Page 22 of Big Bad Wolf

“It looks great,” Ruby said, getting up. “And later you’re telling me who owns that shirt.”

“Gladly, and we can talk all about your new feminist friend Rafe.” Callie grinned before popping another fry in her mouth. Ruby stuck her tongue out at her before heading back to the kitchen.

Her friend’s laughter followed her out.

By the time she made it back to Rafe, he was hunched over, elbows on the table and his head in his hands. She slid the food and drink on the table and sat across from him. He flicked his gaze up to hers, and she felt it down to her toes.

“He touched you.”

“Just another drunk asshole.” She tried to brush it off again, but the rage was still simmering in Rafe’s eyes. “If you kill every drunk asshole, I’ll be out of a job.”

He huffed at that and leaned back in the booth, still watching her. She crossed her arms over her chest as though she could protect herself from his stare.

“You should have let me kill this one, as a message to the others.”

She was pretty sure there was a joking tone there. She hoped he was joking.

“I can’t have you murdering people for me. There are enough rumors about me as it is.” Again, she tried for humor, but his mouth tightened like he now wanted to murder anyone who’d ever spoken ill about her.

“Just eat,” she said. She always felt less like killing people after she ate, so maybe he would too. She watched him devour his burger in less than six bites and down the beer in just a few large gulps.

“You should stay away from that guy.”

Ruby scoffed. “Thanks for the advice. I hadn’t planned on tracking him down for a date anytime soon. So, there’s no need to worry.”

“I mean in general. If you see him around, just stay away from him.”

“Do you know him?”

Rafe shook his head. “Not specifically. But I know guys like him and they’re no good.”

“You seem to be under the impression that this is my first day out in the world, but I can actually tell a good guy from a bad one.”

Rafe’s dark brows rose. “What about me? What kind am I?”

That was a loaded question. Wasn’t that what she’d been trying to figure out since she met him? Rafe didn’t take his steady gaze off of her while she scrambled for an answer. He certainly wasn’t like the asshole that just groped her; she knew that much.

“You’re a good one.”

Rafe’s smile was grim. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

He stood up before she had a chance to argue.

“Stay out of trouble, Ruby,” he said and left her sitting alone in the booth.

Chapter Ten

Ruby wasn’t going to stay out of trouble. He knew that, and it was making him crawl out of his skin with anxious energy. He knew she was still walking through the woods at night and that she wouldn’t accept a ride from him, especially not now after he’d assured her that he wasn’t a good guy.

It had been the truth, but maybe he should have let her believe in him for a little bit longer. So he could keep her safe.

He growled to himself as he paced the small clearing he called a backyard. Pine needles were dense under his feet, and his walking stirred up their scent. It would have been pleasant if he wasn’t going out of his mind.

He couldn’t stop thinking about that guy at the bar. Other than the fact that he’d put his hand up Ruby’s skirt which, if you asked him, was reason enough for justifiable homicide, there was something off about him. Something wrong and out of place. He and his friends shouldn’t have been here at all.

Rafe knew plenty of guys like him from his old life. But this guy wasn’t County; he was Highlands. Rafe knew that straight away. And nothing good could come from a Highlander sniffing around here.

Maple Hollow wasn’t in their territory, and they should have known better than to show up here. What Rafe couldn’t figure out was why they would. For the first time in a long time, he wished he could talk to his brothers about it.