"Nor will she," he said. "But I think you're right."
"About what?"
"Well, that she needs this thing to be open. I won't be looking, and it sounds like you aren't, but let's not tell her that, ok? Let's..."
"Be the friends she needs and the lovers she deserves?" I offered.
"Yeah, that," he agreed, taking another bite before talking around it. "And if you're intent on spoiling me, then we're having dessert too."
"And that," I told him, "is why I love you. Fuck, babe, but you get me as much as she does."
"No," he said. "Not quite, but I'm getting there. I think that's why the three of us just work."
Chapter 48
The guywho'd grabbed me staggered back and cowboys rushed in - but not Jake. Instead, he turned to check on me, but I saw Ty, Jackson, and both of the bullfighters moving to surround the man who'd tried to yank me around.
"Are you ok?" Jake asked, putting himself between me and that mess.
"Shit," I breathed. "Yeah. I'm good." Then I staggered sideways slightly.
He caught me, but the cowboy was roaring at the men around him. "I just wanted to fucking dance with her! Goddamn! Get the fuck off me!"
"You do not touch the PBR's sweetheart!" Ty yelled back.
"She isours," Jackson snapped.
Isaac just laughed in a way that sounded a little insane. Combined with Jorge standing beside him, arms crossed over his chest, and his jaw set like he was ready to throw down? Yeah, that cowboy decided he'd just fucked up bad and tossed his hands up.
"Fine! Lesson learned. Fuck!" And he turned to leave.
Jake simply turned my face so I was looking at him again. "You sure you're ok?"
But that made me giggle. "Jake, I've had like four shots of whiskey! I'm fine."
"More than fine," Ty said as he moved in to join us. "Ok, boys. Fun's over." Then he looked back at me. "C'mon. I'll play bouncer while Jake gets you another drink."
"Oh, a margarita?" I begged.
"Your wish," Jake told me, "is my command."
He moved toward the bar, but Ty draped an arm over my shoulders and turned me the opposite way. I wasn't quite sure where he was leading me - or how I felt about that whole mess back there - but I didn't fight him.
"So, sweetheart?" I asked, deciding that was the safest thing to ask.
He flashed me that sexy smile he had. "Cody, I don't know how to break it to you, but lately, these guys have started to think of you as our little spectacle. Ours, Cody. Not one up for grabs."
"Oh."
"And give Jake a chance," he said, lowering his voice.
"Jake?" I asked. "We're friends."
"And we both know it doesn't need to stay that way. Cody, he's into you. He also respects you, J.D. thinks he's trustworthy, and he's not a dumbass like me."
"Oh," I breathed, not knowing how else to respond to that.
Because Tyhadbeen a dumbass. He'd been an overprotective, overbearing, and overly-possessive dick, if I was honest. But since he'd just stood up for me, I didn't really need to bethathonest with him.
