Hunter Moon (Lupine Moon Series) (15 page)

“I’ve only got a month home before I have to go to Fort Bragg for six months. I’m staying with the parents until I have to leave. I’m only going to be here in Raymond until tomorrow.”

 I could hear the regret in his voice. The man was a cowboy at heart. He was one of the best calf ropers I’ve ever seen, but his true calling was the military. His parents had moved to Clovis after he’d enlisted and bought a smaller house. I just hated to have him be that far away.

 I shook my head. “Oh no you don’t. You’re going to come crash at my place!” Jesse grinned at my genius idea, but Jack didn’t seem too keen on it.

“I dunno. My mom and dad really seemed like they wanted to have me stay with them, they even put off their anniversary trip to Italy.”

 I grabbed onto that like a drowning person to a piece of driftwood. “There you go then! They can go on their trip and you can stay with me while they’re gone. I need a man around right now, especially one that knows how to handle himself.”

Jesse started to say something, probably about the recent attacks on my person, but I frowned at her until she closed her mouth. I wanted Jack to stay if he wanted to, not because he thought he needed to protect little old me.

“You’ll stay, won’t you Jack?” Jesse asked instead.

He glanced from her to me. He’d always been a sucker for the ladies, although not so much that he’d ever settled down with just one. Jack had been a player since we were in junior high and he hadn’t changed much. I wonder if he had girls in Iraq pining for him too.

Technically he and I weren’t still related, since his dad and my mom’s cousin had gotten a divorce, but we still behaved like we were. I had gone so far as to act as his wingman one fun night. Before I could get his reply I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a voice like silk on steel behind me.

“Where’s he going to stay?”

Jesse’s face was livid, and I almost felt bad for Tyler, almost. Cash must have escaped him and the pool table and now I could feel his heat on my back. Jack’s face flashed with surprise and then distrust as he took in Cash’s proprietary hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and downed the rest of my drink, needing the Dutch courage in order to face the ordeal that barreled at me like a freight train.

I turned around and slapped off Cash’s hand. “Jack, this is the
warden
. warden, this is my good friend Jack Anderson.”

I felt Jack tense next to me, absorbing my tone. Cash’s expression darkened with suspicion, and
jealousy?
I smiled to myself, already planning this out in my head.
So, the good warden is jealous…
I slipped my hand into Jack’s and leaned into him.

“Jack here is going to stay at my place for a little while.” I saw the muscle in Cash’s jaw twitch as I held hands with Jack. “Jack here is stateside for the first time, in what, nine months? It’s been too long.”

 I looked over at him with hungry eyes and he had a confused grin on his face. I saw it change when he started to get the idea. Jesse giggled to herself. One of my favorite Brad Paisley songs came on. Jack dragged me off of my bar stool and shouldered by Cash and pulled me over by the jukebox to dance.

I laughed when he attempted to twirl me. I had to duck under his arm because with my boots on, I was just a smidge taller than him. Jack hammed it up pretty good. He had his hands on my hips and towed me all around the floor. He even tried to dip me and it was a close thing.

I was having so much fun I almost forgot about Cash. He leaned against the bar next to Jesse and Tyler and looked grouchy. Every now and then I’d look over and see his penetrating blue gaze searing me where I stood.
Good. He deserves to be mad.
I met his stare and raised my eyebrow in a challenge. His expression darkened into a thunderstorm and he crossed his arms over his chest.

When the song was ended, Jack and I fell back over to the bar laughing. Jesse and Tyler shook their heads at us, but the grins on their faces made us laugh harder. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him. He picked me up and sat me on his lap and I leaned back over the bar.

“Buster!” I yelled over the music. “Get the good Beret and I a shot over here, wouldja?”

Buster grinned and poured two more shots of whiskey. Jack, God bless him, just took everything in stride. We clinked shot glasses and threw them back together both of us laughing at the burn of the alcohol. Cash was still standing there looking furious when Jack put his arm around my shoulders.

“So, Warden, is that your first or last name?” Jack asked, giving me a mischievous grin.

Jack’s hand ran up my calf and Cash’s dark blue eyes glowed green in the dark of the bar. His whole body started to shake. I knew something bad would happen if we didn’t let up on him. He looked like he was about to explode. Of course, that’s exactly when Jack decided it was a good idea to plant a kiss on me.

Before I knew it, Cash had grabbed Jack by the collar and hauled him off the barstool. I was still on Jack’s lap, so I nearly fell on my butt. When Jack stood, Cash pulled his arm back and punched him in the jaw. The dull thud of bone hitting bone made me cringe. Jack’s head snapped back and a little dribble of blood ran down the side of his mouth.

If Jack had been a lesser man, I think he would’ve been out cold on the floor. Jack’s lip was red and had already started to swell but he didn’t even seem to notice. Must have been the whole Green Beret thing. He simply smiled. Blood stained his teeth, and he had a dangerous glint in his eye. Jack winked at me before punching Cash right back. Shocked, I just sat down by Jesse and we watched, mouths gaping, as Cash wiped his own blood off of his lip.

Most of the people in the bar hadn’t seen what had happened yet. The two men had been so fast. Jack rolled his neck and shoulders, sat back down and held out my jacket. I slipped it on and he pulled me against his chest and wrapped his arms around me.

“Come on, Babe. Let’s get you home,” He whispered seductively into my hair.

 Once second Jack was next to me at the bar, while Cash stood looking at his own blood on his fingers, and the next Jack was up against the wall. Cash held him up by his neck with one arm. The muscles on his arm and shoulders were corded and flexing but didn’t seem to be straining as he held the 200 pound man up. His eyes were glowed so brightly they seemed to cast shadows.

It was clear that Jack was shocked, simply by the fact he didn’t immediately start to fight back, but stood staring wide-eyed at the game warden. Eventually he tried to pry Cash’s hand off of his throat, but even using both hands he couldn’t get free. Finally, he tried kicking out, but by then he’d already lost a lot of blood flow to his head and his efforts were feeble.

“You don’t touch her,” Cash gritted through his teeth. “She’s
mine.”

I ran over and pulled on his arm. Jack looked like he was about ready to pass out for lack of oxygen. Cash glared at him, still holding him up. I tried everything I could to move Cash. I pulled his arm down with all my weight, cursing under my breath, but he was like marble. Finally, seeing people noticing us, I turned and slapped Cash hard across his face.

When he turned his eyes to me I took a step back and whimpered. The out of control rage was visible and he didn’t loosen his grip one bit. Jack’s eyes started to roll back. Even though I was terrified that he was going to kill my good friend in front of me,
I was incredibly turned on.
A wave of heat rolled through me, and I felt the moisture pool between my legs. Cash took a deep breath and the light behind his eyes glowed brighter.

“Alright, warden,” said Buster as he laid down his ‘peacemaker’ on the bar. “I’m sure Jack did something stupid, and probably deserves gettin’ the life squeezed out of him, but I don’t want a dead man in my bar.”

Cash glanced over at Buster’s knowing expression, his eyes flicking over to the Louisville Slugger on the bar that looked like it’d had better days. He nodded and let Jack slide down the wall to the floor, unconscious. Cash’s eyes still glowed and he was breathing heavily. I knelt down to check on Jack.

 “You’re out of your freakin’ mind!” I hissed up at him. Jack was breathing, but he had passed out and would have one hell of a headache when he came to. “You nearly killed my friend!”

 That seemed to achieve what my curses and slap didn’t manage and I saw him shudder, relaxing. I glared at him. I wanted him so badly it was painful.
So not fair.

I waved over Tyler. “I need you to get some boys and help me get Jack into his truck.” I pulled the keys to his white GMC Sierra out of his jacket pocket. Ty nodded and walked away, off to recruit some cowboys to help with the heavy lifting. I saw Cash grit his teeth when he understood my intentions.

“You just stay the hell away from us; do you hear me Cash Newcomb? Stay away!” He just stood there continuing to glower at me as the boys hoisted Jack out of the bar. I ran over to Jack’s truck and opened up the back door. They manhandled Jack into the back like a sack of potatoes but he was safe, although still unconscious.

 I overheard one of the boys say something about not ever messing with the warden if he could overpower a Beret like Jack. I, myself, wondered how it was possible. Even though Cash was tall and muscular he was still leaner than Jack. Jack had had extensive combat training as a Beret while I couldn’t imagine game wardens had too much experience in that regard. Still wondering, I waved at Jesse and hopped in the driver’s seat of Jack’s truck.

“Oh no you don’t!” said my favorite voice in the entire world. Cash’s hand was on my arm sending flames of need through me. He pulled me out of the truck. I ripped my arm out his grasp, still feeling the heat from his touch, and the inertia almost made me spin into the truck door. “You are way too drunk to be driving right now. Scoot over, I’ll drive you home.” I saw him glance into the back seat and he clenched his jaw. A muscle in his cheek flexed and I wanted to kiss it.
Remember why we’re leaving.

“The
hell
you say!” I yelled. “Jesse’s not around, but I’m sure she’d come out so you could punch my other BFF in the face.” I tried to climb back into the seat, but he grabbed my waist and held me against him. I struggled to free myself, but he’d gone all marble again. He leaned down and smelled my hair before replying.

“Your
other
BFF?” He said softly while I tried to ignore the building fire inside me. His hands were toying with a strand of my hair while he looked at me through hooded eyes.
I think those would qualify as ‘bedroom’ eyes
, my libido sighed. I had to focus again on being angry.

“I’ve known Jack all my life, you jealous asshole. He was even my cousin once. We’re just friends, and he was just messing with you when you assaulted a war vet, and nearly killed him. Congratulations, I hope you’re proud. Now let me go!”

 He didn’t budge as I writhed around trying to get loose. I felt the ridges of his abs with my hands as I tried to push away. The growing bulge in his Wranglers made it difficult to
want
to get away.
Whoa Nellie…

 “And what do you even care if I am with someone else?” I said rather more breathlessly and less venomously than I had wanted. “Are you that childish? You don’t want me, but you don’t want the other boys to play with me either?” I hissed as he squeezed his grip tighter on my hips.
That’s going to leave a mark.

“I never said I didn’t want you.” His voice was low and harsh. “I want you so badly, staying away from you this past week has been physically painful.”

I snorted, wondering if he’d told all the other girls the same line. He narrowed his gorgeous blue eyes and said with a gravelly voice. “Yes, I want you. I want to take you right here against the side of this truck.”

The desire I’d been feeling this whole time spiked. My body went hot all over, probably amplified by all of the booze I’d had. He leaned down and kissed my neck. Delicious tingles of electricity flowed from his lips as he made his way down and across my collarbone.

“All I’d have to do is lift this wonderful skirt of yours and I could take you right now.” He lifted up his head and looked me straight in the eyes. They were glowing. “You would like it.”

I’m sure I would have loved it, but right then Jack started stirring and I realized I was supposed to be furious. Cash released me and I leaned heavily against the side of the truck, breathing like I was a chain smoker walking up stairs.
I need to leave now,
I thought,
before I do something stupid.
Part of me was just in the mood for something stupid but I’d never live it down if I were caught doing it in the parking lot. Raymond was a small town.

“I’m going to drive home now.” I said, a little more shakily than I had wanted.

Cash just chuckled, that deep, sexy sound that I felt to my toes. I tried to climb back into the driver’s seat and he allowed it, still staring at me. I closed the door but since the window was down he leaned in the cab of the truck.