By now, everyone in the bar was on guard.More than one biker was reaching for brass knuckles, glass bottles, or whatever else was at hand.Zac’s hand hovered over his weapon.As an officer of the law, he was never unarmed.
“Zac Ford, Indigo Falls Sheriff,” he identified himself.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Roxie yelled.Enough already.She was shaking as she moved to the center of her bar.She planted her feet, barely tamping down her anger.“This is my place, and I make the rules.”
“Roxie?”Roux’s voice was shaking now.
“Billy, let him go.”
Billy turned the kid loose, but he didn’t back off.Her lover came to stand at her side, arms crossed and bulging.
“And you, Chuck Norris.”Roxie nodded at the big guy who had Skeeter’s arm twisted like a chicken wing.“Back off.”
Never in a million years would she have thought that would’ve worked, but the tough guy was suddenly staring at her.Hard.Like she was an alien from another planet.He left Skeeter like he was a mere annoyance, and Roxie pushed back her hair in discomfort.Had she spilled beer down her chest?
She didn’t think so, because the man was looking at her face.
And she couldn’t look away.He looked like Roux, handsome as heck, but a bit older and a lot tougher.He was tall and muscled.His edges were rough, but there was something about him that demanded respect.
“Roxie?”Roux said again.He caught the guy’s arm, really only a pinch of his jacket.He pulled him a few feet closer.“I… I want you to meet my dad.”
His dad?What was it, show-and-tell day?
“Roxie?”the man repeated slowly.“Your name is Roxie?”
From the end of the table, Lexie let out a cry.Roxie jumped and Cam pivoted, but Lexie wasn’t hurt.She was staring at the stranger.Hell, everyone was.She was the only one who’d stood and pressed her hands to her mouth.Her face was chalk white.
Blaire touched her sister’s shoulder.“Lexie, are you okay?”
“Lexie?”Their visitor said her name sharply, awareness honing in.His gaze burned, and he took a step forward when he got a good look at her.Cam quickly stepped between the two.
Roxie’s weight went to the balls of her feet.Fight or flight was kicking in.She didn’t know what was happening, but a weird energy was crackling in the air.
The tough guy tore his gaze from Lexie and scanned the room.Everyone in the place froze, trying not to draw his attention.It was clear he was looking for something.
Something very important.
Roxie braced herself when that gaze landed on her again, but her knees went wobbly when that imposing gaze turned gentle for a second.
Gentle?
She reached for Billy.Her fingers snagged on the cuff on his wrist, and she clung.
Lexie let out another whimper.She took a cautious step towards the big stranger, but Cam held her back.
The icy visitor finally zeroed in on Maxie.She shrank back in her chair, her eyes going big.Roxie’s instinct was to step in front of her sister.To protect her.
“Maxie?”
Roxie’s head snapped back.He’d called her sister by her name.
How did he know her name?
Maxie nodded once, and the gesture seemed to break the intimidating man.He inhaled sharply and the tension raced out of his muscled body so quickly, he bent in half.
Lexie knocked Cam’s arm away and ran across the room.Right to the man.She crashed into him so hard, she nearly knocked him over, but he caught her to him.Pressing her face into his chest, she held him tight, sobbing.
“Oh my God,” the man said hoarsely.He clutched her and pressed his cheek to her hair.
