Page 39 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“Aw, but look how much fun they’re having.”
Austin gestured to the dance floor, where Poppy was in a cowboy’s arms, wearing his hat as she leaned back, laughing.
“On second thought, maybe I’d better take her with me before she makes some unwise decisions.”
“She’s a grown woman.”
Ginny turned to him. “And I’m her friend who’s looking out for her so she doesn’t end up like Lacey, hurt and alone.”
“Lacey’s not hurt and alone. We literally just came from her wedding.”
“Which I’m sure she would have preferred without having week-old twins.”
He lifted a hand in concession. “Nothing to say Poppy would do the same thing.”
“Of course there isn’t. But friends look out for each other.” She had been so wrapped up in Josh she hadn’t recognized that Lacey was in a situation she shouldn’t be. Ginny should have known Jesse was bad news, but she hadn’t acted. She hadn’t said anything. She wasn’t going to let her other friends get in similar situations, no matter how old they were.
Austin followed her back to the table where Sofia and Javi were drinking.
“Hey, are you about ready to go?” Ginny asked Sofia, and looked pointedly at Poppy, who was being led off the floor by the cowboy.
Sofia had opened her mouth to protest, but when she followed Ginny’s gaze, she straightened. “Yeah, I think I am. You want to get her, or do you want me?”
“I’ve got her.”
Ginny edged through the crowd to the booth in the back where Poppy was sliding in, followed by the cowboy, way too close.
“Hey, we’re going,” Ginny said, leaning on the table to get Poppy’s attention.
The cowboy noticed her first, looked at her dress, then Poppy’s. “I’ll take her home.”
“No, we came together, we’re leaving together,” Ginny said. She really didn’t want to be confrontational, but she was going to stand her ground.
“She wants to hang out some more.”
Ginny kept her gaze on her friend, who was looking at the cowboy with dreamy eyes, even though, to be honest, he wasn’t someone to get all dreamy about.
“You can hang out another time. We’re going back home now. Come on, Pop.”
“I want to dance some more.”
“We’ll come back another day. It’s time to go.”
Poppy started to slide out the other side of the booth, but the cowboy caught her arm.
“Aw, come on, babe. You said you wanted to stay.”
Ginny’s entire body tensed. She didn’t think he was hurting Poppy, but he definitely wanted to restrain her.
“No, I’m going to go home with my friends.” Poppy gently removed her arm from his grasp, but he reached for her again.
Ginny was about to break contact, but Austin appeared behind her, standing a little too close. The cowboy shifted away from Poppy then, and she slid the rest of the way out of the booth, to stand a little unsteadily next to Austin.
“Cool, let’s head out,” Austin said, guiding Poppy toward the door.
“I had this,” Ginny said to Austin as they walked out into the cool night air ahead of Sofia and Javi.
“I just didn’t want there to be trouble. No reason to be upset.”
