Page 33 of Never and Always
Caden started to move, but I beat him to it. My growing anger had me slamming a palm to Chance’s chest and ramming him against the wall. A framed picture of a cowboy rattled.
“Listen to me. Some asshole attacked her last night and put a knife to her throat.”
Chance’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Some asshole who is looking for you. Says you owe his boss money.”
A flash of raw fear. Chance licked his lips. “Hell.Shit.” He dragged in a breath, his gaze flitting between me and Caden. “She okay?”
“She will be. You stay away from her, Chance. And whatever trouble you’re in, you tell the person you owe money to that she isnotinvolved. Understand.”
He bobbed his head. “I’ll take care of it. I promise. I…shit, you sure she’s okay?”
I nodded. He looked like he actually cared. “And I’ll keep her that way.”
“You her boyfriend or something?”
“Or something. We clear? Piper doesn’t exist for this asshole you’re messed up with.”
He nodded again, and I released him.
“Tell her I’ve got this.” He straightened his shirt, then gave me and Caden a wide berth, and hurried to the front door.
“That guy is trouble,” Caden murmured.
“Yeah.”
“Complete opposite of Piper.” Caden shook his head. “Met him once, and doesn’t look like he’s changed.”
As long as he kept his mess away from Piper, that was all I cared about.
Chapter 11
Piper
Istabbed angrily at my phone. Chance hadn’t responded to one text message. Was he okay? Had the man with the scar caught up with him? Had he been hurt?
Ugh. I needed to talk to him.
I tossed my phone down beside the sink in my bathroom and looked back in the mirror.
Great, another crappy night of sleep was stamped all over my face. With a sigh, I slathered on more concealer, then pulled a face. I couldn’t blame my continued lack of sleep entirely on my brother.
No, a certain annoying head of maintenance held some of the blame.
Last night, I hadn’t slept because I’d dreamed of Everett.
Dreamed of that kiss.
I hissed in a breath. Damn him. Now I knew how his mouth felt, how it tasted, and how good of a kisser he was.
My brain had dreamed of a hell of a lot more than a kiss. Those rough hands on my body. And it did an excellent job of imagining just how he looked under that flannel and denim. I’d woken up sweaty and turned on.
“Stop it, Piper.” I grabbed my mascara.
This was only because it had been a while—okay, alongwhile—since I’d dated. That was the only reason a tall, annoying mountain man was suddenly appealing.
Then, I remembered him bringing me an oat milk latte, checking my hands, telling me I was safe.
