Bobbie snorted and grinned. “Reyghan was a good girl, though?”
“Yup. She waited until we were all outside.”
“I’m glad.” Bobbie’s eyes grew curious as she turned and focused on Tex. “I think I’ve seen you before. At Spencer and Tabitha’s wedding, right? You were the one with the cowboy hat.”
“Well, Ma’am…”
Buck could swear that Tex was exaggerating his aw-shucks twang.
“…there were a few of us with cowboy hats, but yes. I was the good looking one sporting that head-gear.”
Mason’s friends from Texas who had attended and wore western garb would probably disagree, but Bobbie looked more than satisfied at Tex’s assertion as she laughed.
“Well, it’s nice to see you again. Are you here for business of your own?”
Now was the time for Buck to fill her in.
“Actually, Tex is an expert at digging into things that people aren’t keen to share, and I thought it might be prudent to ask for his help looking into your brothers. But only if you’re comfortable with that, since they haven’t been a problem lately,” he quickly added.
A troubled scowl swept across her face before it was quickly wiped clear.
“What?” Buck asked.
He was so in tune to Bobbie’s moods; he just knew that something had happened to cause that momentary glitch to her smile.
“Well, Drew and Jeffmighthave been waiting for me yesterday when you dropped me off.”
“Might have been?” Buck snarled, feeling his ire swell.
“Okay. Theywerewaiting for me.”
“What did they have to say, Ma’am?” Tex questioned, equally as gruff; being drawn in immediately.
“Please. Call me Bobbie,” she demurred, clearly attempting to find her footing. “They… They were unhappy that I had been out with you, Buck, and… Well, they threatened that if I saw you again, they’d somehow sabotage me with my landlord so I’d have to go back and live with them again, which… No thank you.” She shivered, distastefully. “If that wasn’t enough, they said they’d make sure things ‘got ugly’ for you and your new business.”
Buck growled. “They better watch?—”
He stopped short when he caught a glimpse of the bruises on Bobbie’s arm and chin.
They were definitely finger imprints.
“Did one of those assholes touch you?” he growled, his hand lifting of its own accord to gently caress the ugly marks.
“Drew,” Bobbie sighed, her eyes dropping to the pavement. “But it’s not too bad. I was able to pull away before he really hurt me.”
“What aren’t you telling me, Bobbie?” His voice was rough, but clearly she heard the concern in it.
Bobbie huffed. “Okay. Fine. He also yanked my hair, and my scalp still hurts.”
Buck was ready to go find the pricks immediately, but was stopped from running off when, with a hand on his shoulder, Tex shook his head.
“Might I suggest, Ma’…uh, Bobbie,” Tex offered, “that while we’re at the police station, you file a restraining order against your brothers? The police can document your bruises today, so a judge will grant your petition.” The look on Tex’s face was equally as enraged as Buck’s, but he was controlling his tone, which Buck knewhewasn’t able to do.
Bobbie bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know. Won’t that make them even angrier? Won’t they target me even more if I sic the authorities on them?”
Buck gave a growl. “I’ll keep you safe. And if they dare try anything, they’ll findthemselvesin a world of hurt.”
Tex took a more diplomatic approach. “Paperwork is easy. Just think about it, okay? They’ll be breaking the law if they go into your apartment or your business, or even if they approach you on the street. It might make your life easier, knowing they’ll do jail time if they bother you again.”
