Page 54 of Savage Secrets

“Stay. Kirsten doesn’t mind you hearing the story. Do you?”

She shook her head. “Stay, Zach. Please. After all, you rescued me.”

“Us.” Opal’s stare latched on to his and held, held, held.

“But I do insist on going home after this.”

Opal exchanged a look with Zach that said neither of them would argue with the woman if she really was okay to be alone.

He took the recliner and listened without saying a word while Kirsten related the events.

“I came with the neighbor. She’s in her early twenties,” she added between sips of strong, fortifying tea. “She left with a guy and… Well, I won’t be going out with her anymore. She doesn’t have my back the way you do, Opal.”

She gave her a small smile.

Kirsten continued. “I was just doing my thing, dancing and having a good time. I knew a few people there, so I chatted with them. Then this guy just sort of…latched on to me.”

Zach’s fist tightened where it rested on the arm of the chair.

“He had his hands all over me. He was drunk and tried to take off my top.”

Opal gasped. “How did you get that text to me?”

“He went to get another whiskey, and I sent you the text. I was on my way to the exit when he caught up with me.”

Zach looked between them. “And the bar fight?”

“Uh…that…was my fault.” Opal’s voice came in shaky spurts.

His brows shot up but his knuckles whitened as his fist tightened. “Tell me.”

Oh god, the way he said that, in his low, brusque way, had her insides clenching. She wanted nothing more than to see Kirsten safe and then to let her cowboy wrap her in his strong, protective arms.

“I found Kirsten on the dance floor. That maniac was wrapped around her like a boa constrictor. I shoved him in the chest. He got angry and came at me.”

“He what!” He half stood from his chair, prepared to storm into Badlands and find the guy.

“Zach. It’s okay. He never laid a hand on me because another guy stepped in. Fists started flying, and we just tried to stay out of the way until we could find a way to leave.”

Kirsten cradled her mug. “You were great, Opal. Thank you for coming when I needed you. From now on, I’m not going out with the new neighbor. In fact, I won’t feel like going out fora whileafter this.” She looked at Zach. “You don’t have a brother, do you?”

Surprise crossed his face, and then he chuckled. “Luckily for you, I don’t.”

As she studied the cowboy, that door that Opal had closed on her heart years ago after her ex dealt such a harsh blow flew open all the way…

But Zach had already barged right in.

* * * * *

Zach slowly drew Opal’s bra strap down her shoulder, letting his finger stroke over her warm, silky skin. Every soft breath of hers that washed across his already bare chest heated him with more than lust.

He shifted his glance from her shoulder to her face. Her eyes were wide and filled with an emotion he didn’t dare let himself think about.

But it was impossible not to succumb to the urge to pull her against him and shield her from all the bad things in the world that could touch her.

He reached for her other strap and lowered it too. When he hooked a finger in the cup of her bra, she sucked in a breath and didn’t let it out.

Abandoning his slow teasing, he ripped her bra off her and grabbed her. Lifting her off her feet, he turned for the sheets that were still rumpled from their earlier romp.

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