He looks between me and Knox, who’s still standing just behind us, arms folded. No backup here, pal.
Harrison hesitates. “You can’t be serious.”
“Do I look like I'm joking?” I ask, holding out my hand.
His mouth tightens, but he unclasps the strap. He glares but doesn’t argue, just slaps it into my hand like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
“Careful,” Harrison hisses. “That watch’s worth more than your life.”
I grin. “Then I’ll make sure it finds better company.”
I let him go—couldn’t risk staring at him a second longer or I’d lose whatever control I’ve got left. He climbs into his fancy car and peels out, all show and no backbone.
Knox whistles low. “Hell of a goodbye gift. What’s with the watch?”
I slide it into my back pocket without looking at him. “Call it a souvenir.”
Knox studies me, like he knows there's more—but thankfully, he lets it go.
For now.
“Guess that was one way to meet my sister’s boyfriend,” Knox says.
“I think they’re probably done,” I say, lookin’ back one final time to make sure he disappeared.
He tips his head at that. “Good point. Hopefully you scared him away for good. No one messes with us and survives unscathed.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” I say with a grin. Then I glance over at him. “You’ve been scarce lately. Got somethin’ goin’ on?”
He chews on that, thumb brushing a new cut on his hand. “Sawyer’s in town.”
That’s part of it—but not the whole story. Knox might besimple, but he ain’t stupid. The silence stretches until he shrugs and mutters, “And I’ve been seein’ someone.”
I lift both brows, whistle. “You? Figured you’d sworn off women after the last one keyed your truck.”
“I usually like 'em spicy,” he says, a little too fast. “But, this one’s different.”
“They all are, till they’re not.”
“Well, you can see for yourself. She’s coming out for drinks tonight. Figured it’s probably time to introduce her to my best friend.”
“She got a name?”
He grins. “Hazel. Met her at the feed store. She was buying chicken grit and didn’t know what the hell it was. You should’ve seen her trying to carry a fifty-pound sack. Had to help her out.”
“Glad chivalry’s not dead,” I say, pattin’ him on the back.
“You in, or you got a hot date with Winnie tonight?”
I consider lying, but there’s no point. “Nah, no date” I say, which is true enough. “I’ll be there.”
We get back and start packin’ up. I’m winding up rope. Dust still hangs over the arena. The crowd’s slowly makin’ their way out.
Charming yanks open the side of the horse trailer and slings his gear in. “You gonna tell him?”
I don’t even look up. “Tell who what?”
He flicks his hat back and grins that toothy, shit-eating grin. “You know what.” Points his chin at Knox, who’s over by the fence.
