Page 85 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

I flinch at his raised voice and back into Landen’s chest. He squeezes my shoulders before stepping in front of me and pushing me behind him. “You better watch your goddamn mouth before I put my fist inside it.”

“And who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Landen, her fiancé.”

Mywhat?

I stand next to Landen to peek up at his face. All hard lines and a tense jaw.

He’s not playing around.

“Since when?” Scowling, he crosses his arms. “Mr. Donovan said she was single when he hired me.”

“Well, he’s mistaken. She’s not,” Landen says firmly.

Gage sizes up Landen, which is a bad fucking idea considering how tall and muscular he is. Landen grew up on a ranch doing manual labor. I have no doubt he’d know how to kick someone’s ass if he had to.

“I don’t believe that.” Gage snarls. “How does someone go from single to engaged in a matter of a month?”

Good fucking question.

But also, mind your business.

“Sorry that you got the wrong information, but even if I wasn’t engaged, I wouldn’t be interested,” I explain, playing along with this stupid plan.

“Why not?” he asks, reaching out toward me. “Your dad thought we’d make a great couple.”

“Listen…Gage, is it?” Landen wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. “Last year, I shot a man in the dick for tryin’ to hurt my best friend. Imagine what I’ll do to a man who harasses my fiancée.”

He did what?There’s no way…

My gaze snaps to Landen again and he looks more entertained than anything by Gage’s attempt to coerce me. But I’m not sure if he’s telling the truth or not. If my dad thought that, I’m going to have a few questions about his taste in men for me.

“That was you?” Gage asks.

Wait, it’s true?

Furrowing my brows, I whisper, “You actually did that?”

He leans above my ear. “Yep, but trust me, past Ellie wasn’t impressed.”

Considering the lack of context, I’m not sure if I should’ve been or not.

“Yep, and he lost both of his balls,” Landen replies to Gage. “Now he sits in prison with a permanent reminder.”

Gage finally smartens up and backs up. “Yeah…we’ll see what Mr. Donovan has to say about that.” He shoots him one final glare before walking out of the aisle.

As soon as he’s out of view, I release a deep breath. “Why did you say we were engaged?”

He tips his hat. “You’re welcome.”

“For what? Now my parents are gonna hear about it and have several questions.”

“For saving you from a psychopath who clearly wouldn’t take no for an answer unless you were claimed. Hell, even when I said you were, he wasn’t backin’ off.”

“Claimed? So now I’m a possession? First, I’m a dog, now I’m?—”

Landen shoves me up against the cooler door, cups my face, and then crashes his mouth to mine. Without a second thought, I kiss him back.

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