Page 110 of The Cowboy’s Intriguing Love

“He did. I keep hoping that maybe … It seems like we’re not the only ones meeting women and settling down with them – theolder guys are doing it, too. First there was Deacon with Candy. Then Ace and Ari. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Trav might be able to make something work with Retta. Callie would love it if her mom came to live here – especially if she had a guy in her life who she was happy with.”

“I guess we’ll just have to see how it pans out.” Ty was less interested in the conversation now. He’d spotted a group of guys who’d moved in on the girls on the dance floor.

Kolby followed his gaze and scowled. “Shit. Callie’s not going to stay out there while those assholes are bothering them. She’s gotten more relaxed about coming in here, but if one of them recognizes her …”

Ty was already down from his stool and headed for the dance floor. He had to laugh when he looked back over his shoulder and saw that Kolby was right there with him – and Spider and Luke were only a couple of steps behind.

As they got closer to the dance floor, he could see Laney giving one of the guys an earful. Frankie stood beside her, and he reckoned that unless they were drunk or stupid, the guys would beat a retreat. Callie had started to walk away, and Shayna took a step to follow her.

Ty started shoving people out of his way when he saw the guy closest to Shay grab her arm. A look of panic crossed her face, and he shouted her name, wanting her to know that he was almost there. She didn’t hear him over the music, but her expression changed. Her jaw set, and she looked so determined it almost made Ty pause.

She twisted her arm out of the asshole’s grip and tried to make a break for it. He grabbed her from behind, wrapping his armsaround her middle. Ty saw red. He was almost there, and when he got his hands on him …

Shay stamped down on the guy’s foot and elbowed him in the gut, but he didn’t let go. Then she dropped to the ground, taking him by surprise. He scrambled to get hold of her again, looking for all the world like he’d just fumbled a football, but Shay had already rolled away.

And Ty was there – throwing a punch.

The guy staggered backward holding his nose, and his friend stepped forward.

Ty glanced to make sure that Shay was okay. She was – Callie was helping her to her feet.

The second asshole swung for him, but Ty dodged his fist easily. He jabbed him in the ribs, and he stepped back, holding his hands up.

“What did you do that for?” he asked, jerking his head toward his friend, who was still holding his face.

“He grabbed my woman.” Ty glared at him and at his friends, who’d gathered around. They looked like they were regrouping, and that was fine with Ty. He looked around at them and beckoned. “Who’s next?”

Kolby grabbed his shoulder. “Leave ‘em, Ty. They’re not worth it.”

Ty glared around at them again and they started to back away.

“Go on,” Laney told them. “Get your sorry asses out of here.”

They turned and made their way off the dance floor, and Ty hurried to Shay.

“Are you all right, sweetheart?” He closed his arms around her and looked down into her eyes.

She nodded and clung to him, and he could feel that she was shaking.

Ty wanted to go and rip the asshole’s head off, but staying with her was more important.

“I’m okay.”

He ran his hand over her hair. “Sorry I didn’t get there sooner.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. “You did great. Those self-defense classes with Alexis paid off.”

She let out a shaky laugh. “I guess so. I need to call Booker and thank him for helping me practice. That poor kid had bruised feet for weeks because I couldn’t manage to stop short when I practiced stomping.”

Ty chuckled. “I bet he’d tell you it was worth it. He adores you. And I like him even more now that you told me that.”

“Are you okay?” she asked as she reached for his hand.

He looked down at his knuckles. “I’m fine. What do you think, do you want to get out of here – did they ruin it for you?”

Her little arms tightened around his waist, and he felt himself relax.

“We can if you want to go, but …” She smiled up at him. “I’m fine, honestly. And now that I finally have you out here on the dance floor …”

She raised her eyebrows, and he grinned and started to move her to the music. “You want me on the dance floor, all you haveto do is holler. I only stayed away because the girls said that you all wanted to do your girl thing.”

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