Page 22 of Cruel Expectations

He forced his attention back to Colton. “Forest told me that their father backed away from the family after his wife’s passing and left his daughters to their own devices. I can see how Ivy ended up spoiled.”

Colton gave him a long, direct look. “Forest told you different things than he told me. I never knew about any of it until I got here and puzzled it out for myself. Look, just keep an eye on Ivy, okay?”

At that moment, Meadow bounced through the crowd, long blonde hair swirling around her shoulders. When she looked at Colton, there were stars in her eyes, all for him.

She tossed a smile at Hunter. “I’m stealing Colton for a dance. C’mon, baby. It’s my favorite song!”

Colton’s grin couldn’t get wider as he let her drag him onto the dance floor.

So much for digging up dirt on those attacks.

Hunter had never seen his buddy so happy, so carefree, despite the trouble at the ranch. Meadow was sweet and devoted—Colton was damn lucky.

Meanwhile, Hunter was over here trying to wrangle a tornado.

On the edge of the dance floor, Ivy bobbed to the music. That sequined Band-Aid she wore moved up her thighs with every twitch of her hips.

Forest’s words filtered into Hunter’s head again. He always said he prayed for the man who fell for Ivy.

More like any man left in the mangled wreckage she left behind her.

He glanced down at her hand. Hell. Where did she put her drink?

Then he spotted it on a nearby table.

Hunter sprang forward, nudging people aside to get to her. Grabbing her by the arm, he whirled her to face him.

She blinked up at him, eyes wide.

Deep, dark green with long lashes.

For a heartbeat, he actually considered the woman sweet. Then she opened her mouth.

“If you want to dance with me, you should just ask!”

“I don’t want to dance, princess.” He waved a hand at the drink on the table. “You can’t just leave your drink unattended. There are a hundred men in this bar who want to drug you and put you in the back of their truck.”

Her lips popped open on a gasp. “You think you know everything! Watch this.” She removed a thick band around the stem of the glass. He noticed how the band was attached to a thin fabric stretched over the opening of the glass.

“What the hell is that?”

“Watch and learn, big guy. I got this.”

She drew her long hair off her face and looped the band around the ponytail she made. He stared at her, then looked down at the cocktail, stunned by what he was seeing.

“See? All safe. It’s a natural deterrent. No one wants to drug a drink they have to mess with so much. Too obvious.” She removed the ponytail holder and stretched it over her glass again.

He had to admit the hair tie drink protector was kind of brilliant.

Before he could guess what she was about to do, she reached up and patted him on the cheek.

He jerked his head away from her touch.

As he twisted to keep Ivy in his sights, he realized that there was no clever accessory to protect her from the gang of men clustered around her.

Well, nothing but his fists.

Chapter Six

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