Page 36 of Danger

I can’t go inside and sleep. Not after tonight. Not afterhim.

The way Danger put Rylee in her place. The way he stepped in, stood up formewithout even thinking twice. And then therewere the awful things he did to that man like it was nothing. My pulse keeps spiking just remembering.

I watched a man get dropped like something from some Marvel movie. By another man who I’m now fake dating.

That’s insane. It’s reckless. It’s …kinda hot?

No. Absolutely not. What the hell is wrong with me? Normal women don’t see a man throw punches and start wondering what those hands would feel like on them.

I have lost my damn mind.

“There’s no way I’m sleeping after tonight,” I say.

He nods once, real slow, like he knows exactly what I mean.

“Wasn’t planning on sleepin’ either,” he says. “You’re welcome to keep me company while I clear my head.”

This is the part where smart women go inside.

I walk back to the truck.

“Okay,” I say. “Let’s go.”

Two minutes later we’re turning onto the dirt road that leads to Stetson Ranch, headlights cutting through the dark.

He parks just outside PJ’s house.

This is where he clears his head?

“C’mon,” he says, sliding out of the driver's seat.

When I step out, the wind picks up. I barely have time to cover my arms before he reaches into the backseat, grabs a worn gray sweatshirt, and holds it out without looking at me.

“Put that on.”

It smells like laundry soap and him. Which feels unfair to smell this good.

I pull it over my head, sleeves swallowing my hands, and follow him around the truck.

He’s already sitting on the tailgate, elbow braced on his knee. Dark, dangerous, and… somehow magnetic.

I cross my arms and approach carefully. He doesn’t look at me or speak. Just watches PJ’s house, expression tight and unreadable.

I glance over at him. “Well… we had ourselves a night.”

“You should’ve stayed inside the bar.”

I waive him off. “There you go. Treating me like I’m twelve again. You think I’ve never seen a fight before?”

“No.” He says, twisting the ring on his pointer finger. “I think the look on your face said you’ve never seen one like that before.”

Heat crawls up my neck. Annoying part is, he’s not wrong. “Okay, fine. Maybe never seen one where someone loses a knee cap.”

He finally looks at me, eyes gone dark and heavy. “Normal day ’round here.”

“Wow. And I thought Saturday morning donut rush was stressful.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, glancing around at the quiet farmhouse. “And so, does sittin’ out here in the dark help you clear your mind?”

One corner of his mouth twitches. “Yep.”