Page 82 of Live Love Lasso

I’m outta the jail and jogging up the street in seconds. Rounding the corner, I move faster, not slowing until I get to the bar’s door. Yanking it open, I look around for my girl.

Lemon stands with fists balled, staring at her father and brother, who are seated at the bar. Weirdly, Hunter’s on one of the saddle seats and looks like an idiot, scowling at her while straddling a western saddle. He’s got his feet in the stirrups and everything.

Heels high instead of down though. I bet he ain’t never rode a horse in his life. Probably thinks you can do it in sneakers.

“I’m not going back with you,” she says, her tone steely.

I pick my way across the bar, calling on my larger form until I loom over her by about four feet. I’m suddenly thankful I opted for custom clothing that can expand with me. Hunter blanches at seeing me, although her father is as icy as ever.

They might’ve helped save Lemon, but I’m not entirely sure they did it out of any sort of love for her.

“There is far more opportunity for you at home,” he says, tone imploring.

Lemon shakes her head and leans against me. “I’ve been offered a role here at Glimmer now that Letitia’s gone. I’ll have to work my way up through the ranks since I’m the newest, but there’s real opportunity for me here working with a Rykan, who’s a senior master potioneer. Honestly, it’ll be good for both of us to remove me from the Denton family equation.”

I slide a hand up her back as her brother and father absorb the news.

When her father opens his mouth again, she lifts a palm. “I’ll be dropping the Denton name immediately. There’s no reason for us to be connected at all while you work to rebuild trust with your clients. It’s better for me not to be involved.”

Hunter scoffs, and her father gasps aloud.

I put a finger beneath her chin and turn her just enough to look into those beautiful crimson irises. Gold and silver flecks sunburst away from the black pupil. Like every time I look at my mate, I’m fucking obsessed.

“I got a name you can take, city girl, if you’ll have it. Lemon Knox Zayle has a nice ring to it, don’t it?”

She beams and sinks against my chest, seemingly oblivious to the irritated vampire males beside us. “I’d love that, mate. Can we do paperwork today?”

Above our heads, the bar’s ceiling beams shimmy and shift. She’s excited for us.

I laugh. “Oh yeah, baby. We’ll go right after lunch, assuming you still want to eat.”

Her father stands, balling his hands. “I’ve lost my appetite.” He backs away from Lemon and frowns. “Are you really doing this, Daughter? I’m disappointed.”

I loom large enough for my horns to scrape the ceiling. Bending down, I get in his face.

“Are you talking to my mate right now? Because all I hear is a fucking mosquito buzzing and irritating me. I swear to all you find holy that if you are insulting my woman, you will regret it.”

His eyes go wide, but smart man that he is, he shuts the fuck up and skirts toward the door.

Hunter slides his feet outta the stirrups and awkwardly dismounts the saddle. “Well, Lemon, I guess this is goodbye.”

She wraps an arm around my waist, although she can’t get it all the way around me when I’m this big.

“Hunter, I…I appreciate what you and Father did at the tracks. I appreciate knowing you were in my corner when it came down to it. There’s always been a divide between us, but maybe you and I can work to heal that if I’m not in such close proximity to you all the time.”

He smiles at her, maybe the first smile I’ve seen on him since we met.

“I’d like that. I’ve always been jealous of you, Lem. You’re so naturally good. I didn’t mean to fuck up that potion for Serafina Nerazar, but I wasn’t really sorry when it happened. And that was a really asshole way to be. I… Seeing you almost die did something to me. I’m sorry, actually sorry for my part in what happened.” He waves up at me. “Even though it kinda worked out for you in the end.”

She snorts. “Are you really apologizing and also crediting yourself for finding my mate?”

He laughs, sliding his hands into his pockets. “I can only change so much in twenty-four hours.” The smile softens. “I’ll try, though. Keep in touch, would you?”

“Yeah, for sure.”

I don’t know if they will or not, but as I sink back to my normal size, I know that, no matter what she wants, I’ll see to it that it happens for her.

Hunter sidles toward the door, and neither of us watch him go.