Page 52

Oh, they hate this.

Good.

The cowboy leans closer. “You trying to make them jealous?”

My smile stays put, but my fingers tighten against his shoulder. “Maybe you’re not as dumb as you look.”

He laughs, not offended. “Careful, Sweetheart.”

Sweetheart… Nope.

I keep dancing anyway.

The next turn brings me closer to the edge of the floor, closer to them. Tripp’s eyes flick over the cowboy’s hand on my waist, then up to my face. His expression doesn’t change, but something in him does. I see it in the way he shifts his weight.

My pulse kicks harder when Clint stands.

Jacob notices, too, the corner of his mouth lifting like he thinks this is funny. His hand slides to my lower back. I breathe through my nose and keep my face steady. I started this. That thought barely settles before his fingers slip beneath the hem of my tank.

Not too high, barely a touch against my skin.

My whole body goes still. Whatever warm, reckless thing had been buzzing under my skin disappears fast.

The music keeps going, people keep moving around us. His mouth is still near my ear, saying something I don’t hear because every part of me narrows down to the wrongness of his hand under my shirt.

No.

My palm hits his chest hard and he stumbles back a step, surprise flashing across his face.

“Don’t,” I snap.

His smile drops. “Relax. You were fine a second ago.”

“I said don’t.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but Tripp reaches him first.

There’s no warning or big speech, just Tripp’s fist connecting with Jacob's jaw with a crack loud enough that the people closest to us go quiet.

He hits the floor.

I just stare for half a second before Clint’s in front of me, blocking everything else from view.

“You good?” he asks, voice low.

I blink up at him. “I had it handled.”

His eyes flick over my face once. “Yeah, it looked like it.”

“I shoved him.”

“You did.”

“I was about to do more.”

“I know.”

His calm demeanor makes me want to throw something. Behind him, Tripp flexes his hand once, shaking it out. Briggs steps between him and two men who look like they’re deciding whether they want to get involved.