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“Ruby?” I glance down, scanning her for injuries. “Darlin’, you okay?”
With a flinch, she doubles over. Her eyes fall shut, her knuckles white as they clench the tabletop. “I’m fine. I got dizzy for a second.”
“You’re not fine,” I say gruffly, unsettled by her pale face. Her breathing’s shallow, and she looks like she’s going to faint.
A feeling I haven’t felt in years rises within me. Care.
Fuck. I care about her.
I wrap an arm around her waist, glancing around for the back door. “We’re going. Right now.”
“No!” She straightens up and I brace her against me. “No way. We’re not leaving.” Her laugh is shaky. “I don’t do this a lot. Drink. Dance. I just need to catch my breath.”
“Don’t argue with me.”
“I’m not. I’m convincing you.”
“Are you sure?” I study her, dangerously close to tossing her over my shoulder and hauling her out of the bar. She can argue with me all she wants back at my place.
“It’s my night, Cowboy.” Stubbornness flashes in her big blue eyes, and some of my worry ebbs. “I’m having fun. I don’t want to leave.” She slides a hand up my chest and my entire body locks at her calming touch. “Please, Charlie, let’s—”
A hard crack cuts off her words. Instinct has me stepping in front of her, shielding her with my body.
The bar falls silent.
That’s when I see Fallon’s palm tear away from Wyatt’s face. His left cheek flames bright red as they glare at each other. Then, Fallon mouths something that looks likefuck youand storms out the back door.
I frown, noticing the way Wyatt half-rises to go after her, but Sheena tugs him back down beside her.
“Jesus,” I growl.
This will be all over Resurrection. In a town this small, gossip spreads like wildfire.
“What’s happening?” Ruby whispers. She grips my shoulder, standing on tiptoes to see better.
Dragging a hand down my face, I turn to her. “I take back what I said about Wyatt. He is an idiot.”
“I should talk to her.” Ruby gives my arm a squeeze before looping her purse around her chest and rushing to follow Fallon outside.
I shoot my dumbass brother a glare as Sheena coos over him.
I’m pissed. Really fucking pissed. Wyatt’s gone too far with Fallon. Whatever he’s doing, my brother needs to learn not to fuck with a good woman’s heart.
I glance at the back door where Ruby disappeared and wonder if I should take my own damn advice.
I wonder if it’s already too late.
Itake a deep breath and approach Fallon. She’s standing next to the dumpster in the alley, smoking. Up close, she looks pissed off and violent. A small silver scar runs down her jaw, her caramel and chestnut hair falls to the middle of her back. The cut-off shorts she wears show her colorful rodeo tattoos that extend up her hips, accentuating her lean, muscular thighs.
Though we’ve had run-ins, I’m not sure if she’ll be receptive to me lending an ear. Truth is, I admire Fallon. Envy her. Her tattoos and her horses and her freedom. She’s unsheltered and fierce and doesn’t have a ticking time bomb in her chest.
Fallon ashes her smoke when she sees me. “Shit. Don’t tell my dad.”
I smile. “Secret’s safe with me.”
She hums and takes a long drag on the cigarette. Smoke curls in the air between us.
“I’m sorry,” I say, thinking of that woman in the booth, stroking her blood-red fingernails down Wyatt’s arm. If it were Charlie, I’d pick up my shot glass and hurl it at his head. “About Wyatt.”
