Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(96)

Tyler released her necklace. She sucked in a deep breath and snapped back against Boone’s chest.


But Tyler didn’t notice, he was too busy glaring 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?”


Sierra 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 Sierra’s shoulder. “Our families would have a shit fit if they knew we were together.” Then Boone’s hot mouth teased the skin below her ear. “Right, sugar bear?”


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


“Don’t pull that silent treatment crap with me,” Boone warned Sierra 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 gaze moved between them. He looked ready to kill Boone. And maim her.


Boone twined his fingers in her hair and pulled her head back in a move that showed his displeasure she hadn’t answered him. Then he put his mouth on her 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 her out of it. “Sorry, Boone. Don’t be mad.” Sierra turned her head and buried her face in his neck.


Boone sighed. “Look, 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.”


“You got that right.” Boone curled his hand around her hip and squeezed. “Any bedrooms open so Sierra and I can…talk?”


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 her ass and kept his arm around her neck, almost in a headlock as he maneuvered her through the crowd.


Sierra felt everyone staring at them, but she kept her gaze on her feet. Even that didn’t keep her from stumbling. She heard laughter and Boone’s grip tightened.


He steered her into a bedroom and slammed the door behind them.


The shots hit her the same time as the reality of the situation. She tripped over something on the floor and Boone caught her before she fell.


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


“I don’t know.”


“That is goddamn obvious, Sierra.”


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


Boone wasn’t expecting it and he 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 her. “What the hell do you think would’ve happened if I’d left you alone with Tyler Larkin?”


“I would’ve figured something out.”


“Before or after he fed you more booze, dragged you into his bedroom and raped you?”


“What?”


“Rape. Sex without consent,” he snarled. “Tyler doesn’t f*cking care if you’re conscious.”


She felt sick. “And how do you know that?”


“Because he did it to a friend of mine. They were drinking and then the next thing she remembered was waking up with him on top of her.”


“Oh God.”


Then Boone was face to face with her again. “I told you to stay away from Kara. And I heard you’ve been here, at her brother Tyler’s house for the past two weekends.”


“I didn’t know it was his house.” She swallowed hard. “I didn’t know Tyler was her brother.”


His eyes turned hard. “You just showed up at some random person’s house and started drinking with strangers? Jesus. Sierra. You’re smarter than that. Why would you do that?”


“Because I’m f*cking sick and tired of sitting at home by myself all the time, okay? No one in this godforsaken town wants anything to do with me. So when Kara and Angie asked me to hang out, I said yes. I thought maybe I’d meet other people.”