Page 37 of A Rogue Cowboy's Kiss

The moment he saw the boy, he knew. “Fuck.”

“Him?” Bella followed his gaze. “He looks fine.”

“He’s not.” Falcon’s hands were on fucking fire.

“Let’s go talk to him.” She pushed back her seat, but he grabbed her arm.

“Any man who walks up to a kid on a beach and starts talking to him is going to get arrested,” he said. “Especially one who looks like me.”

“Tall, dark, and handsome?”

“Ragged, haunted, and big.”

Her face softened. “I see beauty when I look at you, Falcon.”

Something turned over at her words, and suddenly all he wanted to do was sweep her up in his arms and get out of there with her. “I’m glad to hear that, Bella, but that’s not how that kid’s mom will see me.”

Bella looked at him, then sighed. “You’re right. And you’re burning my arm.”

He released her. “Sorry.” He pulled out his wallet. “I’m done here. Let’s hit the road?—"

“However, I’m an adorable woman. I won’t get arrested.” She moved fast, ducking out of his reach before he realized she was moving.

He swore. “Bella?—”

But she was already gone, hopping over the deck railing and landing on the boardwalk, like a woman who lived on a ranch and was used to climbing fences all day. He swore as she ran over to a little cart of beach gear, bought a set of toys, and a towel, and then headed across the sand.

He almost started laughing as she spread out the towel a few feet from the boy, sat down, and pulled out her sandcastle building equipment. He leaned back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest as he watched her hurry to the shore with a big bucket, fill it, and then return, carrying that bucket as if it were nothing.

She sat down on her towel and started building, not even looking at the boy, but the boy was watching her. It took only a minute for Bella to start chatting with the boy, and another minute or two after that until the boy was beside her, and they were building a sandcastle together.

The sight of Bella and the little boy made something inside Falcon tighten. She was so beautiful with the little boy. A natural. She knew how to make kids feel at ease, because she, like the rest of the Harts, knew how fucking painful childhood could be. Like the others, she wanted to do whatever she could to help other at-risk kids avoid what they experienced.

She would make such a difference to kids, if she decided to be a mom.

He respected that she didn’t want to be, but hell, she was beautiful to watch with the boy.

As he watched her, Falcon became aware of a man nearby who was also watching Bella. Too closely. He bolted upright, his adrenaline igniting. A random admirer, or danger?

He couldn’t tell.

Swearing, he tossed cash on the table, then followed Bella’s path over the railing. The minute his feet hit the ground, he was in motion, sprinting across the boardwalk and the beach until he was beside the man, just behind his right shoulder.

The man didn’t notice him, so caught up in watching Bella.

Falcon’s hands were tingling, and his entire body was coiled for action.

He saw Bella look up. Her gaze went back and forth between Falcon and the man. Then understanding dawned. She immediately moved, putting herself between the man and the boy.

Son of a bitch. That was his job to move into the line of fire. Not hers.

He took a breath, opened his senses, and then put his hand on the man’s shoulder. The instant he made contact, the man’s energy hit him hard. It was a lot of crap, but nowhere in there was an intent to harm.

The man spun toward him, a look of surprise on his face. “What?”

Falcon pulled his hand back. “Nothing. My mistake.”

He wanted to claim Bella as his woman, but he knew she wouldn’t like that. Just as how he had wanted to belong to no one back when he was younger, Bella would never want to be claimed by a man.

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