I pulled Tex toward the back room, annoyed, but also another emotion mixing with that. I didn’t want to think too hard on it, didn’t want to let my own feelings for him cloud my judgment. He had made a scene, and was about to get into a fight with some customers. I couldn’t let that slide, not just because it was bad business, but because I loved Tex, and I didn’t want to see him get in trouble.

Once we were in the back room and I shut the door I placed my hands on my hips, glaring at him. He walked over to the shelving that had the extra cups, cutlery, and napkins housed on it. His back was to me, his white shirt stretched across his muscular body.

I could tell he was tense by the way his muscles were flexing underneath the material. He was upset, no doubt from the altercation that almost happened, but maybe because I’d stopped him, too?

“What the hell was that about?” I was trying to sound fierce right now, but I knew it came out flat. I was aroused even though I shouldn’t be. He didn’t turn around and didn’t answer me. “Tex, what in the hell were you thinking out there? Do you want to give Bo ammunition to call the cops? Do you want him to have a reason to be an even bigger prick to you?”

Tex finally turned around then, his expression guarded.

For long moments he didn’t say anything, just stared at me, his gaze boring into mine. I had my hands on my hips still, my eyebrow lifted as I waited for him to respond. Whenever I was in the same room with him he made me feel unhinged, but right now I was trying to keep it together, trying to seem like I had my shit in order.

I was trying to make it seem like he didn’t affect me in every possible way.

I’d known Tex for years, and the moment I saw him all those years ago, my friend’s older brother, looking rough around the edges, strong and powerful, big and muscular, something in me had come alive. But I knew I was too young for him, too inexperienced. He was settled in his life, owned a security business, was successful. And although I didn’t see him in any relationships, didn’t even hear about him being with anyone through the rumor mill, I wasn’t stupid enough to think that he didn’t have companionship.

A man who looked like that surely wasn’t alone.

But as time moved on it seemed like that was exactly what was going on. He focused on work instead of women, and part of me was thrilled. It didn’t matter if I never had a chance with him. The fact that he wasn’t with anyone else pleased me.

“I don’t give a fuck what Bo does or says to me. He’s a little shit who needs his ass kicked ... again.”

I didn’t even touch on that subject, knowing that Tex and Bo did have a history together back in the day.

“Did you not hear what that little asshole was saying about you?”

I let my hands fall from my hips until they were at my sides. I exhaled and closed my eyes briefly. When I opened them again a little gasp left me at the fact Tex was even closer now, just a few feet from me. “Yeah, I heard what he said and remember every word of what he told me.” The preppy asshole had said some foul, sexual things to me, but I was used to that working at the bar.

Drunk guys tended to have loose lips.

“So, then, you know why I couldn’t let him talk to you like that. I couldn’t let him talk about you like that.” He was clenching his teeth together, a muscle working under his jaw.

“What do you mean you couldn’t let him talk to me like that?” I shook my head slightly, knowing I really shouldn’t be as confused as I was. Tex was fiercely protective of those he called friends. And because I was his sister’s close friend I fell under that umbrella. He always looked out for us, but he’d never gone so far as to start an altercation like this, especially where I worked.

He slowly shook his head. “I was here, I heard, and there is no way I was going to sit back and let that prick talk about you like that.” He shook his head again. “The shit he was saying would have earned him a fucking broken nose.”

I couldn’t help the pleasure that slammed into me at hearing him say that. And as much as I wanted him to be protective of me because he wanted me as his and his alone, I wasn’t stupid enough to think that this wasn’t just about him looking out for me because of who I was. I stared him in the eyes. “Tex, I’m fine. I can handle myself. You don’t have to fight my battles for me, even if the ones I’m fighting are sleazy assholes. Bo has security here.”

“Security?” He sounded amused. “Bo’s idea of security are guys he met at a basement poker game whom he offered fifty bucks to. They don’t give a shit about protecting anyone.” He took another step closer to me. “And since we are on the subject, I hate the fact that you’re working here. You’re better than this sleazy fucking bar.”

He was so close now, his body almost pressed right against mine. I took a step back on instinct, the door stopping my retreat.

“Tex, the asshole was harmless. He was wearing a polo shirt and penny loafers in a sports bar, for hell’s sake. He was so out of his element he probably didn’t even realize the Jack and Coke he was drinking was watered the hell down, thanks to Bo,” I whispered, Tex so close to me now I couldn’t breathe.

He chuckled. “You’re tough as nails, I’ll give you that, but that won’t stop me from making sure you’re okay.”

“What are you really doing here?” My heart was thundering and my throat was tight. This moment right here, right now, was pretty damn intimate. We’d never been like this before, not unless you counted that one party Tex threw where I got a little too drunk and “accidentally” rubbed up on him.

“I came in for some wings and a beer, but that motherfucker ruined a perfectly good night for me.” He grinned but it seemed far from amused.

“You’ve been coming in here a lot lately.” I tried to sound like I had my shit together … I was failing.

He didn’t say anything, but the way he looked at me, his gaze continuously dipping down to my lips. I found myself licking them, my heart pounding, my palms sweating.

“Calissa, I need you out there waiting tables.” Bo’s voice came through the closed door and my pulse jackknifed even harder.

“Be right there,” I answered back but didn’t take my focus off of Tex.

“I need you now,” Bo said, more demanding and trying to open the door, but my body was pressed right against it. “What the hell, Calissa?”

Tex gently pulled me away, his touch like fire on my skin, making me wet, causing my nipples to bead up. He had me pulled behind him as he opened the door, blocking my view of Bo. For a long second everyone was silent, and I felt the tension in the room, thick, suffocating.

“She’ll get back to fucking work when she gets back to fucking work, Bo.”

I heard Bo clear his throat.

I cleared my throat, too, and moved out from behind Tex. “I’m coming now.” I glared at Tex. “I do have to get back to work.” I moved past Bo, his glare still on Tex. I wasn’t about to get in the middle of that pissing contest.

Before I got back on the floor I looked over my shoulder and could see Tex staring at me, his big body seeming tense, the serious expression on his face making me feel all kinds of emotions. Because the way he looked at me made me feel like he … wanted me.