Page 28 of Cowboy's Way

“Please don’t tell me what the other predators are,” I nearly whimper. “I don’t want to know.”

“Someday, you’ll have to tell me how the hell you ended up here or how you had no idea about the wildlife you’d be sharing the land with.”

“Maybe a fence will help?”

“Armadillos burrow into the ground, so they’ll still get onto your property, and you can kiss that garden goodbye. And then your fence would keep the other predators away, so you’d essentially be setting up a habitat for them.”

“Well, as illuminating and frustrating as this conversation has been, I need to pay attention to the GPS. I’ll text you when I’m home.”

“No need. I’ll see your Jeep roll by,” he informs me, still sounding amused. “Also, babe, out here, when you drive by your neighbor and see them working outside, it’s customary to throw out a wave or a quick tap of your horn.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,neighbor,” I sass back before disconnecting the call.

*

“Here you go,” I say, handing the paperwork back to Demo, before trying to nip any further questions in the bud. “I only put one of my previous addresses down, I hope that’s alright.”

“I’m sure it’ll give us everything we need,” he smoothly answers, then nods at Logan, who hands me the papers he has rolled up in his hands. “Those are for you. It outlines your pay, the probationary period, and other HR nonsense we’re legally obliged to do. Again, if you ever have any problems, come to me and I’ll handle them or fire you.”

“He’s joking,” Logan nearly yells, waving his hands in both of our directions. “Everything here is above-board. There’s no HR department though, so we handle things in-house, and you can always talk to me.”

“Not if you’re sexually harassing her,” Demo wry interjects.

“I’m not sexually harassing her,” he growls back.

“What if I sexually harass him?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and pulling surprised looks from both men. “What? Men can be harassed, you know. And they shouldn’t be made to feel like they’re helpless.”

Demo lets out a grunt before mirroring my pose as he leans back in his large leather chair, trying to figure out if I’m kidding or not. “I’m guess I’m just a sexist pig then who’d laugh my ass off at any of my brothers complaining about you coming onto them.”

“Maybe we do need an HR department,” Logan deadpans.

“I have actual work to do, so the both of you get the fuck out of my office,” Demo says, waving us toward the door.

“That’s what they call a ‘hostile work environment’,” Logan continues as he stands up and reaches for the door just as Monk is opening it.

“Prez? There are a couple of men here to see you,” he says, momentarily closing his mouth when he sees me standing there. “They, uh, said they’ve done some work with Cal and Andy in the past.”

“Where are they?” Logan’s tone of voice and stance instantly shifts, alerting me to some unknown threat.

“Head of the hallway,” Monk quietly answers after sticking his head back through the door to confirm they’re where he left them.

I’m caught looking between the three of them, wondering at the sudden panic coursing through my body, but find myself sighing with relief when Demo throws his thumb over his shoulder and Logan takes my hand and guides me through a door at the back corner of the room.

We’re outside and walking along the back of the building before I know it.

“What’s happening? Who are those men?” I ask and stop walking.

“I don’t know,” Logan bites out the words.

Holding a hand up, he looks to the end of the building, then back at me. “Give me your keys. Stay here and I’ll pull your Jeep around.”

“Logan!” Desperation starts to well up in me and I feel frozen in place.

When he angrily strides back to me, he pushes me up against the wall and crushes his lips down on top of mine.

Except I immediately sense that he isn’t angry. He’s worried. Logan isn’t trying to punish me or just shut me up with this kiss. He needs comfort, and this is how he’s seeking it.

The frantic dance of our tongues slows down after a moment and he presses his forehead against mine after our lips part.

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