Page 59 of Eyes Like a Hurricane

I hear the screen door to my house slam and look up to see Aislinn skipping down the back stairs. Her long brown hair is a tangled mess of curls, but her cheeks look radiant after a good night’s sleep. The smile that takes over my face is subconscious until I glance over and see both newcomers have turned to look in her direction. Cody growls and James makes a strangled noise at the back of his throat.

Aislinn must realize I’m not alone, and when her eyes move to the Mercedes and then to the two men standing beside it, her face morphs into that of sheer anger. She throws her purse on the grass and begins to stomp toward us. Chloe is followingclose to her heels. I look between the three of them, wondering what is going on. Does she know these people?

“What are you doing here, Cody?” she yells in a voice that sounds primal. “I told you not to contact me anymore. And you, James, what asinine idea did this dumbass pitch to get you to go along with it?”

She points her finger at James, narrowing her eyes to mere slits. Chloe’s lip peels back in a vicious snarl.

Cody’s jaw clenches so tight I’m afraid his molars will break.

James responds, “Uh, so, I didn’t know that part, Aislinn. Cody said he wanted to make a grand gesture to win you back. Get you to reconsider things.”

Aislinn clenches her fists at her side and says harshly, “Cody, we broke up over a month ago. We had only been casually dating for a few months. I said I never wanted to see you again, and I meant it. Are you stalking me? Do I need a restraining order? How do you think your clients would like to know you have a restraining order against you? Huh?”

I smirk. Maybe she could have stood a chance against the mountain lion. Maybe instead of Hurricane, I should call her Hellcat. Every instinct tells me I need to step up and protect her. I want to put this asshole in his place, but the look in her eyes tells me she needs to do this alone.

Cody takes a few long strides toward her and wraps his arms around her before I can move in her direction.

“Just give me a chance, babe,” he says in a sickeningly sweet voice.

I hate him. He better get his hands off her. I take two steps, and just as I reach for his shoulder to yank him off, I hear a frustrated scream tear from Aislinn’s throat.

She grunts as she tries to extract herself from his hold. “I hate that nickname. I’m not your babe. We aren’t together. I’m in love with another man. You need to leave me alone.”

Before I can process what she just said, she knees him in the groin, forcing him to release her. With both hands, she shoves his shoulders, and he falls to the ground, rolling in pain. She runs toward me and wraps her arms around my waist.

“You did good, Hellcat,” I murmur into her hair. Looking at the two men, I grind out, “You two need to go before I call the sheriff. We will be filing a restraining order first thing this morning. You have my word.”

“Already called Edwin!” Ingrid yells from inside. “He should be here in about five minutes.”

James looks abashed. “I’m sorry, Aislinn. Cody, come on, man. We need to get out of here.”

Cody rolls onto his knees before slowly standing up. His suit is covered in dust and debris. His hair is messed up, and his face is flushed with anger.

“You're sleeping with him?” he spits in disgust, pointing at us. “You wouldn’t even sleep with me. I've wasted months on you. What the hell, Aislinn? I don’t like to lose. This land will be mine. If you want him, you can have him, but mark my words, he will be homeless and penniless by the time I’m through with him.”

Aislinn takes in a shuddering breath. “Get out of here, Cody. This is his ranch. His family has owned it for generations. There is nothing you can do to steal it from him. I will hire the best lawyer in all of Montana and take you for all your worth if you come after my loved ones. I can play hardball, too.”

I rub her back as a sign of support and encouragement. I may be a shy guy, but I won’t let this uptight jackass hurt her. I step in front of her and gently place her behind my back. Hersmall hands grab onto my waistband, and I feel her forehead come to rest between my shoulder blades.

“Get the hell off my property,” my voice rumbles, leaving no room for interpretation.

Ingrid comes running out at the volume and tone of my voice. I think she has only heard me raise it twice in my life, and it was in an attempt to scare off a black bear both times.

“You heard him. But hear me too. If I ever see you on my property again, I will be sure to introduce you to my buckshot. I think those headlights would make for good target practice,” she yells, pretending to place the butt of a gun against her shoulder to take aim.

With a sadistic smirk, Cody gets in the passenger seat, and the Mercedes pulls out, kicking up rocks.

Chapter 42

Aislinn

Holding on to Lachlan’s belt, I suck in calming breaths as his warmth seeps into my skin.

In a meek voice, I say, “Oh, Lachlan, I’m so sorry. I have no idea how he found me. I never told him where I was going. Why was he here? How did he know about us?”

Lachlan reaches back and grabs my hips from behind.

His voice comes out low and steady. “He wanted to buy our land. Said he wants to put a golf course and resort on it. Ingrid and I both told him no. Based on their reactions when you came out of the house, I don’t think he knew you were here, sweetheart. It was a coincidence.”

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