"What are you doing here alone with my sister?"
I lean down a little to look at him. "That's right. She was alone... at night. I wanted to make sure she was safe."
He sputters, not expecting that answer from me. "You don't have any right, Bryant. You stay away from my sister. She's just a child."
I don't answer him. We stare at one another, and my whole body is frozen rigidly, waiting for him to throw a punch, but he doesn't. He turns and walks away, stopping just a few feet away from me. "You heard what I said. Stay away from my sister."
And then he gets into the truck, backs out, and then spins his tires, driving in the direction out of town toward our ranches. I walk out into the empty street and watch them drive off. I know he wants to protect his sister, and maybe he doesn't realize that I would never do anything to hurt her. I never thought to ask how old she was, but surely, she's of age.
Chapter 4
Amanda
All I’ve thought about since last night is when Chance thought he was protecting me. When my brother pulled up to the bookshop, I knew exactly who it was. My car was in the shop, and I knew that he was coming to pick me up, which was why I was trying to get Chance out of there. But obviously, Chance didn't have any idea who it was, and the way he grabbed my hand and held me behind him protectively still has my body trembling.
My brother drove me to the car repair shop last night. I had already paid for it to be fixed, so all I had to do was get in and then I drove back into town, to my apartment over the bookstore. I showered, ate a late dinner, and thought about the success of the night. But no matter how hard I tried not to think about Chance, I couldn’t get my mind off him.
This morning, I relaxed and then came downstairs when it was almost time for the store to open. I flip on lights and the open sign before unlocking the door. Not even a minute passes before the door jingles, letting me know that someone has arrived.
I smile, coming out from behind the bookshelves. "Good morning."
As soon as I see who it is, my mouth drops open. I never dreamed that Chance Bryant would be back again this morning. "Chance," I say in surprise.
He barrels toward me. He has his hat in his hand, and his hair is in all disarray. "How old are you?"
I freeze, my eyes wide open staring at him. "How old? What? Why?"
He stops right in front of me, and I take in his tight blue jeans and button-down shirt. I can't get over how handsome he is.
He puts his hands on his hips. "Your brother said you were a child."
My brother! I roll my eyes. "I'm not a child. I'm 23 years old." I sweep my arm around the bookstore. "I own and manage this store. I live on my own in the apartment upstairs, have my own car, pay my own bills. I'm not a child, even though my father and brothers still seem to think I am."
Chance instantly seems to deflate, and a look of relief crosses his face. I can hear the frustration in his voice as he asks me again, "Go out with me."
I put my hand on my hip. "Why? Why should I go out with you, Chance Bryant, when we know both of our families are going to be upset about it? It's going to cause nothing but problems. So you tell me, why should I go out with you?"
He opens his mouth and then closes it again. And his face turns pink. "Because I want to get to know you."
I look at him, knowing he's not telling me everything. And then it hits me. I know exactly why he wants to go out with me. I turn and walk around to the cash register, putting the counter between us. "You talked to Jeremy, didn't you?"
He almost looks confused. "Jeremy?"
I nod. "Yeah, Jeremy. What did he do? Did he tell you that I was a virgin and that he couldn't get anything from me? You two have a bet on who I'll give it up to first?"
Chance seems to stumble on his feet. "You're a virgin?"
I feel my face heat, and I cross my arms over my chest, refusing to say it again.
"Who the fuck is Jeremy?" he asks me.
He looks mad. No, not mad, he looks livid, as if he wants to punch something or maybe someone. "Jeremy, the new ranch hand that works for you."
He leans across the counter and stares at me without blinking. "What did Jeremy do to you?" I hold my hands up in front of me. "Nothing, he didn't even touch me. I saw him at a bar, and I guess someone told him about, you know, and he thought he could be the one."