“No need. I’m parked right in front. Just keep them here a few minutes, please.”
“You got it.”
Skylar made her way through the throng to the wooden doors. The hot air snapped at her skin the moment she stepped outside.
Fumbling in her purse for her keys, she scolded herself for not having them in hand. A man’s deep voice stopped her cold, and she hoped it wasn’t the cowboy from inside.
“Hey.”
She exhaled, faced him, and her chest went tight. There he stood, tall, broad-shouldered, silhouetted by the streetlamp. His voice was gravelly smooth; his white cowboy hat shading his eyes. She swallowed, breath catching.Rawley.
He glanced over her shoulder. “Friends of yours?”
“Well, isn’t this cozy?” the cowboy said as he sauntered toward them, his friends behind him for support.
“He kept hitting on me and when I turned him down, he grabbed my arm, I threw my drink in his face, and he told me I’d regret it.”
Rawley’s gaze stayed on the five men, then shifted back to her, and back to the men.
“You threatened her?”
“It’s alright.” Skylar pulled at his arm.
“No, it’s not.” He stepped forward.
The man laughed. “You can’t take on five of us.”
Rawley stared at each man, then shifted his eyes to the cowboy.
“You need back up? Can’t take me on by yourself?”
“I’m sure they’ll want to get a few punches in. You’ll be kissing the asphalt.”
Rawley laughed. “We can make this fair.”
“How? We’re going to kick your ass.”
“I’m sure all five of you can, jumping me at once, but see, I also have back up.” He nodded to the group of men walking toward them.
When they reached Rawley, they stood behind the men.
“Problem here, Rawley?”
“I don’t think so. They were ready to jump me, but then, I saw you four and told him I had back up.”
Skylar watched as the four other men stood behind the cowboy and his friends. She smiled when she saw Noah Conway, Liam Flynn, Logan Townson, and Dom Blackstone. She met all of them earlier this evening when she had first arrived at the bar. All their wives worked inside. All five looked intimidating as hell and she’d have to say the cowboy and his friends didn’t stand a chance.
“How about you get in your vehicles and leave,” Noah said.
“How about you make us?”
Rawley chuckled when Dom shook his head. “What are you? Twelve? Trust me, we can make you. Go home.”
After a few minutes, the cowboy and his friends walked to a pickup truck, climbed inside, then drove off.
“Are you alright?” Rawley asked her.
“Yes.”
