Page 35 of The Contractor & the Entrepreneur

Rhett knocked Jaxon to the ground with another series of solid punches.

Jaxon lay there in the mud, looking up at Rhett, stunned and obviously terrified.

“Sloan.” Rhett’s voice was suddenly soft. He kept his gaze on Jaxon. “Are you all right?”

“Y-yes,” she admitted, hating that her voice quavered. He’d come for her. He was her hero time and again.

“Call 911. It’s time this idiot gets arrested. ThenSheriff Joecan track down his idiot brother. Sheriff Pollard told me just this morning both Lewis boys were trouble and on top of his list of problems.”

Sloan pulled out her phone and dialed with trembling fingers. Rhett had come for her. Jaxon was cowering in the dirt and Preston had taken off. It was over.

Why, then, couldn’t she stop trembling and staring at Rhett? He was her hero, once again. At the moment, she didn’t want to be independent. She wanted to be in his arms. She wanted to never leave his side. She wanted him.

What was happening to her?

Chapter

Thirteen

Rhett hadto tamp down the fury inside him and not continue to pummel Jaxon Lewis’s face as the worm cowered in the mud. How dare this loser threaten and hurt Sloan? What kind of lowlife got his kicks out of scaring and hurting an innocent woman? The anger started to rise again.

Sloan was talking to the 911 operator but studying him. He wanted to focus on her and hold her gaze, communicate that he was here for her, but he didn’t want Jaxon to think he had an opening to take a cheap shot or flee.

Footsteps pounded their way.

“Boss?” Paydon called. “Everything okay? We heard some commotion.”

“This loser was threatening and hurting Sloan,” Rhett growled.

Jaxon cowered in the mud, looking like he’d slither under the car if he could.

“What kind of a …” Brody added some colorful terms that made Rhett smile even as Sloan raised her eyebrows.

She hung up her phone and slid it in the pocket of her flannel coat. She looked like she fit right in on a Montana spring job sitewith a baseball cap on, the thick flannel, jeans, and boots. She looked incredible.

“The sheriff will be here in about fifteen minutes,” she said, holding herself erect. “He said all of his deputies, and he’s recruiting the Kalispell police, will help him track Preston down.”

“Good.” Rhett looked to Brody and Paydon. “Can you two make sure he doesn’t dare move?”

“For sure, boss,” Paydon said.

They both stomped toward him. Rhett looked down at Jaxon. “They won’t be as kind as me. I wouldn’t make any sudden moves.”

Jaxon nodded, eyes wide.

“Thanks.” Rhett slapped Paydon on the shoulder and walked toward Sloan.

She let out a whimper that revealed how upset she truly was, no matter how brave she was acting, and hurled herself against his chest. Rhett wrapped her up tight, cradling her to him, but easing her farther away from his guys and Jaxon.

She didn’t cry, but she did cling to him. He inhaled her sweet gardenia scent and savored her in his arms. She was safe. That was what mattered.

After a couple minutes, she glanced up at him, her deep-brown eyes suspiciously bright. “How did you know to come?”

“Paul called me and told me you were sugaring up all the men and making them fall in love with you.”

She managed a watery smile.

“I was waiting impatiently for you to come when Josh called. He apologized for being pigheaded, and said you were on your way to me. I strode out to the road to meet you, and …” He glanced over, but Jaxon hadn’t moved. Paydon and Brody were looking properly threatening. They were young, rough around the edges, but loyal with good hearts.

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