Page 8 of Make You Mine

“I’m not going to fight anyone,” she grumbled, placing the beer bottle she had been brandishing behind Richard’s back on the bar before raising her hands. “See? Don’t worry, honey. I’m good. I promise.”

“You, too, Aunt Piper. Watch her, Ren. These two—I don’t even know what to say. I mean, it was justified, but still.”

I rolled my lips guiltily, eyes darting away from Ren. “Don’t worry. I’m good too, Noah.”

Ren’s eyes zeroed in on Richard. “IfDickkeeps it civil, can’t see why there would be any fighting necessary tonight.” His dark scowl swung to me, the dip of his eyebrows and furrow in his brow more prominent. “I’ll take care of you,” he promised under his breath.

I nodded, fighting the temptation to take his hand and bring him home so he couldtake care of methere instead. We were not thinking along the same lines, but I didn’t care. He was hot. I was pissed. It was all too much, so I allowed myself the temporary thrill to distract me from the temptation to let loose and punch Richard’s lights out. I had a long fuse, but he was rapidly pushing me to the end of it.

“Piper, it’s about Cody and his appointment with the vet on Monday.”

Of course, it was…

“Okay. What’s the problem?” I asked without looking at him.

“Well, you weren’t answering your phone, and his health is important, don’t you think?” Richard spoke my name as if he owned me. As if he were about to scold me. I was incensed.

“She’s busy tonight,” Ren answered for me as he draped an arm around my shoulders. Damn, he smelled good.

Should I lean in?

Screw it. I leaned, resting my head against his clavicle. His skin was so warm, his shirt soft. I inhaled deeply, turning my nose into his throat. God, I wanted to lick him. Yum.

“Are you dating this guy?”

“We’re seeing where things go,” Ren answered before letting his arm fall to my shoulders to pull me closer. “Aren’t we, baby?” His breath tickled my ear as he whispered right into it, then kissed me lightly on my temple.

Oh god.

I shivered. “Yeah,” my voice sounded slightly like a moan, and I wasn’t even embarrassed.

“Maybe this is a bad time.” Richard’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll call you tomorrow. You want to be involved in Cody’s life, right? At least that’s what you said. If that hasn’t changed, answer the phone so we can make plans. Yeah?”

“Okay. Bye.” I didn’t even look as he got up to leave. I was too caught up in my rapidly developing attraction to Ren. He was sexy, and even though he looked like he could take on Richard and every other guy in this bar at once, he still seemed non-threatening. The dichotomy intrigued me.

I sat here confused. Here I was, all sworn off of men, and now in the middle of a hormone rush over the hot hunk of beefcake sitting next to me.

“Here’s your ranch.” Noah plopped the dish on the table and high-tailed it back to the kitchen.

“Thanks.” Ren’s voice jolted me out of my stupor.

“Just so you know, we don’t get into fights willy-nilly. I mean Paige and me.” I blurted. “Some guy was getting handsy with one of the waitresses a few weeks back and wouldn’t stop. He grabbed her ass and pulled her onto his lap. It was basically a full-on assault. So we got her away from him and slapped him around a little bit while the police were called. It was mostly self-defense. Oh, that, and Noah’s dad told him a few things about Paige and me from back in high school, but that was so long ago it doesn’t count anymore, right?”

His lips twitched. “Totally doesn’t count. And it sounds to me that the guy with the waitress needed to be taught a lesson.”

“Right?” I grabbed my glass and took a sip, suddenly parched. “It freaked Noah out, though. Then the guy had to go and try to press charges on us. It was a whole thing. Anyway, it’s all good now. There was an entire bar full of witnesses who saw what he did. He backed off, and now he is banned.”

“Good. Was he arrested? Charges pressed?”

“Yes to all of it. It’s all pending. And thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He slid back to his side of the table and picked up his beer. “Unfortunately, some men don’t respect boundaries unless they come from another man. Dick seemed like the type. I wasn’t questioning your ability to take care of yourself.”

My jaw dropped because, wow. He was respectful and protective without being chauvinistic. I melted a little bit inside as I started to like him even more.

I jumped in my seat when Paige showed up at the edge of our table, bursting with energy.

“I have the best idea,” she declared as she set a glass of water in front of Ren. “Lots of lemon, just how you like it.”

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