“Did Barry give it to you?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
He stopped in front of her, his mouth moving to her ear. “I need to watch the men in this town. First Archie calls you beautiful, then Barry gives you a cupcake.”
“People are nice.”
Cody’s mouth trailed down her neck, then across her cheek. “Maybe. Or maybe they’re trying to take what’s mine.”
“Yours?”
“Mm-hmm.Mine.” One more kiss, and he stepped away. But then he frowned. “Do you smell that?”
She took a deep breath in, and her entire body went taut. “Smoke.”
Suddenly, Barry ran back into the bar. “There’s a fire in the alley dumpster.”
Harper started to rush toward the back, but Cody shook his head. “Stay inside and lock the door.”
“Cody, I can help!”
“No. Barry and I will handle it.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but Cody was already running down the hall toward the back door.
Her legs shook to go after them. She wasn’t helpless. She could be useful. But instead of running after them, she walked toward the door as Cody requested.
She was just reaching for the lock when the door was shoved open from the other side.
She gasped when a man barged inside. “Travis! What are you doing here?”
“It’s a bar. I’m here to have a drink, Harlow.”
“It’sHarper. And we’re closed. You need to leave.” She held the door open for him, but he didn’t step back toward it. Instead, he continued toward the bar.
“No soldier boy? Does that mean I have to get a drink myself?”
He moved as if to step behind the bar, but she ran in front of him. “I’ll say it one more time before I call the police.Leave.”
He leaned in close, his breath—which already reeked of alcohol—brushing against her face and making her gag. “No.”
“Fine. I’ll get Cody.” She took off toward the back door, but strong fingers wrapped around her wrist, pulled her back, and shoved her against the bar.
“Hey. Hold on, babe. Let’s not go doing anything crazy.”
She tried to move around him, but his hands went to either side of her body, caging her to the bar. “You’re drunk. Leave now before you do something you’ll regret.”
“Something I’ll regret?” He laughed. “Do you know what it’s like to live in a town where everyone looks down on you? I can’t even walk into my local fuckingbarwithout being kicked out.”
There were very good reasons for that, and Travis knew it. “Coming in here like this will just make it worse.”
“Nothing could make it worse.” He leaned closer. “Wanna tip?”
“No. I want you to step back before I make you.”
She was a second away from kneeing this asshole between the legs when his mouth neared her ear. “Here’s mytip—if you were smart, you’d leave. This town won’t be kind to you.”
Flames dancedin front of Cody’s eyes.Goddammit. Who the fuck set a damn dumpster ablaze?
