“If I was, what would you have to say to that?”
“I’d say … that I’ve never been a picky eater.”
Fuck.I did not expect that, nor did I expect the hint of darkness lurking in her eyes.
My grip tightens reflexively before I force myself to let go of her and grit my teeth.
“You are definitelynotfucking sober, woman.” I force myself to let go of her waist and watch her eyes turn from feisty to sad.
“You’re running from something tonight, drinking like this,” I tell her. “And maybe no one else sees it, butIdo. It isn’tthe answer. Sogo home,Liv.”
I force myself to turn away and move back behind the bar, pushing the flash of need that filled her eyes from my mind.
“Look … it’s been a rough few weeks, okay?” Olivia offers from behind me. “My cat died, and he was my best friend. I have no home and … I guess I’m just looking to forget everything for a few hours.” She gives an exasperated shrug. “But you don’t need to watch out for me, Asher. I’m a big girl.”
Olivia turns to face one of the cowboys who was eyeing her ass. He’s not paying attention to her anymore, but when she walks right up to him and pulls him toward the dance floor by his shirt, he’s all hers.Fuck me.She looks too damn good, and I have no idea why she’s affecting me so muchnow,or what’s changed between us, but it’s impossible to ignore the pull I’m feeling toward her. Olivia Sutton is fuckinggorgeous.
I look back at Matt. He nods at me, letting me know he’s got the bar and then I’m on the dance floor as the cowboy’s hands drift dangerously close to Liv’s ass. As I push through the crowd, I question why I can’t just look the other way, and the only thing I can come up with is that it’s ingrained in me to help people, especially when they’re walking headfirst into danger. But I’m playing with fire here. I know she’s too innocent for me, too sweet. I know the darkness of the life I’ve lived would dim her light, and yet here I am, bending to her like a weed to the sun.
I don’t even slow my stride as I pluck Olivia by her waist, dropping her beside me.
“Nope,” I bite out to the cowboy.
“Hey! Find your own woman!” he growls in response.
“His name is Ty …” Olivia says, trying to wrestle out of my grip and back toward him. Was this piece of shit actually planning on taking her home like this?
“Likefuck,” I mutter as I lose my last thread of patience. Snagging a firm grip on her hand, I pull her to the door. Shecomes with me easily for a moment and then tugs to let go of my hand.
“Where are you taking me?” she asks as I double down, tightening my grip.
I pass Haden and his girlfriend, and then Ginger, who’s laughing as she watches me cart Olivia through the bar.
“Where you belong. To bed.”
She doesn’t stop fighting my grip, but I’m not having it as Ginger hands me Olivia’s purse on my way by. I’m not letting some prick take advantage of her like this.
“I’m taking her home,” I tell Haden. “She was about to leave with that shithead.”
“Liv! He’s been with every woman but us in this town!” Ginger calls to her friend.
“Sounds good, brother,” Haden adds. “I’ve got these two.” “Text me in the morning!” Ginger calls to Liv. “I’ll be sleeping in, Mabel’s at the ranch!”
“Cole’s gonna love coming home from his shift to this …” I hear Haden’s voice fade as I head outside.
“Let go,” Olivia bites out. “I can get home myself.”
“Now you care who’s taking you home?” I retort as I push through the door and into the cool night air.
“I told you I’m not your problem!” she argues.
“You’re right. You’re not,” I huff out as we reach my truck. “But I might be the only man in that place who will drive you home andnottry to fuck you while you’re in this state, which means you’re stuck with me.”
I crack the door, lifting her and dropping her right onto my front seat. I breathe in her sweet perfume, holding her in place as I reach across and buckle her seatbelt for her.
Her chest heaves, but out of nowhere she starts to giggle drunkenly as she pushes her auburn hair off her face. She doesn’t stop laughing as she presses the pad of her first finger to the center of my chin. Her breath is still heavy from herover-the-shoulder rant and her eyes are wild.
“I was right,” she says with alcohol-induced confidence.
