Rough and Ready (More Than A Cowboy 2)

“Then… then I’ll give it away,” I replied, thinking of an alternative. “A charity. For kids.”

Reed’s eyes widened then changed. Got darker. Smoldered. Something. He leaned in and kissed me. Not a gentle in-a-restaurant peck but a kiss with tongue. Right in front of Quake, who started laughing.

Reed pulled back, didn’t pay him any attention. “I like that, princess. Give it to a place that helps kids, so they have a better chance than we did, yeah?”

I nodded, blinked back tears then smiled. “Yeah. my parents will hate it, which means it’s a great idea.”

Reed huffed out a laugh then kissed my forehead.

“I’ll set up a meeting,” Quake said. “Reed, she has to go. If you donate the cash, there’s nothing you have for them.” His eyes narrowed. “Except your brother. You could give him to Randy.”

That, I’d be fine with. More than fine. “How can I give him Cam?”

“We’ll ensure Randy knows you don’t have the money. He might not believe you, but he’ll believe me when I say you’re out.”

Reed nodded. This was what Quake was for in all this. I didn’t know anything about him or the MC, but if Randy was afraid of Quake, then he had to be more dangerous than I imagined. His reputation as a badass went even further than I thought.

“That you’re under my protection. No one fu… messes with anyone under my protection.” Quake took a deep breath, and his chest expanded, showing how fit he was. How strong. How much of a badass I expected him to be. I was glad he was on my side. I had no idea why he was willing to protect me specifically, but I wasn’t going to ask.

“Cam won’t know we’re meeting with Randy. He won’t know shit,” Reed added.

“Exactly.” A waitress stopped by with a fresh carafe, and Quake offered her a smile. “Thanks, doll.”

“We set Randy straight then give Cam to Randy. You wanted me to stay out of it, to keep my hands clean, then this is the way to do it. Let Randy do the dirty work for us. Then we’re out,” Reed said, tipping my chin up, so he looked me in the eye. “Yeah?”

Reed wasn’t going to have to fight Randy and his henchmen. He wasn’t going to have to fight Cam. I didn’t have to worry about him going to jail for doing something to protect me. I nodded. “Yeah.”

Then I’d be free. I wouldn’t have to run any longer.

“Now what?” I asked.

“I set up a meeting with Randy,” Quake said. “Give me a day or two.”

“What should I do in the meantime?” I asked Reed. He hadn’t let go of my chin. Hadn’t stopped staring at me.

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “I can think of a few ideas.”

24

REED

The BJJ class wrapped up, and I headed out to the front desk and grabbed a towel from the pile. I watched Harper from across the room as she ran on the treadmill. She looked exactly as I’d left her an hour earlier although she had a pink flush of exertion, and her t-shirt clung to her sweaty skin. I had no idea how she didn’t go insane with boredom running for that long. There was nothing to see outside since it was dark out, and the bright lights of the gym made the window in front of her like a mirror.

It’d been two days since our meeting with Quake. I hadn’t let Harper out of my sight. We’d had a service fix her flat tires, and we’d driven her car back to the building. It sat in the lot, but I didn’t give a shit if Randy’s annoying minions or even Cam Lane found it. They weren’t getting in the building or near Harper. Gray knew what was up and had spread the word to staff and a few of the guys. Harper was well protected. Not that I was letting her out of my sight.

It was pretty easy to accomplish since we spent most of the time in my bed. Even now, as I leaned against the counter and just… stared at Harper, I wanted her again. Fuck, was she amazing. Incredible athlete. So fucking smart. Brave. Stronger than she ever imagined. And gorgeous.

She had no idea how perfect she was. The way a few of the guys eyed her as she ran reminded me I wasn’t the only one who was interested. But I was the one in her bed. I was the one who… hopefully, was in her heart.

I knew her. She’d let me in. Gave herself to me when she’d never offered to anyone before. I wasn’t talking about her body but her soul. I’d gone from an asshole who hadn’t given a shit about anyone to a pussy whipped guy who thought of love and the melding of souls. If one of the guys could hear my thoughts, they’d wonder if I’d been hit a little too hard in the head.

I’d watched Gray fall for Emory. He’d gone down hard and fast, and no one dared call The Outlaw pussy whipped. He was. Boy, he sure the fuck was, and he’d proudly admit it.

The fucker Larry made his approach from the free weights to Harper. I pushed off the counter to step in but stopped. Watched. Harper’d taken care of herself just fine before me. I couldn’t take care of all her problems no matter how much I wanted to. I also wanted to see what she’d do. It had been a week or so since she’d dragged Larry to the stairwell, but so much had changed since then.

I might be confident in the ring, but with Harper, I was just a guy whose woman was too good for him. While I might be spouting poetry and making Valentine’s cards with glitter, Harper hadn’t said she felt the same way. She’d said she was right there with me but still. When she looked Larry’s way still running at an all-out pace, she pulled out an ear bud to hear what he had to say. She shook her head, and he walked away.

I couldn’t help but smirk, and when he walked past me to head to the locker room, I offered him an all-out grin.