Jason

I’m fired up, but I keep the hurricane of anger twisting inside hidden from her. I have to. Delilah deserves peace after all she’s been through. I sit back in the chair in her room, my leg bouncing from the unsettled emotions inside. I need to move, to fuck, to drink, to beat something up . . . but I’m home. I have to temper how I’ve been trained to react. I don’t want people here to see the cold mercenary I became.

I say, “I like that one.”

Her hands fly to her hips. “You’ve said that about the last two dresses.”

“I like them all. You look good in all of them.”

Coming over to me, she presses my knee down with her hand. “It’s going to be okay. I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I worry. That’s not something I can change. It’s not something I want to change.”

She stands up. “I’ll wear this one. Let’s go. We both need a night out.”

It doesn’t take long to reach Red River. The ride is mostly quiet. We know we’re making a statement when we walk in there together. People will talk to our faces and behind our backs. Word will get out, but it needs to. I want this night out with my girl, but I also want to tempt the snake out of his hole. Cole Cutler needs to know I’m not going anywhere, and he better not come anywhere near Delilah.

I help her out of the truck and hold her hand firmly in mine as we walk down the sidewalk to the busy bar. Just before we reach the doors, she pulls me to a stop. “Hey?”

Turning back, her eyes are gloriously bright blue with the setting sun shining on them. Wisps of her strawberry-blond hair blow in the light breeze. The pink of her lips draws my gaze and I bend to kiss her. She never says anything, but between her grip on my arm and the way she snuggles into me, I hear her unspoken words. Stroking her hair down her back, I whisper the words she reassured me with earlier, “It will be okay. I’ll take care of you.”

I kiss her temple before she pulls away and tugs me toward the door. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Cocking an eyebrow, I say, “You’re such a romantic.”

She laughs. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous. I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone else. Now come on, hot stuff, and let me show you off.”

I take hold of the door and let her pass in front of me. “I’m more than a pretty face,” I tease, not so dumb to the fact that women find me attractive. There’s only one woman I’m drawn to, and I’m feeling fucking fantastic that I get to show her off tonight.

“You’re right. You have a great ass too, and arms. Oh, and thank you for letting me pay homage to all eight of those ab muscles last night.”

I slip my hand under her hair and rub the back of her neck. “I let you pay homage to more than my ab muscles. Any chance for a repeat performance?”

“A very good chance.”

Guess getting caught in our own world is something we do more than just out on the farm. Willie Nelson is crooning through the jukebox in the back, but other than that, the place has gone quiet. Even the pinball machine has stopped dinging. I scan the area, always aware.

Front door. Top half glass.

Back door through the small kitchen in the left corner. One large window.

One window in the men’s and two smaller windows in the women’s restroom.

Five booths.

Twenty-one people.

Ten barstools.

Eight taken.

I need to stop doing this. It’s a bad habit that needs to be broken. I’m safe. No one’s going to get me here.

It’s easy to get caught up in the stares and dropped jaws, to walk out of here like we don’t belong or that we can stop the gossip before it begins. But I don’t want to.

“Let them talk.” I lead her to a table in the center of the bar and pull out her chair. “They’re going to anyway.”

She sits down with a big grin on her face. “They sure are.”

The bar returns to life like we never walked in, conversations continuing with only a few sideways stares. McGilley calls, “Good to see, Ms. Cut—Ms. Noelle. It’s been a while.”

“Sure has, Mr. McGilley.”

“First drink’s on me. What are you having?”

Looking at Delilah, she nods. “Beer?”

“You’ll be okay?”

“I’m fine, Jason. The bar is like five steps away.”

She may think I’m ridiculous, but a lot can go wrong in a short span of time. I’m not willing to risk it with her. “I’ll be back.” I walk to the bar and tap it twice. McGilley knows our order before I even tell him. He sets the bottles down, and says, “She never comes in anymore.”

“Maybe things are changing.”

“For the better, I’d say.”

When I turn back, Billy’s pulled a chair up and is talking to Delilah. I deliver the beers and sit. “What’s up?”

“Night out is all.” He smiles, tapping the top of his bottle to ours. “Cheers.”

We toast and all drink. “Good week?” I ask.

“Got caught up in an auction for a calf midweek and everything went to shit after that. Been meaning to mention the county fair is coming up in a few weeks.”

Delilah says, “Wow, I haven’t been in years. I want to go.” Reaching across the table, she rubs my hand. “Maybe you can win me a giant bear or something I can cuddle with.”

“I thought I was your cuddle bear?” What the fuck did I just ask? Cuddle bear? Billy looks disgusted, and I say, “God, forget I ever said that. That is seriously chop your balls off talk.”

“I thought it was cute,” she says, giggling. “Cuddle bear.”

“No. No. We’re not doing that. That name is not happening.” I down my beer. I can be settled without becoming a pussy. “McGilley, another round.”

Billy finishes his beer and then says, “It’s good to know that even the great Jason Koster has a soft side.”

Delilah says, “He doesn’t. He’s hard all over. Trust me.”

Billy stands up. “This conversation has gone south fast, and I don’t need to hear it,” he says, laughing. “I think there’s a lonely girl over there looking for company.”

He walks off just as Sabrina Smith shows up with a straight face and an ax to grind. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Freeland County herself. What brings you out, Delilah?”

“Sabrina,” she replies.

Delilah’s lack of real response is amusing. We both know Sabrina came over on a mission. We just have to wait until she’s bored with us. Sabrina has always been fairly harmless, but she’s bold enough to get on your nerves fast. It’s almost impressive how quick on the draw she is tonight. Looking around the bar, her scrutinizing glare lands back on me. “No hello, Jason?”

“Hello.”

“After all we shared too.”

She loves to tell lies about us hooking up. It never happened, but years after high school she still holds on to them like they’ll turn into reality if she continues dragging it out. Delilah shifts, causing me to look at her. I don’t want her uncomfortable, so I reply, “Nothing ever happened between us, Sabrina. Your memory seems as foggy as ever.”

“We did too. You’re just choosing to hide the truth—”

“Sharing a microscope in biology our sophomore year doesn’t count as intimacy. It was an assigned partner project.”

She taps Delilah’s shoulder with a satisfied smile on her face. “See? He remembers me. Anywho, where’s that handsome husband of yours, Delilah?”

I’m about to stand up and shoo her away, but I know I can accomplish what I want sitting right here. Whispering, I warn her, “This town may let you pull this bullshit with them, but you won’t with us. I will let you walk away without embarrassing you in front of everyone, but this is your only warning. I want you to stay away from Delilah and me. Do you understand, Sabrina?”

Her mouth was gawking open by “bullshit,” so I know I got her attention. “Well,” she starts, raising her chin in stubborn defiance, “a microscope is the only thing I ever intend to share with you, Jason Koster. Your meanness is noted.” She scoffs as she walks back to her booth with the poor sucker stuck with her for the night.

I’m still shaking my head in annoyance when Delilah says, “I’ve noted a few things about you myself.”

“And what might those be?”

Leaning over the table, she looks to her left and then to her right before returning to me and whispering, “The impressive size of your—”

“Delilah.” She tenses immediately, her shoulders caving in.

I stand, coming face-to-face with my ex-friend. My voice is steady and firm, “Turn around and walk away, Cutler.”

“Me? That’s my fucking wife.”

When I glance at Delilah, it’s clear Sabrina rattled her, but now she looks more angry than fearful. That’s my girl.

I lean closer, my shoulder bumping against Cole’s and say, “Don’t you ever fucking call her that again. And if I ever see you within ten miles of that farm, or my girl, I will fucking end you.”

With our eyes hard on each other, we stand there, both of us unwavering in our silent standoff. McGilley finally yells, “Break it up, boys, or hit the streets.”

Cutler ignores the bartender. “You need to check yourself, Koster. That woman—”

“She’s not that woman. She’s my woman.”

My words seem to cause him to choke. “Your woman?”

I’m shoved but don’t budge. “Yes. Mine. I suggest you go back to wherever you came from and don’t come back over here.”

“Back off, Cole.” Delilah stands, her hand wrapping around my forearm. “Jason, let’s leave.”

That’s when I see it. Not her, but the look he gives her, the one that comes loaded with threats he intends to carry out. “Leave?” he grits. “Together? What did I tell you about him?”

I give my last warning. “Don’t look at her.”

Her hold on my arm tightens. “Jason.” My name comes as a warning in and of itself. Facing Cole, the fear has disappeared, and she says, “You and I are done. Leave us alone.”

He reaches to touch her, but I knock his hand away. Cutler shifts, and then faces me. “You got a death wish, Koster? Cuz I’m happy to fulfill it.”

“You’re drunk. Go home.”

“Fu—”

Billy rushes between us, his body separating us. “Hey. Hey. C’mon, guys.” Looking at Cole, he says, “Stop causing trouble where there is none.”

“He needs to stay away from us.”

Cutler says, “You do realize I own half that farmhouse you’re fucking my wife in?” He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. Speaking of death wishes, he’s close to making that wish come true.

“Ex. You seem to be forgetting that important detail.”

Cole swings, but Billy pushes him back on his ass. “Time for us to go. Put it on my tab, McGilley.”

“Sure thing, Billy,” McGilley replies.

Cole pushes off the floor and yells at Delilah while Billy pushes him out the door. Before the door closes, Cole yells, “You’re my wife. A piece of paper doesn’t define us.”

I look at Delilah who says, “I want to go home.”

Holding out my hand, I say, “Come on.”

When her shaking hand takes mine, I wrap my warmth around her, hoping to ease her fear. I toss a fifty on the bar as we pass. “Thanks, McGilley.”

“You betcha. Hope to see you again, Delilah.”

“Thank you,” she replies with the smallest of polite smiles.

Pressing the door open, I look both ways on the sidewalk before I help her out. She’s shaken. I don’t blame her. I thought I was about to come to blows with Cutler, and I was willing to because it’s clear he’s gotten into her head again. And she put up with that asshole for how long?

While walking down the street, I scan the area. The only thing out of place is the car parked next to my truck.

Which I recognize from the life I left behind.

Shit.