Page 63 of Some Cowboys Fight for Love

Her chin trembled. “He hasn’t done anything. I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You’re miserable.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” she whispered, knowing full well that he wouldn’t take her excuse.

Daniel cupped her cheek and waited for her to open her eyes before speaking again. “If you need help, all you have to do is say the word.” His voice cracked as he all but pleaded with her. “Just ask me,” he rasped.

Right here, in this moment, she almost believed he could help her. That he could figure out a way to make Cayden disappear. But the fact was, a man with that much money and with those connections—there was very little he feared. There would be no manipulating the master of manipulation.

Before she could utter a single thing, Cayden’s figure loomed in the doorway nearby.

“I’m only going to ask you nicely once. Don’t touch my fiancée.”

Daniel didn’t grace the man with even a cursory glance. His eyes continued to drill into Aria’s, waiting for her to make the next move.

She blinked several times, then took a step back, her heart shattering completely. “Go,” she whispered. “Just… go.”

27

Daniel

She was slipping away.

No, she’d already slipped away.

But she wasn’t gone yet.

What else is “just go” supposed to mean?

Daniel’s feet wouldn’t move. Time slowed for him as he searched Aria’s face. From the second she’d arrived at the country club, he knew something had happened. This went far beyond the last time he’d seen her—the last time she’d told him she wasn’t interested anymore.

His hands curled into fists at his sides. He was losing the tiny grasp of resolve he had on his self-control as he watched Cayden march over to her and drape his arm around her shoulders. It was small—completely insignificant—but Daniel saw the way she cringed beneath Cayden’s touch.

Mateo had been the one to give him a heads-up that Aria would be here tonight. It was the least he could do, seeingas Daniel had stayed so long at the property without officially getting paid.

Then again, Aria’s cousin wouldn’t have been able to miss how hollow she looked. Was she even eating?

“You heard her. Run along now,” Cayden said with a smirk.

Daniel’s gaze flicked upward to the man and his lip curled in disgust. If Cayden knew what was good for him, he’d keep quiet. Out of anyone in this small town, Daniel was one who could hold his own.

Right about now, he was tempted to do just that. How many hits to the jaw did the piece of garbage need before he fell to the ground unconscious?

He eyed the man from head to foot.

One.

Daniel would bet his life on it. The guy looked like a lightweight.

Only the soft whimper of Aria’s voice drew his focus back to her. The coloring had faded from her cheeks, blotchy burns from the cold left behind. She looked as though she could pass out at any second.

He made a move to step closer to her, intending on ripping her from this man’s clutches, but a hand gripped his upper arm tight, tearing his attention over his shoulder. Mateo gave a subtle shake of his head. There was something in his eyes that seemed to demand he step down. He couldn’t afford to do anything that he would regret.

Daniel sent a seething glare at Cayden, who only laughed as he led Aria past them both and into the warm building.

The second they were out of earshot, Daniel spun and gave Mateo a shove. He was a few inches shorter than Daniel’s looming frame, but he was sure enough on his feet that Daniel didn’t accomplish anything with his attack.

Mateo stared at him with a blank expression.

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