Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(22)

“Then you’re in luck, ’cause I can think of a whole lotta ways we can have fun together tonight.” He passed the bottle back to me. “Drink up and drink deep.”

I held my breath and managed to swallow another huge mouthful. But I didn’t stop the shudder.

“Gets better by about the fifth shot. After that, you won’t know what you’re swallowing.”

My warning bells went off.

Then Tyler violated my personal space and touched me without permission.

He wrapped his fingers in the necklace I wore and tugged me closer, like it was a come-along. “Heard some things about you. You’ve got a nice ass, pretty face too.” He kept putting pressure on the necklace chain, forcing me to move closer to him.

My brain warned me to tell him that he was choking me, even as I feared he was fully aware of what he was doing.

“Now. How about we talk about payment?”

Two shots in a row on top of five beers made my head spin.

“Wanna hear your options?” Tyler said.

No. I want you to let me go. I’d barely been talking to this guy for five minutes and he acted like this? I needed to get away from him and fast. “I could just pay you.”

“Nah. I’m wantin’ something else. Your money is no good.”

“But mine is. I figure she drank maybe five bucks worth of Jack.” A hand waved a five-dollar bill between my face and Tyler’s. “So consider this payment in full.”

Boone.

Oh God, Boone was here. I didn’t know whether to be happy or embarrassed.

Tyler released my necklace.

I sucked in a deep breath and was snapped back against Boone’s chest.

Tyler glared at Boone. “What the f*ck is your problem, West?”

“Don’t have one, Ty. Just watching out for my girl.” He tucked the folded bill in Tyler’s shirt pocket. “We square?”

I remained frozen.

“You’re with her? Bullshit,” Tyler spat. “Kara didn’t say nothin’ to me about that.”

“That’s ’cause Kara doesn’t know. No one knows.” Boone dropped his arm over my shoulder. “Our families would have a shit fit if they knew we were together.” Then Boone’s hot mouth teased the skin below my ear. “Right, sugar bear?”

He’d said the words loud enough for Tyler to hear. But my tongue seemed to be stuck to the roof of my mouth.

“Don’t pull that silent treatment crap with me,” Boone warned me testily. “Tell you what. You don’t get pissed off at me for bein’ late and I won’t get pissed off at you for drinking with another guy. ’Cause you know how jealous I get, baby.”

Tyler’s skeptical gaze flitted between us. He looked ready to kill Boone. And maim me.

Boone twined his fingers in my hair and pulled my head back in a move that showed his displeasure I hadn’t answered him. Then he put his mouth on my ear and whispered, “For Christsake, Sierra, act like we’re together or Tyler will f*ck me up and then he’ll f*ck you.”

That snapped me out of it. “Sorry, Boone. Don’t be mad.” I turned my head and buried my face in his neck.

Boone sighed. “Look, man, I’m sorry. She’s a big f*ckin’ cocktease when she’s been drinking.” He offered Tyler his hand. “No hard feelings?”

A beat passed before Tyler shook Boone’s hand. “You’re lucky you got here in time. Me’n her were about to have us a private party. You’d better keep a tighter leash on her. Most guys ain’t as understanding as me.”

“I appreciate that.” Boone curled his hand around my hip and squeezed. “Any rooms open so Sierra and I can…talk privately?”

Tyler laughed. Then he yelled, “Jimbo. Clear out my bedroom so these two can f*ck and make up.”

His bedroom? Omigod. This was his house?

“Thanks, man.” Boone dropped his free hand to my ass and kept his arm around my neck, almost in a headlock as he maneuvered me through the crowd.

I felt everyone staring at us, but I kept my gaze on my feet. Even that didn’t keep me from stumbling. I heard laughter and Boone’s grip tightened.

He steered me into a bedroom and slammed the door behind us.

The shots hit me the same time as the reality of the situation and I felt ill.

I tripped over something on the floor and Boone caught me before I fell.

He pushed me against the door, bracing my shoulders, and got right in my face. “What the f*ck were you doing?”

“I don’t know.”

“That is goddamn obvious, Sierra.”

I closed my eyes.

“Huh-uh. Look at me. Keep those eyes open because the room will start spinning and I don’t wanna deal with you being sick as well as being stupid.”

Stupid. I hated being called stupid. And it stung hearing it from him. “I’m not that drunk.” I put my hands on his chest and shoved him as hard as I could.

Boone wasn’t expecting it and stumbled back two steps.

“Leave me alone. I don’t need you to f*cking babysit me, Boone.”

He clenched his hands into fists at his sides and stared at me. “What the hell do you think would’ve happened if I’d left you alone with Tyler?”