Page 13 of The Cowboy's Off Limits Option

The fight breaks out around us as Callie and I make our way out of the bar. I never saw which side the Ralston was fighting on.

"Oh shit," Callie stops between my truck and her car, "I've been drinking."

"Just get in, we'll come back for it tomorrow." I pop the locks on the truck and pull my passenger door open, taking her hand while she puts a foot on the step and climbs inside.

"You okay?" I ask as soon as we're safely away from the bar and I'm sure no one's following.

Beside me, I catch Callie's nervous movements with her hands in her lap in the glow of the lights from the dash.

Her head nods affirmatively and she twists the fingers of one hand with the other.

"How did you know where I was?"

"Ralston called me. He didn't want Rowan coming down and getting killed."

A giggle burbles from her throat and goes straight to my dick. It's such an innocent sound. Like she got away with being naughty.

My hands tighten on the wheel. Now is not the time to think about Callie being naughty.

My cock twitches against my thigh, threatening to thicken and get strangled behind my zipper when I can't adjust myself without being obvious.

"So Rowan doesn't know?" Her voice is small and hopeful in the dark cab beside me and I crush the impulse to reach for her hand.

"Nope." I assure her. "But what the hell were you doing in that place alone, Cal?"

My voice comes out harder than I mean it to, but dammit! If Rowdy hadn't seen her, and given at least half a fuck about her, who knows what could have happened to her tonight.

"What the hell were you doing there at all? I don't want you going down there again. Not even with friends. Got it? If you ever want to go when they have a band or something, you go with me...or Rowan."

Damn, I sound like a caveman. The thought of those assholes eye-fucking Callie when I'm not around to make it clear who she belongs to makes me want to turn this truck around and go back to the fight.

I hesitate a beat before remembering to add her brother's name; trying not to give myself away.

"Oh shit," Callie swears softly as I get close enough to her house that we can see the lights on in the living room. "My parents are still up."

It also looks like Rowan's truck is in the driveway. It's late for a week night, so he's probably staying over to haul animals to auction in the morning.

"I can't go in there like this," Callie turns to me, her hand gripping my forearm and lighting my damn nerves on fire. "Please, Archer? I can...shit. Just-- take me to the shop? I can sleep in the back room."

"What about Ginger? Can't you stay with her?"

My fingers are tightening on the wheel again.

"Ginger's staying the night with her new boyfriend," Callie mutters softly. "Up in Moonshine Ridge."

There's something sad in the way she says it, and I think I start to pick up on why Cal went out tonight. Her friend's found someone, and Callie must be feeling alone. No way am I going to let her sleep in her shop.

"Cal, you can't sleep in the flower shop." I say, pulling the wheel to turn away from her street-- and heading in the opposite direction of town where her flower shop is. "You can stay with me."

I have done some fucking stupid shit in my life, but this takes it to a new level.

Chapter Six

Callie

Archer's house always feels welcoming. I've been here a million times with Rowan and every time, I think how little I'd want to change if we ever ended up together.

I wonder if his secret girlfriend is going to gut the place?

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