Page 23 of Striking Out In The Mountains

She chuckles. “No, I don’t.”

“I found you a table,” the hostess says waving us into the dining room. We follow her in and she leads us to a nice private booth next to the exposed brick wall.

“Thank you,” I say to her as she puts the menus on the table. “I appreciate it.”

“And I appreciate you saving my ranch from catching on fire,” she says with a smile. “Enjoy your meal.”

“Does everyone in town adore you?” Cara says with a chuckle.

“Anyone with any sense to them,” I answer with a grin.

Cara hesitates before sitting down. “My partner Henry is over there. Mind if I go say hi?”

“Not at all,” I say as my jaw clenches and my hand squeezes into a fist when I see him sitting alone. “Let’s go say hi.”

I’ve been wanting to have a word with that man after last night. My eyes narrow on him as we walk through the dining room. He’s eating with someone, but they’re not there. He steals a large Tempura shrimp off their plate and shoves it into his mouth, quickly swallowing it down before they return.

“Hey!” he says, lighting up when he sees Cara coming. “What are you two doing here?”

He has a purple eye and his lip is all swollen and busted up from the brawl. If I had my way, his face would be looking a lot worse than that.

“Just having some dinner,” Cara says. “And you? Eating for two?”

He chuckles. “Natalie is in the bathroom. She felt so bad about my face that she made me Belgian waffles with whipped cream this morning and now she’s taking me out for dinner. I hope those guys come back every week.”

Cara laughs, but I don’t.

“Hello,” Henry’s wife Natalie says when she gets back from the bathroom. “Wow, you two make a striking couple. Ilovethis dress.”

The women fawn over each other’s outfits while I stare Henry down. He’s got a big plate of fried chicken tenders and French fries in front of him.

“Where’s the bathroom?” Cara asks Natalie as she looks around the busy restaurant.

“Why don’t you go show her,” I suggest.

“Sure,” Natalie says, chatting as they walk away.

Henry straightens up as I sit down in front of him, glaring at him from across the table.

“You okay, Graham?”

“No,” I say, gritting my teeth as I stare him down. “You ever leave Cara alone in a dangerous situation like that again and I’ll make you pay.”

“Are you threatening a cop?” he asks, raising his eyebrows. “What are you going to do? Kick my ass?”

He’s laughing, but I’m not. I just stare him down to let him know how serious I am. I want Cara’s partner to be watching her back. Always.

He left her alone last night in the middle of a vicious brawl. Cara would have been choked unconscious surrounded by those deadly men if I hadn’t arrived at the exact right second. I’m not about to let that slide. Not a chance.

“If she gets hurt,” I say in a low, cold-blooded tone. “I’m going to blameyou. And trust me, you don’t want that.”

His laughter dries up quickly and he swallows hard as he lowers his head. “Understood.”

“Do better,” I say as I stand up with my chest puffed out. “And stop eating all this fried shit and get into shape. I want you to be able to cover my girl’s back.”

He nods submissively as I stare him down, making sure it’s crystal fucking clear. When I’m certain he’s got the message, I leave the table and head to my booth, trying to shake these violent thoughts out of my head.

My heart is pounding and I’m still feeling all edgy inside until I spot Cara walking back, winding through the busy tables.

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