Her Cowboy Daddy by Dinah McLeod Read Free Book Online Page B

she looked beautiful to him. Well, except for the scowl on her face that surely had something to do with the guy who was talking to her in a low undertone.
    Colton couldn’t help it; he didn’t like the look of him. And it wasn’t only because he was jealous to see her with another man. No, it had to do with his rapidly shifting eyes, the way that his leg bounced incessantly as though he had a nervous tic. Something in his slouching manner indicated that he wasn’t a man to be trusted. Add to that the fact that his angular face was scrunched up in anger and Colton felt he had no choice but to learn more.
    Trying to be discreet, he sidled closer, pretending to look at a menu. He ducked his head and strained to hear what they were saying.
    “I’ve already told you, Wade! The answer is no! ” Though she was doing her best to sound firm, Colton could easily detect the waver in her voice.
    “That’s bullshit!” he snapped at her. “You can’t keep yankin’ my chain! One day, you’re gonna call and I’m not goin’ to pick up!”
    “Look, I’m sorry, but—”
    “Save it, bitch.”
    That was enough to make the hair on his arms stand on end, but when he saw the creep grab her wrist, he had to jump into action.
    “Hey!” he whined when Colton took him by the shoulder and yanked him back. “What the hell, man?!”
    “Keep your hands off the lady,” he ordered in a voice that was sharper than a knife.
    “This isn’t none of your business! This is between Scarlett and me!”
    “Yeah?” he challenged, struggling to keep his voice calm. “Well, when you laid your filthy mitts on her, you added me to the conversation. Do you even know this asshole?” he demanded, whirling on a wide-eyed Scarlett.
    “Yes.”
    “Oh, so you’re fucking him now, is that it?” the surly man sneered.
    “Wade—”
    “Sorry, man,” he said to Colton, his voice dripping sarcasm. “I guess I shoulda looked harder since I missed your name on her.”
    “I think you better leave,” he replied, barely keeping his cool. “You’re makin’ a scene.”
    “Oh, you do, do you?” the one called Wade sneered. “Well, as it happens, I don’t much care what you think. But I am leaving and it has nothing to do with you. This bitch has lied to me for the last time.”
    Colton stepped toward him, but Scarlett grabbed his hand and the feel of her skin pressed against his was enough to still him.
    “Don’t,” she begged in a low undertone. “He’s really not worth it. Trust me. What I wouldn’t give to go back six months and tell myself that.”
    “Who was that, anyway?” he asked, watching as Wade stomped through the parking lot to a beat-up, peeling Chevy.
    “No one important.”
    “Scarlett.”
    She promptly let go of his hand and when Wade pulled out of the parking lot, tires squealing, he turned to look at her. “My ex.”
    “How long ago did you two split?”
    “A month ago.”
    “He show up here to bother you often?” Colton glanced around the small restaurant and noted several pairs of eyes sneaking a peek in their direction.
    “No. Not really. I mean, he’s sent some texts and stuff, but… nothing like that.”
    “Then what made today so special?” He didn’t miss the way her eyes skittered away as she began to fiddle with her order pad and pen in her apron pocket.
    “That’s probably my fault.”
    “How so?”
    “I, uh, well… I needed a ride to work.”
    “You actually got into a car with that psycho?” he asked in disbelief.
    “My car’s in the shop!” she defended herself. “I didn’t have any other options.”
    “You coulda called a cab. Hell, you could have called me. Anything but getting into a car with a man like that.”
    “I could have called you,” she repeated, deadpan. “Really.”
    “Sure you could have.”
    “Right. I mean, it’s not like you’ve given me no indication that you want me around.”
    Her words were like a punch to the gut and he couldn’t help but look away