Rough and Ready (More Than A Cowboy 2)

A car door slammed, and we looked down into the lot.

When Harper stiffened beside me, I knew that was Cam. The fact that he climbed from a fancy Beemer made me wonder why he didn’t fucking sell it to settle his debt or if he’d borrowed his Mommy’s car.

We were too high up to get a good look at the guy, but he was here. I’d be close up soon enough.

Turning her to face me, I kissed her again, not lifting my head as I heard Gray approach.

“Stay here with Emory. After, I got plans for you, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

27

HARPER

“We can’t just sit up here and eat hummus and crackers,” I said, pointing at the plate of snacks Emory had sat on the counter. How she could calmly make something healthy to eat while my man—and hers—were downstairs having a chat with Cam was beyond me.

She turned from the fridge where she was filling a glass with ice, offered me a small smile. “Reed wants you safe. He cares for you.”

I knew that. He’d said the L word. Him. Reed, the big, brawny fighter loved me. Butterflies filled my stomach like a thirteen-year-old girl having her first crush. Then it switched to dread. Panic.

“I need to know this is done,” I replied, hugging myself. “I can’t… I can’t wonder if Cam’s ever going to bother me again.”

Emory cocked her head, offered me a small smile. “I have no idea what Gray did to that guy who broke into my house. Quake said I never had to worry about him again, but did that mean he’d been scared straight? In jail? Dead? I have no idea.”

I stood on the far side of the counter beside the two bar stools, and she came across the kitchen to face me.

“Do you worry he’ll come back?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No. Gray said I was safe, and I believe him. But I… I want to know what happened. Deep down, I still feel scared sometimes. Don’t tell Gray, or he’ll lose his mind.”

Her words matched what I was feeling in my gut. I was done being scared. I loved the idea of Reed protecting me from Cam, but he couldn’t protect me from my thoughts and fears, no matter what he told me going forward about being safe.

I had to know. I had to face Cam and stand up to him on my own. Looking him in the eye so he knew I couldn’t be used anymore was important. Crucial. This was my only chance.

Spinning on my heel, I dashed toward the stairs. “I’m going down there. I need Cam to know he can’t hurt me any longer.”

I took the steps two at a time and didn’t know Emory was following until I heard her footfall behind me.

We came out into the lobby, and I peeked through the glass doors into the gym. It was empty except for Reed, Gray and Cam.

Glancing at Emory, I took a deep breath and went through the doors.

“I told you, it’s over,” Reed said, his back to me, arms crossed over his chest. There was none of the usual music coming through the speakers, and his voice cut through the open space. “There is no money.”

They were over by the fighting ring, Gray standing between Cam and the exterior door.

I hadn’t seen Cam in two years. His hair was longer. He’d lost weight. He was angry, and there was an air of desperation around him. A wildness. “There’s a shit ton of money. Harper needs to give it to me. Now.”

“Not happening,” Reed countered. His voice was deep and ruthless, completely different than how it sounded when he was with me.

“She owes me!” Cam shouted.

Emory tugged on my arm and pulled me behind the front desk. We had a clear view of the guys, but I had to assume she was intentionally putting the counter between us and Cam. Just in case. He’d have to get through Reed and Gray first.

“She owes you shit,” Reed stated. “You gambled. You lost. You pay up on your own.”

“I did.”