1109 Cowboy Way

“Fine,” she says. “It’s you. You’re the one that upset me.”

13

Hadley

“What? Me? What did I do?” he asks, and I can tell he’s angry. He’s been angry since we left The Tipsy Cow, and for the life of me, I have no idea where he gets off. If anyone should be pissed off, it’s me.

“I didn’t…” I shake my head. What’s the point in explaining myself?

I was having such a great night with Gray after he apologized. And I truly had believed him. Dancing with Gray had been great. The things you watch on a romantic comedy and swoon about. Then that cowboy started talking to me. He’d been polite and funny. Friendly even. But I hadn’t wanted to dance with him. Not in the least. I was flattered, sure. But the only man I wanted to head out onto that dance floor with was Grayson.

When Grayson had insisted I dance with the guy, I understood. This whole thing had been a game to him. A challenge probably. Why else would he push for me to dance with another man?

My shoulders slump, and I look at him. He’s so handsome. I should have known better. I have no idea how he got me to take my guard down so easily, but he did, and now I'll pay for it with a broken heart. “Never mind, Grayson. Good night.”

“Good night?”

“Yes. Good night.” I start to walk toward the main house, and I can hear his footsteps following me.

“Hadley, wait!”

“What?”

“Baby, talk to me,” he urges, and I laugh.

“Talk to you?!”

“Why are you so mad?” he has the nerve to ask, and I chuckle.

“Me? Hmm, let me think for a second, Grayson Doss. Why would I be mad? I was having a great time with you.” I poke his hard muscular chest. “And then you…”

“Me?” he asks, taking hold of the finger at his chest, taking ownership of that finger and hand and covering it with his huge paw, making me rest my hand right over his heart. “What did I do?”

“Forget it, okay? It's not that big of a deal. I’m tired and going to head in. Thank you for dinner.” I shake my hand out of his hold and keep walking toward the house, but he’s not getting the point because he’s following right behind me. The second before I have the door shut, his arms wrap around my waist, and he pulls me into him, my back flush against his front.

“This thing doesn’t work like that, Hadley.” he whispers, his lips at the shell of my ear. “You don’t tell me that I hurt you and then think I’m just going to let you shut me out.” He seriously has some nerve. I turn in his arms and look up straight into those deep brown eyes.

“What do you care? I mean really, what is it with you? You fuck me last night, and you’re all but ready to pass me along to another man tonight. THAT doesn’t work like that. I’m not some toy. Someone you can just pass around.” The words only spill out of my mouth, and he pushes me against the wall by the door, and he uses his body to hold me there, cage me in. And if I wasn’t so pissed, I’d be thrilled at having him on me like this. He has this wild look about him. Angry and predatory. I should be scared, but I know he would never hurt me.

“Is that what you think, Hadley? You really think I could just pass you off to someone? I was ready to tear that cowboy apart. I had to stop myself from fucking tearing him limb from limb for touching you. Talking to you. Daring to get close to you. I hated him having his hands on you. Watching that shit was harder than anything I've ever had to live through,” he confesses, and I gasp. Both of us are breathing heavy.

“You told me to dance with him,” I remind him, the fight starting to dwindle out of me.

“I did it for you.”

“Me?” I frown. “Why the heck would I want—”

“I wanted you to know that I’m not the only man that thinks you're beautiful. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure I’ll have to fight half of Cherry Falls to let them know you’re not available,” he growls, and I start to relax, slowly melting my body into his. He really believes that. And the idea is so silly, but I'm not going to argue with him. I’m more than flattered he would think that. “I hated that you danced with him. I didn’t want you to. But I’m so goddamn stupid when it comes to you. One moment I put my foot in my mouth, and the next I push you into someone's arms. I… I wanted to go rip the guy apart for just talking to you, Hadley. Do you understand that?” His voice is rough with emotion, and I soak it in.

“Gray—”

“No. You need to know this. You need to know that's how fucking crazy you’ve got me. I'm twisted up in knots over you. I could see you smiling and talking to him. I know that shit’s not easy for you. I didn’t want to ruin it for you.”

“You did that for me?” He leans his head down, running his nose against mine, and nods, dropping a whisper-soft kiss against my lips. It’s tender and light, but it has me burning for him.

“Yeah, Hadley. I’d do anything for you. But I gotta be honest here, baby; I’m never doing it again. It was hell. I don’t want another man’s hands on you. The only thing that kept me sitting there and not losing my ever-loving mind was knowing you were coming home with me. That’s it. I knew—I hoped—you’d be in my arms after all that; that’s how I made it through it. The only way. But I won’t do that shit again.”

My heart is fuller than it’s ever been. Every syllable that comes out of his mouth is filled with nothing but the God's honest truth, and I know in my soul I’m not alone anymore. A soft breeze blows through us, and for a moment I wonder if it’s Mom, letting me know everything is going to be okay. That maybe, she’s the one that somehow sent Gray into my life.