Page 57

Shane pulls his sunglasses off, spearing me with his beautiful dark eyes. “Better?”

“Yes.” No.

I swear there’s some kind of magic swirling in his irises because they render me absolutely speechless. My heart hammers, and my throat dries. I lick my lips, but all that does is pull his gaze to my mouth.

We’re nose to nose, and I’m having a hard time thinking. I don’t know what kind of reputation he had with women back in Vegas, but if I had to guess, they fell to their knees at one glance, because if I wasn’t sitting, my legs would have stopped working by now.

Shane’s thumb brushes my bare arm, and I shiver, taking the sharpest breath. His other hand rests on my thigh, his long fingers tightening on my leg. That grip sends a pulse to my core. The slightest twitch of his hand has me wishing he’d move it higher. Wishing he’d ease this ache.

His teeth grit like he’s physically holding himself back, and I wish he wouldn’t. Not because we’re supposed to be putting on a show, but because I’ve never needed anything like his lips on mine.

He shifts closer, and my lashes flutter. I can practically taste him even though we’re a breath apart. Spearmint gum and whiskey. A combination that is so him. Our mouths brush, and I tangle my fingers in the hair at the back of his neck. But just as I’m about to close the gap—to give in to whatever it is this man is doing to me—a gunshot rings out down the street, then Shane’s throwing his body at me for an entirely different reason.

17

SHANE

Three shots echo down the street, and I can’t think of anything but getting Harloe to the ground. A heaving breath releases from her chest as her back hits the concrete. She wiggles beneath me, her blue eyes filled with fear while people scream around us.

“Shane—”

“We need to get you inside.” I immediately move, shifting into a mode I’m all too familiar with. I slip my gun from its holster and help Harloe to her feet.

The gunshots have stopped, so it was either a warning or it’s over. I’m not taking any chances. Lawson has Max wrapped up in his arms, covering him like a human shield, while Aiden helps Elsie get up after he pinned her to the ground.

I glance around, spotting a bookstore directly behind Harloe. “Get in the building. Take Elsie and Max with you.”

“You’re not coming?” Her fingers clutch my arm.

I pause, pulling her closer, if only to assure myself she’s okay. “I need to make sure no one got hurt, but to do that, I need you safe first.”

Her eyes blink wildly as she nods. “Okay.”

“Stay inside until I come get you.” My thumb brushes her cheek.

Her skin is always so warm, like she’s been out in the sun all day. She’s a bottle of sunshine, a ball of life. I can’t get enough.

Harloe plants her hand over mine. “Will you be safe?”

“Me?” I can’t help but smirk. “I live for this shit, cowgirl.”

My lips press to her forehead. It’s not her mouth like I was aiming for a second ago, but I pause there, breathing her in. Soaking in her warmth and absorbing that hit of eucalyptus and mint.

And then she’s peeling away, grabbing Max from Lawson and rushing into the bookstore with Elsie. Nora runs after them, and I turn to see Harloe’s brothers headed in our direction with East cutting through the crowd behind them.

Their jaws are set. Rage burns in their expressions.

I get it. All around, families are panicking. Children are crying. I’ve seen a hell of a lot of shit—heck, I’ve done a hell of a lot of shit—but not in the middle of a fucking farmers market.

“What the hell was that?” I ask Will when he stops in front of us.

“Don’t know. That kind of shit doesn’t happen around here.”

“Well, there’s been a lot of that kind of shit happening around here lately,” I say, and he nods in agreement. “Your sister is in the bookshop. I asked her to wait for me there.”

“Where are you going?”

“To see what the fuck just went down.”