Page 46 of Cowboy Bull's Promise

Little jolts of lightning spark under my skin, up my spine, down my legs, across my arms.

I shiver.

“Cold?”

“No.” I shake my head.

Not cold.

Alive.

Buzzing.

Terrified.

But finally free.

Free from the lies I told myself.

From the silence I swallowed.

From the life I settled for.

Tonight, I made a choice.

I chose me.

Because I am important, too.

And Kian O’Malley?

He looks like the kind of man who might just burn the whole damn world down just to make sure I never forget.

I stop in front of his truck and spin to face him, heart pounding like it’s trying to outrun the mess I just made of my life.

“I don’t know what you heard, but um, I just quit my job.”

The words are high and tight, wrapped in a cocktail of adrenaline and panic.

His eyes sharpen immediately.

“Did someone make you mad or hurt you tonight, Arliss?”

The way he says my name makes me almost lose focus on what he’s asking.

How can one man be so damn sexy?

“No, not really,” I breathe, but he’s already looking past me, toward the bar.

His jaw flexes. His body shifts.

I can feel it. He’s two seconds from storming back in, fists first, questions later.

But I don’t want that.

I want, well, truth is, I want him.

Right here.

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