Page 3 of January's Bad Boy: Shane

Walking around the counter, I lead him toward the room with the water bottles.

"I'm no expert, but this one is the one Jonas insisted I take with me on my last hike, and it did the trick." I hold up a green one with a mountain scene etched on it.

"I'll take it," he says.

We move toward the cash register so I can ring up his order.

"Finish your book," he says, after I complete the sale. He nods toward it on the counter where I placed it when he showed up.

Then he goes and sits on a chair by the door and picks up a magazine to read.

Yeah, I think to myself, he's definitely just here to keep an eye on me. Typical Atlas.

Picking up my book, I start reading. Every so often I can feel his eyes on me, and when I look up, he's watching me. I smile and then we both go back to reading. I finish just in time to begin preparations to leave.

"Good book?" he asks, joining me at the counter while I lock up the register and shut the system down.

I've never been happier for discreet covers as I am now because this is one of the dirtiest romances I've ever read. It's a new-to-me author that a girl in my online book club recommended, and I've been flying through her backlist.

I try to hide the blush that covers my face and would give me away.

"Yeah. So, tell me about this burger." I switch the topic as we prepare to leave the store.

He stands guard as I lock the door and tuck my keys away. I've always felt safe in Mustang Mountain, but I heard about what happened with the Savage Bones attacking the town last year. It made me start questioning how safe the town is. While I know that's all over, my nerves are still on high alert every time I open and close the shop. So, I feel better with Shane here.

Though, I won't tell him that because he would be here every day. I don't think I can handle that without embarrassing myself at some point by hitting on him in the most inappropriate way.

We walk together down to the café, and since we are in the middle of town, several people see us, so I'm sure it will get back to my brother.

"You have a lot of work to do on your ranch?" I ask as we walk.

"Yeah, no one has touched it in the few years since my parents died. At one point, Savage Bones were holed up there. They weren't very good tenants," he says with a smirk while looking straight ahead.

"I don't imagine they would be based on a few conversations I've had with Bex," I say.

Bex is the daughter of the Savage Bones president. I about killed my brother when she told me they met when he kidnapped her. But when Bex said he really was saving her, I let it go.

Now, my brother lives a very different life from when we were growing up.

"Is it in really bad shape?" I am worried that Savage Bones might have torn up more than he's letting on.

"No, the house is livable. It just hasn't been updated since the nineties and it shows. The bunkhouse needs to be fixed before anyone stays there, but I can't bring in anyone to help on the ranch until they have a place to stay. The barn is decent. I haven't seen any stalls that aren't usable right now, but I don'twant to bring in animals until I have help. So, that means my focus has to be on the bunkhouse," he says.

It's the most I've heard him say at once, and I hate to admit how much I like the deep, raspy sound of his voice.

When we get to the café, he holds the door open for me. I step into the nice warm air, giving him enough room to come in beside me. Everyone in the café is talking, but the moment we come inside, they all go quiet and turn to stare. I've never seen anything like it.

Shane places a hand on my lower back, guiding me toward a table against the wall. I wish I didn't have on my thick jacket so I could enjoy the feel of it. He pulls out my chair and helps me take off my jacket before he sits down.

He's more of a gentleman than many of the dates I've been on.

I look around, and while there is a low murmur of voices, it's nothing like it normally is. People are still stealing glances at us and covertly watching us.

"You know what? I forgot how much it can suck being in a small town. People want to know the gossip and apparently, me being back in town is big news. I can't tell you how many people come into the shop just to see if it's true that I'm back home." I end my rant when I see the sign on the table advertising their new huckleberry burger.

"What can I get the two of you to drink?" the waitress asks. She looks like she's in high school, but I have no idea who she is. I waited tables here in high school too. It’s a good job and generally the tips are decent.

"I'll take a coke, please," I say.

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