He straightens and pushes off the semi and closes in. His phone lights up and he glances at the message, sadness tugging at his features before he schools it back.
I don’t stop, but he’s too quick, blocking my path as he grips his phone and clicks the screen off. “What’s the hurry, Maggie?”
His gaze travels up and down my body.
Heat flushes my skin, and not in a good way.
“Get out of my way,” I hiss.
He chuckles.
“You’re all set for company in that tiny little van of yours. Hell, I could take the edge off after tonight.”
I huff a rough sound. “Yeah, must be so awful winning every single weekend.”
The smile gracing his face almost makes him look handsome.
He shifts closer. “Come on, Mags, no strings. Just some fun.”
Urgh, the way I loathe this whole conversation. “No thanks.”
I mean, it has been a while, but no, not with him.
“Night, Knox,” I say as calmly as I can, stepping around him.
I make it two steps before his hand wraps around my biceps. I stop dead in my tracks. Tempted to toss my steaming coffee at him, I resist... just.
“You know I can make you feel good, ba?—”
“Take your fucking hand off her.” The low growl lacing the words sends a shiver through me. I snap my head up to find the source—Hadley stalking toward us, hands curled to fists.
Behind him is Brady, who folds his arms over his chest as Hadley closes in on Knox. It’s now I realize Knox smells like alcohol. He’s probably just drunk. He sways as he steps into Hadley’s space. His phone drops from his hand, the screen lit up with his call list.
The last call he made was to someone called “Joshie Boy.”
I tug my arm free. Glancing back between the two of them, I raise a hand. “It’s fine. Everybody just calm the hell down. Night, Brady.”
I walk past the three cowboys and head for Betsy.
A yawn slips out as I slide her door open. Glad I didn’t toss my coffee at Knox for multiple reasons, I set the cups down on the small table inside and slide the door shut. I’ve been in worse pickles than a drunken cowboy with questionable intentions.
Interesting the way Hadley took it upon himself to intervene.
Logan’s been busy telling me the backstories of every cowboy on the circuit, and so far, I know Hadley Jones is big brother to three sisters. So it figures, I guess. Probably second nature to him by now.
Logan seems to know more about the rest of the circuit than everyone else put together. As much as it pains me to say, this crew is starting to grow on me.
A sentiment I never thought I’d ever entertain. After the things I’ve seen and the history with my dad, my perception of these men was not great to start with. Putting your neck on the line for money, for sport... It’s a waste of life. A slap to the face of all the people in our world struggling to survive, when these cowboys put themselves in danger on purpose, for money.
For . . . glory.
Forfun.
Heat rises in my chest.
My eyes flutter shut. I’m here to do a job. Not to judge or pick a side.
Besides, I’m starting to see the value. As Cap used to say.
