Page 54 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

The tall biker shook his head, feigning nonchalance and acting as though he wasn’t afraid. “No problem.”

“It looked like you weren’t letting the lady pass.”

“I would have let her pass. What business is it of yours anyway?” The man stepped forward, as though trying to intimidate Callum.

Callum stood at least an inch or two taller than the biker. “She’s with me. And even if she wasn’t, I can tell when a woman doesn’t want to talk to a man and she doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

“You don’t know that. And you don’t own her.”

“Come on, Callum.” Hazel put her hand on his forearm. “Let’s go.”

“You gonna hide behind a woman now?” The tall biker stepped even closer. “You should have stayed out of this. If you hadn’t shown up, I’d have her number by now.”

“She wouldn’t have given you her number.”

“Well aren’t you a cocky bastard. Maybe somebody needs to put you in your place.”

“Maybe you should quit drinking and go home. I don’t want any trouble. I was a Navy SEAL, so you should think twice about starting something with me.”

Callum didn’t brag. He sounded calm and as though he had given the man a courteous warning.

But the tall biker smirked and glanced back at his cohorts. “Did you hear that? This jerk is a SEAL. He thinks he’s better than all of us.”

“I’ll warn you once more. You don’t want to start anything with me.”

Hazel backed up a little. This could get ugly. She had no doubt whatsoever that Callum could take on all of the bikers. Maybe if they were sober the other men would have had a chance, but all of them looked inebriated.

Two of the bikers stepped forward, one holding a pool cue.

“You don’t look like you ride. You’re too pretty,” the tall biker said. “What makes you think you can come in here and get between me and a lady?”

“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Callum said.

“I’m getting tired of you saying that.” The tall biker took a swing, which Callum easily avoided. He ducked another attempt and then delivered a hard uppercut to the jaw.

The tall biker stumbled backward and the one with a pool cue tried to jab Callum.

Callum blocked that and outmaneuvered him for control of the stick. He swung the cue, knocked the third man on the head and then kicked the taller one, sending him flying back onto the pool table.

This was turning into a real bar fight. And Callum could really move. She almost wasn’t afraid, she was so in awe of him.

Hazel backed up some more when the biker who had come after Callum with the cue charged. Using the stick, Callum blocked his punching fists and twisted to high-kick his face. When he landed he used the cue to poke the second man and then tossed it aside to hit the taller biker twice. His opponent fell down.

The other two backed off. Hazel noticed everyone in the bar had stopped to watch, even the bartender. Fighting must be the norm here, because no one interfered.

Callum waited for the taller man to decide what to do. He stared at Callum as he got to his feet, wiping blood off his lip.

“Come on, man. Let’s play pool,” said a biker who hadn’t joined the fight.

The taller biker looked from Hazel to Callum and then finally swatted the air with his hand. “She ain’t worth it.” With that he faced his friends.

Callum turned and found Hazel, putting his hand on her lower back.

She walked with him toward the exit, Callum tossing money on their table on the way out.

“That was quite a spectacle back there,” she said when they were outside.

“They were drunk.”

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