Page 13 of Hawt Cowboy
He tips his hat. “Lucky me.”
Before I can retort, a voice cuts through the noise behind us. “Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour.”
We both turn. Darren Campbell strides up, tall, tan, with his cocky grin fixed in place. His sponsor jacket gleams with fresh patches, and his eyes slide right past Cash to land on me.
“So you’re the famous Savannah Brooks,” he says, taking my hand before I can react. “Pleasure’s all mine, darlin’. Guess Dalton’s not the only one with good taste in company.”
Cash’s jaw tightens. “Back off, Campbell.”
Darren chuckles. “Just bein’ friendly.” He looks me up and down, too slow, too deliberate. “You ever get tired of babysitting troublemakers, sweetheart, you let me know. I could use someone like you on my team.”
Before I can reply, Cash steps forward, voice flat steel. “She’s already taken.”
The air between them vibrates with challenge. Darren just smirks and strolls away, leaving me caught between irritation and the sudden, inconvenient thrill of watching Cash defend me.
I cross my arms. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“Yeah, I did.”
For a second, neither of us moves. The noise of the public relations event fades, replaced by something sharp and unsaid hanging in the space between us.
And that’s when I realize this fake relationship might turn real enough to burn us both.
Chapter 10
Cash
The second I see Darren Campbell swagger off with that smug grin, my blood heats like I’ve just been thrown back into a chute.
Savannah’s still talking to one of the sponsors, tablet clutched to her chest, every inch the professional. I should be focusing on her schedule, the next autograph session, the camera crew. But all I can think about is the way that jackass looked her over like she was part of a prize package.
I wait until she walks toward the tent again, then step around the corner where Campbell’s leaning against a fence rail, phone in hand, grinning like the devil himself.
“Got somethin’ to say, Dalton?” he drawls without looking up.
“Yeah.” I plant a hand on the post beside his head. “You ever look at her like that again, you and me are gonna have a problem.”
He laughs, low and lazy. “Didn’t realize she came with property rights.”
“She doesn’t,” I bite out. “But she damn sure deserves respect.”
Campbell slips his phone in his pocket and finally meets my eyes. “You really think she wants a white knight? Please. Women like her … they like tofixmen like you. Gets their blood pumping. When they’re done patching you up, they move on.”
I take a slow breath. He’s not worth it. Cameras are too close. Sponsors are everywhere.
He grins wider, sensing the restraint. “Hit a nerve, huh?”
“Not today,” I say, forcing a smile that probably looks more like a snarl. “See you in the arena, Campbell.”
I walk off before I do somethin’ stupid. My boots crunch gravel, heartbeat still pounding in my ears.
By the time I reach the vehicle, Savannah’s already there, looking over contracts and paperwork laid across the dash, acting like nothing happened.
“You okay?” she asks without looking up.
“Peachy.” I slide into the passenger seat. “Campbell’s got a big mouth.”
Her head snaps up. “What did you do?”
