And nothing ignites more interest than Jane Cutter being bought by a stranger.
The thought tightens something ugly behind my ribs. Not because I’m ashamed of her, but because I know what this will do to her.
I step closer. “Do you want me to handle this?”
Jane’s eyes flash, wounded pride rising like a shield. “I can handle my brothers.”
Then her throat bobs, and her gaze drops to the floor. “I just... I don’t want them looking at me like I’m stupid. Impulsive.”
“You’re not stupid,” I assure her immediately.
She snorts quietly. “You didn’t deny the impulsive part.”
I turn to look at her. “Because being impulsive isn’t a weakness. It’s part of who you are.”
Her eyes soften for a second before a brittle laugh escapes. “Tex, I auctioned myself off to a man I’d never met.”
My jaw tightens. “It’s a matter of perspective. You made a choice. A brave one.”
Her gaze lifts, raw with emotion. “And they’re going to think I did it to punish them.”
“Did you?”
Jane's mouth opens, then closes. Her silence is answer enough.
Before I can say anything else, boots hit the porch. The knock that follows isn’t a knock at all. It’s a demand.
Jane flinches.
I don’t. I move past her, positioning myself between her and the door, and open it.
Caleb stands on the threshold, his face carved from stone. Weston is half a step behind him, jaw tight. Boone’s eyes arefixed on the interior of my cabin, cataloging everything he wants to destroy.
Caleb’s gaze lands on me, then shifts, homing in on Jane. His expression changes from anger to relief to a pain so sharp that it seems to physically wound him.
“Jane,” he rumbles.
Jane lifts her chin, but her eyes shine. “Caleb.”
Weston’s gaze sweeps over her in my flannel, her legs bare. The warmth of this cabin clings to her like evidence. He exhales sharply through his nose, visibly swallowing whatever he wants to say.
Boone doesn’t bother with restraint. “What the hell is this?” he snaps, stepping forward.
I shift into his path instinctively.
Boone stops, narrowing his eyes at my chest. “You’re Tex,” he states, as if the name tastes wrong.
“That’s what people call me,” I reply evenly.
Boone’s gaze flicks back to Jane. “You didn’t even tell us.”
Jane’s voice shakes. “I told you I needed space.”
“Space isn’t a goddamn auction!” Boone barks.
Caleb’s hand shoots out, catching Boone’s shoulder. “Boone. Enough.”
Boone shrugs him off but stays back.
