Page 53 of Some Cowboys Fight for Love

“Is there a problem here?”

Through Aria’s blood roaring in her ears, she hadn’t heard Daniel’s approach. She’d been paralyzed by what could only be described as fear when Cayden had pulled her into him. Maybe it was his touch or his familiar cologne, or a combination of the two. Either way, she should have pushed away from him sooner.

With that thought in mind, she shoved at him. He released her without a fight, tugged on his sport coat and flashed a smile at Daniel. Holding out his hand, he murmured, “I’m Cayden, Aria’s fiancé.” His voice was smooth, confident, and it felt like the truth.

Her heart dropped into her stomach. He’d proposed when she’d been in Georgia. But she’d never given him an answer. She’d asked for time—and in the end, she’d run.

Daniel stiffened beside her. “Daniel Keagan,” he said. She could sense his fury simmering beneath the surface. He was livid. He probably thought she’d been lying to him all this time. It wouldn’t do any good to try to explain herself or deny any of it. He stared down at Cayden’s hand, his lip curling with disgust. “I think you should leave. You’re trespassing on private property.”

Cayden arched a brow, his attention drifting to Aria. Without warning, he grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I trust I’ll see you for dinner tonight?”

She yanked her hand away from him, not answering. Cayden’s eyes flashed with a warning—as if he already knew the consequences of her rebuffing and she wasn’t going to like them one bit. Aria took a step back and folded her arms. “Daniel’s right. You should leave.”

He watched her for what felt like an eternity, and then he gave her a curt nod. “I’ll wait to hear from you then.” With that, he climbed into his expensive rental car and drove away, spitting gravel in his wake.

“Daniel—” she started, but he didn’t give her a chance to get in a word.

“What in heaven’s name was that?” he demanded. “Why was he here for you? Did you invite him?”

Her mouth dropped open. “What? No! I didn’t even want him to be here in the first place. He… found me.”

Daniel huffed. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“Look, I appreciate that you got rid of him. But I didn’t ask for your help.”

His brows lifted like she’d said something absurd. “Ask me,” he snapped.

She blinked. “What?”

Daniel threw his hands behind his neck and paced in front of her. “Ask me, Aria. Ask me for help. That’s what I’m here for.”

Her heart stuttered as the full weight of what he was saying came crashing down around her. No. She couldn’t ask him. She couldn’t put him in any position where he could get hurt. He’d been hurt far too much in his life.

He’d stopped his pacing and his eyes bore into hers, daring her to argue with him.

She couldn’t voice that argument. She knew if she tried, she’d burst into tears and end up telling him everything. Shaking her head, she spun on her heel with the intention of storming off, but his hand grasped hers, yanking her back.

“You’re not going to walk away from me,” he said quietly, firmly. His touch burned her more than she cared to admit, and she yanked her hand from his grasp.

“What is it with men and their incessant need to be in control all the time? You’re not the boss of me.” The words were childish, and yet they were the only ones she could think of to spew in his direction.

Shock filtered across his face and he stared at her with those sad eyes. She couldn’t bear it a second longer. Wasting no time, she charged away and back to her hiding place in the house.

23

Daniel

Fiancé?

Fiancé?

The man had the gall to call himself Aria’s fiancé when she clearly didn’t agree with the sentiment.

And yet, she hadn’t argued. She’d simply stood there like she expected Daniel to take it. He was burned out. The amount of strength it had taken him to keep his hands at his sides rather than charging forward and wringing the smug jerk’s scrawny neck had taken a toll on him.

Of course he would never admit it—and definitely not to Aria. She would drop him so fast that his head would spin.

Or had she already dropped him?

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