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My hands were on my hips, my lips parted to say something snarky, but Seb cut me off, putting his palms together like he was praying. “Please don’t argue. You can bitch and whine about what a dick I am later. I don’t care. Just let me keep you safe, okay? Please.”

Dammit. He took all the fun out of pushing his buttons. “Okay,” I relented. “Let’s hear your rules.”

“First, you don’t drive. Your truck is too distinctive with all those decals of places you’ve been. No one knows you’re here, so let’s keep it that way.” I nodded. Relly was a fan favorite on my social media posts. “Second, you don’t pay for anything. Don’t even talk to the bartender. They card you if you look younger than fifty. Third, and this one is the most important, I am at your side at all times. Is that understood?”

I saluted crisply. “Yes, sir.”

Heat flickered in his green eyes, and he dragged his hand over his mouth before turning away. “I’m already regretting this.”

Sundown was everything I wanted a dive bar to be. Authentically aged, a little dusty, a little grimy. The kind of place that made you thankful for your tetanus booster, but was just clean enough that you could still use the toilet if you really, really had to.

I did a slow pivot, taking it all in. The red-leather booths reminded me of an old stagecoach. Edison bulbs hung from oak-and-iron wagon wheels bolted to the ceiling. The thick pine bar top was scuffed and scarred under its gloss.

And there were the bullet holes that Lennon told me about, directly across from the door, like an outlaw had stepped inside and immediately started shooting. Goddamn, I loved a legend. Unconsciously, I moved closer, only to be hauled back against Seb’s hard chest.

I glared first at his finger hooked in the belt loop of my jeans, and then at his annoyingly attractive face. “Rude,” I said.

He curled toward me. “Do we need to have another talk about the ground rules?” he murmured in my ear. “You don’t take a step without me.”

“That’s not what we agreed to. You said, and I quote, you would be right by my side the whole time.”

“What’s the difference?”

“The difference is I do what I want. It’s on you to keep up.”

His lips tipped up in an amused smirk. “Well, if you want to take it literally…all right.” He released my belt loop and slid his palm into my back pocket. “Lead on.”

I didn’t move as I looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “You can’t be serious.”

“Think again⁠—”

I made a break for it. Seb didn’t miss a beat. He fell into step next to me, hip to hip. I took that as a challenge and pivoted sharply, then pivoted again. It didn’t work. He zigged and zagged right with me, and all it got me was tangled up with my own feet, giggling as Seb used his body to keep mine upright.

A soft laugh gusted out of him. “Real mature, Lila.”

“Just testing your bodyguard skills.”

“How did I do?”

“Meh.” I shrugged. But the truth was his strength and grace had left me giddy. I felt warm all over. And very, very safe.

His palm put nearly imperceptible pressure on my ass, steering me toward the bar, where Lennon and Tamilee had left an empty stool between them for me. Holly, Mateo, Jeremiah, and Liam were at a high-top next to them.

Seb nodded to a table of ranch hands as we went by—Alex, Clay, Hank, and Billy—but didn’t stop.

“Have a drink with us, boss man,” Hank called, and I paused, but Seb’s gentle pressure on my butt cheek kept me moving forward.

“Next time,” Seb said.

I glanced over my shoulder with a friendly smile just in time to see all of them take stock of Seb’s hand in my back pocket. “They think we’re together,” I hissed.

“That’s the plan. Women are hard to come by in this town, and I don’t want any cowboys taking an interest in something that’s off limits to them anyway. You came here with me, you’re leaving with me, and that’s all they need to know.”

He slid his hand from my pocket, squeezed my hip, then cupped my elbow to help me onto a bar stool. “Ladies,” he greeted Lennon and Tamilee and then signaled the bartender.

“Mr. Ford,” Lennon returned.

“That’s not an insult,” Seb said cheerfully before ordering me a vodka tonic with extra limes and a Coke for himself.