Page 120 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy
“That bitch,” June interrupts. “She’s been trying to get her claws into those cowboys since they arrived.Her daddy wants to buy their land for some development deal.”
“Well, they all looked pretty chummy,” I say bitterly.
“Men are idiots,” June says firmly. “But I doubt your boys are interested. I’ve seen the way they look at you.”
“Yeah, well, it felt pretty real when she was draped all over him and nobody cared.” I continue with the story, about destroying my nest, finding the suppressant, and then Ronan.
“He grabbed me,” I explain, touching my throat where I can still feel his fingers. “Said things were being fixed soon. That I’d be leaving town.”
“That bastard!” June’s face goes red with anger. “I’m calling the sheriff right now?—”
“No!” I grab her hand. “Please. I can’t deal with that right now. And what if it makes things worse? What if he comes after me again?”
“Then I’m calling your cowboys. They’ll handle him?—”
“Hell no!” The words come out louder than intended. “I can’t see them right now. Not after… I just can’t.”
June stares at me for a long moment, then nods. “Okay. Okay. But we’re reporting this eventually. Ronan is bad news. Always has been. Rose cut him off for good reason.” She grabs tissues from the box on her desk, pressing them into my hands. “And no way Cash would be walking away from you.”
“You really think he isn’t interested in Brittany?”
“Whatever you think you saw, or didn’t see, it’s probably not what your brain is telling you,” June says. “Those three are crazy about you. I can feel it. And I’m an expert in these things.”
I shake my head. “It’s not about what I saw; it’s just… the way it felt.”
“Mm-hmm.” She gives me a look. “You’re spiraling. And you just got manhandled by a jackass. We’re not doing the spiral thing today.”
“I’m trying not to,” I protest, even though I kind of am. “I just?—”
“Soph, Ronan didn’t just talk. He grabbed you. That’s not small. You’re allowed to be shaken.”
The memory flashes hard and fast. “I just need to get my suppressants and make it through my pre-heat. I can deal with him later.”
She stands and grabs her handbag. “Right, we’ll go to the drugstore, but we’re also heading to the café. You need hot chocolate and the largest slice of chocolate cake I can find. Maybe the whole cake. And I’ll help you eat it, because I’m selfless like that.”
I laugh, loving how at ease she makes me feel.
“No arguments. Chocolate first, plotting revenge later. The drugstore will still be there in an hour.” She loops her arm through mine. “And if your boys happen to walk in while you’re mid-bite, you get to make themgrovel in front of everyone. Which, frankly, is a public service.”
A reluctant smile tugs at my mouth. “That does sound… satisfying.”
“See? My plans are flawless.” She starts toward the door, then pauses to check the street through the glass. “Coast is clear. No creeps around here.”
“Thanks,” I say, my voice catching a little. “For… all of this.”
She bumps her shoulder against mine. “Please. Who else is going to make sure you survive murderous relatives and questionable Alpha behavior?” She squeezes my arm.
“That’s what friends are for,” I say.
We reach the café, and June holds the door open for me. The familiar scent of coffee and warm sugar draws me indoors, and my stomach growls in protest at being ignored all morning.
“Corner booth,” June directs.
We slide into the worn vinyl seat of the circular booth, and before the waitress even makes it over, June fixes me with a look. “You’ve been reacting to everything, Soph. Inheriting the ranch, the three Alphas, now Ronan and Brittany. You’ve been playing defense since the day you got here. How about, just for once, you start playing offense? Take control before someone else does it for you.”
Her words settle in my chest, heavier than I expect. She’s right. I’ve been letting things happen to me,letting other people dictate the pace, the choices, the outcome.
“I still… I still want them,” I admit quietly. “They’re my scent matches. That hasn’t changed. But I can’t just… let myself be swept along anymore. I need to be sure. I need to know where I stand, and they need to show me.”
