Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35291 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Click, click.
“What you doing in Wildfire—?" The man's words are cut off in a gurgle as Beau's hand clamps around his throat.
"You take one more fucking picture," Beau growls, "and I'll break every fucking bone in your body."
A second later, he rips the camera away with his free hand, throws it on the ground and stomps on it with a very expensive-sounding crunch.
The sudden violence should scare me. It should remind me of my father's rage, of every man who ever used his strength to intimidate and control.
Instead, all I feel is relief.
Beau isn't hurting me. He's protecting me. And for the first time in my adult life, someone is fighting for me instead of trying to profit from me.
The guy's mouth falls open as he stares at his wrecked camera. "Hey. What the fuck—"
He turtles up as Beau steps forward with a growl. “Cameras don’t bleed, but you sure as fuck will.”
"You heard him." I lean out from behind Beau. "Get. Lost."
I tuck myself next to his massive body, which feels like it’s turned to concrete. His arms come around me, locking me against him.
"Problem here?" Colt appears out of nowhere, stepping forward with his thumbs hooked into his gun belt. Jack and Cade flank him, a wall of Boone brothers that would intimidate a grizzly bear.
"Yeah, there's a problem. This psycho just broke my fucking camera. You have any idea how much that shit is worth?"
Colt turns to Beau. "That right, brother?"
Beau shrugs. "It was an accident."
Colt nods, turns back to the guy. "Accidents happen. That's why God invented insurance."
"Especially around here," Jack adds, conversationally. "Lot of accidents happen here in Wildfire, isn’t that right, Sheriff?" Jack shrugs as Colt nods. “We don’t take kindly to outsiders messing with our family.”
Family.
Jack winks my way.
They all stare him down. A united front of muscle and menace that makes the photographer back away, his hands raised.
"I get it," he says quickly. "Just a misunderstanding. Won't happen again."
“Probably need to find your fucking way out of Wildfire. Mate.” Beau steps forward and the guy spins and takes off, cursing but moving at a smart pace.
“I’ll follow him out of town,” Colt says. “Welcome to the family, Tina.”
I should be shaking. Should be traumatized by the reminder of how vulnerable I am to men like this. I should explain my overreaction, right now, tell him everything and let the dice fall. This man—these men—just stood up for me without question, and I owe Beau honesty.
But this, right here? That's what I always dreamed of. People who'll stand up for me without wanting anything in return. People who see me for who I am, not what I'm worth.
"Beau," I start, trying to find the words. But I don't want to ruin everything, not when I've finally found a place where I belong. "Let’s go home."
The word home hangs between us, loaded with meaning neither of us is ready to examine. But when Beau's pale-blue eyes darken and his hands tighten on my waist, I know he heard it too.
He reads through the words, his hand still locked around me.
“Home’s too far. Garage. My second home."
I want this. I want him.
Even if it can't last forever. Even if there's a fifteen-year-old boy back home who's probably wondering why his sister abandoned him, and will never forgive her for choosing some stranger over him.
"Good man," Jack says, clapping Beau on the shoulder. "Take care of your girl."
"Always," Beau promises, and the certainty in his voice makes my heart race.
The second we're around the corner of the hardware store, out of sight from the crowd, Beau pins me against the brick wall. His mouth crashes down on mine, hot and desperate.
"Fuck, Tina. You don't get it. I'll fucking wreck you."
"Let me see the real you," I interrupt, a fierceness growing inside me. "I promise I won't break. I want to hurt. I want to remember."
"You want the real me?" His hands slide under my shirt, spanning my ribs. "I'll split you in half. I'll leave marks all over this perfect skin so you remember who fucking owns you. You ready for that, little girl?"
"Yes," I gasp, arching into his touch. "All of you. Stop protecting me from what I want."
Something snaps in his expression. The careful control finally cracks, and what's left behind makes me gush between my legs.
"Garage. Right fucking now." He locks his thick fingers around my wrist. "Because if we don't move, I'm gonna bend you over right fucking here and show this whole town who you belong to."
Ten
Beau
The garage door slams behind us, the sound echoing off concrete and steel. It’s empty, thank fuck. I’d hate to traumatize Dolores, but something tells me she’s logged onto RedTube a few times herself.
In the dim light filtering through dusty windows, Tessa looks like something out of a fucking dream.