The man stood from his bar stool and pivoted but seemed to reconsider a fight when he came chest to chest to Rand.
“Oh. Well, I suppose you mean that literally, then,” the cowboy said, apparently recognizing Rand.
Rand gave him a serious nod. “I do. Back off, Robertson.”
“Or?”
Oh shit. Next they were going to pull their dicks out and measure them. Good thing I was on the other side of the bar, so they didn’t pee on me to stake their claim.
“She’s taken,” Rand practically snarled.
“Rand,” I said, but both guys ignored me.
“That so?”
“That’s so. Back off while you can still walk.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the words themselves, the look on Rand’s face or the tone that sounded more of a wolf growl than human voice that had the guy taking a step back.
The cowboy pulled a card out of his pocket and slid it across the bar toward me. “If you do need help with anything else. Don’t hesitate to call.”
I didn’t touch the card. Didn’t breathe.
I wasn’t sure if I should be turned on or angry by Rand’s behavior. He was acting over the top, as if he’d staked his claim.
We may have fooled around, but we weren’t a couple. I’d made it really clear what I wanted from him. Yes, I’d probably jump in the sack with him a few more times, but I wasn’t going to let him publicly stake his claim on me, and I definitely wasn’t going to lose my heart.
The guy walked off, and Rand moved to stand directly across from me. He snatched up the business card and tore it into little pieces. “Darlin’.”
“I’m taken?” I asked, setting my forearms on the bar. I had to look up at him, but our heads were closer. I didn’t need the entire bar to know my business although people nearby hadn’t missed the show.
“Yeah.”
Yeah? That was it? “You do not get to dictate who I talk to. I’m not sure what gave you that idea.”
Rand opened his mouth then shut it again, his gaze wide and alert. Almost alarmed.
I should’ve probably been satisfied to see how dismayed my words made him, but instead it knotted up my belly. Like I’d hurt his feelings and didn’t enjoy the guilt of it.
But that didn’t make sense. Cocky cowboy electricians didn’t get their feelings hurt when the woman they just screwed flicked them down the path to the next woman.
Did they? Er… did he? Had I hurt his feelings?
“Rand, I told you—”
It was Rand’s turn to lean forward. “Who licked your pussy, Red? Made you scream?”
I darted my gaze around. “I’m working!” I hissed.
“Yeah, me too. I’m doing my job to protect what’s mine.”
I melted inside but rolled my eyes. “I’m not yours.”
“Your ass still have my hand print on it?”
I flushed.
“That’s what I thought. Robertson’s not going to get a finger on you. Not any guy in this bar. Hell, in Montana.”
“Possessive much?”
Of course, at that moment, a large group of men bunched up at the bar, all giving me their orders, and I was busy for the next forty-five minutes straight. I managed to get Rand a soda, but we didn’t get a chance to talk further. His hand print wasn’t on my ass any longer, but I remembered how it had tingled.
Ugh, but did we even need a talk? Wasn’t the whole point of casual sex that you didn’t have to examine it or belly button gaze over it afterward?
The blonde cowgirl from early in my shift returned and pressed herself up against Rand. “Hey,” she purred. “I missed you Monday night.”
My gaze jerked to Rand’s face.
Just as I’d thought, they looked good together. Fuck, I was jealous. And that made me the possessive one. How could I blame Rand his actions with the cowboy when I felt the same way?
His gaze snapped to mine. Alarm rang on all his features again. “Karen,” he said as if the two syllables were distasteful to him. “Have you met Natalie Sheffield?”
I liked the way he said it. Like he was calling out that he was here with me. Which of course, he wasn’t, since I was working, and he was sitting across the bar from me, trying to snatch away the cards of men who tried to pick me up.
I stuck my hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
She shook it in that cold fish way women sometimes had. Like they had no idea how to shake a hand. Which was weird since she had the rugged, outdoorsy look going.
And then it hit me.
Monday night. The full moon.
She was one of them. Another wolf.
“Go find another guy, doll,” Rand said to Karen. His gaze was locked on mine, as if looking her way wasn’t even worth the effort.
She stood beside him, her boobs pressed against his upper arm. “Rand?”
“Someone. Else.” His voice was a snarl. Her eyebrows went up, but she didn’t say more, only turned on a heel and left.
I had no idea how long we stared at each other. Whether anyone was trying to get my attention for drinks.
He dropped onto the bar stool. “Red, you think I’m the possessive one? That look on your face could kill.”
I blinked then sighed. He was right. I wanted to throat punch Karen for looking at him. Had he enjoyed the feel of her pressed against him? I’d never have that much cleavage even wearing a push-up bra.
“So, Red, am I possessive? You have no idea.”
Oh, I was getting a pretty good idea. I just had to decide if I liked it or not. And if I did, what was I going to do about it?
8
RAND
Natalie worked hard. How she stood on her feet for hours with a fucking smile on her face when drunks practically slobbered over her, others argued about stupid shit like too much foam on their beer or guys like Pete Robertson, who wanted in her pants. I had no idea how much she made in tips by last call, but it wasn’t enough to put up with all the assholes. Cody either needed to pay her more, or she was going to have to consider another job. I was going to lose my shit if she kept working here. Without me as her own personal bouncer.
I’d dropped onto the stool to get rid of Robertson and didn’t get up all night. Not once. I made sure no one touched her, smart mouthed or said a bad word. She might be as fiery as her hair, but she was innocent. Sweet. Light. I wouldn’t have one frown on her face.
Natalie had come my way and refilled my soda but only rolled her eyes at me for my macho, staking-my-claim behavior. I grinned and winked back, which only made her roll her eyes some more. Fuck, she was a spitfire, and I loved that her sass was directed at me.
“Is it like that every night?” I asked, walking her to her car. I had my hand on the small of her back, my wolf glad to be touching her again. The bar had been between us all night. A real pain in the ass for me although it did soothe my wolf that it made a barrier between her and everyone else.
“Like what?”
“Guys all over you?”
She laughed, tucked her purse higher on her shoulder. “All over me? The only guy into me was the one whose business card you tore up. He wanted my business.”
I knew Robertson. He was an okay guy. Ran the feed store in town. Owned his own house. Never married. “He wanted your pussy.”