Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
His voice might sound calm to some, but Sage knew better. There was steel underneath that made her breath catch. The current, always running between her thighs whenever Grady appeared, jumped to electrocution-level voltage.
The tourist straightened and turned to face Grady. But he had to look up at least six inches, which ruined the effect he was aiming for.
His swagger faltered.
Not that Sage blamed the man. Grady’s eyes weren’t just green anymore. They were a dark, stormy pine, sharp enough to cut, blazing with a Daddy’s fury that made her tummy flip and her thighs press together.
Grady didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. The glower on his face said it all. “These ladies are with me. Walk away… now.”
The man opened his mouth, and, for a second, Sage thought the man’s survival instinct might battle its way through his drunken stupor. But then his liquid courage kicked back in.
“Hey, b-buddy,” the man slurred. “I… I was here first. Go find your own pigeons to pluck.”
Oh, good lord. This man was going to die. He had no clue who he was talking to. She’d bet this guy was no genius on his best day. But when he’d had this much to drink, he should definitely keep his mouth shut.
She watched Grady take a settling breath. “I’ll tell you what, bud. Why don’t you swagger your drunk wannabe cowboy ass over there to the bar? My friend Hank’ll give you something to help sober you up.” Grady waved Hank over.
“Believe me, that’s the best advice you’ll get in this town, pardner,” Hank said, already stalking toward them.
“I ain’t drunk,” the man whined. “Besides, these ladies are into me. If you step back and stop crowding in on my turf, I’ll show you how a real cowboy handles women.” The man jerked his thumb at Fiera and Sage as he spoke. “‘Sides, I… I ain’t ‘fraid of you.”
Fiera rolled her eyes and stuck her finger at her open mouth in the mime of throwing up. Sage was too busy figuring out how to explain to the Haven Agency that she had to bail her employer out of jail. She’d never seen Grady like this. It was hot, to be honest.
Grady leaned down to stare the man straight in the eye. “Listen, jackass. That just proves you’re not only drunk, but stupid. If you weren’t, you’d know the only thing you need to be afraid of right now, is me.”
The man glared, although his eyes crossed a time or two. Sage thought his attempt at indignation was herculean, considering the state he was in. The man pointed his finger up in Grady’s face. “I’ll show you who’s stupid.”
Sage had no doubt the drunk would try. What she didn’t expect was for him to wheel around and grab Fiera and her by their wrists. That was Texas-sized stupidity.
“Come on, g-girls, les’ g’t oudda h-here,” he said, slurring his words and spraying them both with spittle.
Then the man was no longer holding their wrists. Nope.
In the blink of an eye, Grady had reached over and grabbed both of the man’s own wrists, crushing them so hard the drunk immediately let go of the girls and was wincing in pain, leaning back on his heels.
Grady looked over at Sage. “Look after Rose for a minute, will you?” He didn’t even seem to be straining.
“Of course,” she said, scooping Rose into her lap. She held Rose’s head close to her chest to keep her from seeing any possible violence.
Grady must have been thinking the same thing because he wasted no time in frog-marching the man toward the door and out of their field of vision.
Everyone else in the restaurant, however, seemed to be enjoying the show.
Fiera’s eyes were wide. She leaned over and whispered, “Did you see how he almost picked that man up? He didn’t even break a sweat.”
Sage shook her head and covered Rose’s ears in rebuke, before winking at her friend in agreement.
“What the hell, man? Get your hands off me. You’re gonna break my arms!” Ditching the cowboy façade, the man practically cried as Grady dragged him across the saloon.
“Too late for that, cowboy. Let me show you how we deal with asshole drunks in Wyoming.”
He’d just gotten to the door when it swung open.
“Hello, Boone, Tildi.” Grady backed up to let his friends enter. “How are things out on the Wild River Ranch?”
“Pretty good,” Boone said. “Tourist?”
Grady nodded.
Sage waved at her friend and motioned her over to join them at the table.
Tildi waved back before turning to Boone. “I see Fiera and Sage. I’ll just join them if you don’t mind, Daddy,” Tildi said, heading to the table before Boone could answer.
Boone shook his head as he watched her prance across the saloon. “Go ahead,” he called out after her. “I’ll help Grady here take out the trash. But don’t think we won’t be talking about you walking away from me just now when we get home.”