Hudson:Be there in ten
Riley:Thought you’d say that
His reply had me snorting as I grabbed my hat and was out the door in under two minutes.
Though she might have some lingering reservations, I’d claimed Lucy.My brothers knew it, and I appreciated them keeping an eye out, even if it didn’t surprise me.
When I walked into the packed bar, my gaze clocked Lucy first.She was working the pit alongside Joey, one of their seasoned bartenders.My brothers sat on the far end, their gazes narrowed on three guys across from them.They looked to be college-aged.Their cheeks were ruddy from alcohol, and their eyes were on Lucy as they elbowed each other.
Fuck.
Riley gave me a chin lift when they spotted me.Griffin’s gaze held a warning; no doubt he wanted to avoid the situation escalating.He might technically be off the clock, but he never stopped being the sheriff.
I strode toward my brothers, winking at Lucy when she spotted me as I sat between them.
“She’s handling herself,” Griff rumbled gruffly before sipping from his pint glass.“Don’t start any shit, Hud.”
“Who said I was going to?”I replied innocently.
“Your fucking face when you walked in,” he muttered as Lucy made her way over.
“Hi,” she greeted, looking gorgeous in jeans and a green tank that made her eyes pop.
“Hi, darlin’.”I grinned warmly.“Doin’ okay?”
“Fine.”She eyed me skeptically.“Did these two put you up to this?”She gestured toward my brothers, glaring at them.“I’ll have you know that I can handle myself just fine.”
“No doubt,” Griffin replied, muffling a rare smile.She had our number, that was for sure.
“I know you can handle yourself, Luce,” I assured her.“But you also shouldn’t have to put up with any bullshit.So, if one of them steps outta line, I’ll put them back in it.Simple as that.”
“Christ,” Griffin grumbled into his pint glass.
“You keep your butt on that stool, Hudson Carter.”She pointed an accusatory finger at me.“Now, do you want something to drink or eat?”She raised a brow.
I grinned, thoroughly charmed by her.“I’ll have whatever IPA’s on tap and a burger and fries.Thanks, baby.”
Joey delivered my burger, and I demolished it quickly.All the while, I kept tabs on the assholes across the bar.
“Need a favor.”I pushed my empty plate away and then turned to my brothers.
They both nodded, leaning in closer to hear me over the noise of the bar.
“I think you get that Lucy means a lot to me—I know it’s fast, but it’s just fucking true.”I shrugged.“She’s mine.She also has a piece of shit ex who isn’t getting the message they’re done.”Just saying the words, I could feel the anger rising inside me.
“How’s he not getting the message?”Riley demanded, and if I wasn’t so pissed about it, I’d laugh at how alike we were.
“He’s calling, texting.Her ice-queen mother claims he might show up here, which makes leaving town for a few days that much harder.”
“Nashville?”Riley guessed.
I nodded.“I was trying to put it off, but it’s not looking like I have much of a choice.I need you to keep an eye on my girl while I’m gone.Griff, can you have one of your guys do a run on this asshole ex of hers?I want to make sure there’s nothing else I need to be on my toes about.”
“You got it,” he agreed easily.“And she’ll be fine.She’s got eyes all over Green River who’ll have her back, including us.We can spread the word that if anyone comes looking for her, they should keep their mouths shut and let us know.”
“Appreciate it.”I felt moderately appeased, but I was still far from happy that I had to leave.“I still haven’t told her, but she was the one pushing me to go.She didn’t want me putting it off on her account.”
“I knew I liked her,” Riley said with a grin.
