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“Umm, one question? Why did you call out fire instead of help?”

“Oh, I watched this documentary once where it said people are more likely to respond if they hear the word fire than help.” She shrugged.

“Come on, Eden,” Zeke said firmly. “Let’s get you home and checked over. I’ll call Doc on the way.”

Eden groaned. “Great, he’s even more grumpy when he’s woken up.”

“Well, just think of it as a warm-up for when Clint hears about this,” Zeke replied.

“Fuck my life,” Eden said tiredly.

“You should be damn thankful you’re not mine,” Zeke told her as he walked around the back of the chair, taking hold of the handles. “‘Cause not only would you be headed to the hospital, but once you were better, you’d be over my knee.”

Abby froze in her seat, Eden’s reply drowned out by the roaring in her ears. Did he just threaten to spank her? She’d heard some rumors about Sanctuary ranch, but they’d always been sharply shut down. She’d never put much credence into them. But now...

“Abby, you okay?”

She peered around the room. There was only her and Kent left and he was giving her a concerned look. She blushed and tried to jump to her feet. But as she did, she knocked into him, sending him sprawling backwards.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”

Why did she have to be such a clumsy dork? She held out her hand to Kent who was staring at her incredulously. “Here, let me help you up.”

He climbed to his feet without taking her hand. Rejection flooded her. He didn’t want to touch her.

Well, you were the one to knock him over.

She dropped her gaze to the floor. Idiot.

“Abby, look at me,” he said to her in a low voice. “Look at me.” This time his voice was firmer. Not so easy to ignore.

She sighed. Glanced up at him.

“Honey, I weigh twice as much as you do and you’ve got some nasty grazes on your hand. Plus, I’m a guy. I’m a little old-fashioned about some things. And that means, in my world, a little thing like you doesn’t try to help me up. When I’m around, you don’t open doors or carry things or pump gas or pay for the bill. All right?”

She blinked, trying to take that in. There were men like that? She’d kind of thought they didn’t exist. Not anymore. Then it hit her. He wasn’t rejecting her. He was being thoughtful.

“Oh.”

He smiled. The skin around his eyes crinkled as amusement filled his face. He tucked a lock of hair back that had fallen out of the bun she usually kept her hair confined in. “Come on, sweet girl. Let’s get you home and into bed.”

Her body went on high alert.

He doesn’t mean it that way.

And sure enough, his next words proved that. “You look completely wiped and it’s way past your bedtime.” He took gentle hold of her wrist and guided her from the room, and yes, he actually held open the door for her.

“I don’t have a bedtime.”

“You should.”

She frowned. What did he mean by that? He led them out the back door of the bar as though he’d used it plenty of times before.

“Have you come here often?” she asked.

“Here? God, no.” His voice was very definite. “Love to know why you’re here, though.”

She tensed up. Crap. She was going to have to think of a good excuse.