fucking wait for them to get the fuck out of here.” Grady had shown up not long after the call was made, frantic as he rushed in searching for Evelyn. “These guys stir the shit almost every night.”

“They’re a necessary evil.” It was a little easier to say since he got to watch the dick who wanted the woman he loved getting shoved into the back of a police car. “But yeah, I’m ready for a break.”

He was ready to take Isla home. To get her out of there and where she belonged. Where she should have been already.

As if she could hear his thoughts, Isla broke off from where she stood with Evelyn and Gram-Gram, coming straight for him with a cautious smile on her face. “Can you go yet?”

“I can go.” He reached for her, unable to stop himself. Pulling her close, he nuzzled into the soft drape of her hair, breathing deep.

“What the fuck is going on?” Grady’s sharp question flatlined a little of the peace he found holding Isla’s body to his.

He turned, ready to plead his case—prepared to take the ass-kicking he might deserve—but Isla stepped in front of him.

Chin lifted high, eyes narrowed, she glared at his friend—her boss—and said, “Grady, I swear to God if you say one more word I’ll cut a hole in the toe of every sock you own.”

21

Isla

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