Page 16 of Fall or Nothing

“Oh here. Your dad’s coat.” I moved to take it off. “I didn’t think to bring anything like this. Should have added a new jacket at the shop last night.”

It was heavier than anything I owned back in my real life—thick canvas outside, well-worn wool interior. It smelled faintly of wood smoke and slightly of lavender. Ofher.

“It’s going to get colder day by day. You’ll want to keep that at least until you get something better.”

I knew what this garment meant to her. “I’ll take good care of it and return it as soon as I can.”

“You better,” she shot back, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

“And thanks. For last night.”

She raised her eyebrows in warning. “Try not to get yourself stranded in your underwear again.”

I chuckled. “No promises. And if I do, I hope you’ll rescue me.”

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the way her lips curved.

I stepped out and closed the door with a soft thud before she pulled away. Her car disappeared down the road, leaving me alone with the hard reality of what I’d signed up for.

I swallowed and turned toward the bunkhouse.

A group of men stood just outside, coffee mugs in hand, and apparently watched me leave Sage’s car with open curiosity, snickers, and very little attempt to hide it.

Ash was among them, leaning casually against the exterior wall, though his eyes were sharper than his posture suggested. Chris had introduced us at the dance before I met Sage, which had given me too little time to form an opinion about him.

He introduced me. “Men, this is Carter. Looks like he’s starting work for us today.”

“Well, hell,” one guy said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “first day on the job and you’re already spending the night with a Wylde sister. Have a good time?”

A few chuckles followed from the others.

Something primal snapped tight in my chest. The same protective instinct that had surged when I held Sage while she cried last night flared upagain.

“Don’t you say another word about her, not like that,” I warned, voice growly enough that it surprised even me.

The guy lifted his eyebrows, clearly amused. “Relax, man. Just a joke. Everyone knows Sage Wylde doesn’t put out; she’s?—”

I didn’t let him finish.

My hand fisted in the front of his jacket, shoving him back against the siding of the bunkhouse hard enough to rattle it.

“Finish that sentence, and see how funny it is when I slam my fist into your mouth,” I seethed.

“Dammit, Trig, shut the fuck up,” Ash barked, stepping in. “And Carter, back off.” His hand clamped down on my shoulder, pulling me enough to break the contact.

“With me. Now,” he ordered, his tone like an Army sergeant no one wanted to piss off.

My chest rose and fell a little sharper than it should have. What the hell was that? I morphed into some other person, defending a woman I’d known less than twenty-four hours. Suddenly very aware of the weight of the situation, I followed Ash toward a small office attached to the bunkhouse.

He slammed the door shut behind us and crossed his massive arms. His look could level me. “What the hell happened last night? Chris couldn’t find you after the dance. Your fancy car was gone. We figured you took off and negated the deal.”

“I didn’t,” I retorted, shaking my head. “I just needed a minute to process it all.”

“And?” He cocked a brow like an angry parent confronting a teen, waiting for the truth to come out.

“I… I took the car for one more spin and found a place to grab a drink. Things got out of hand.”

He waited still, both brows lifted.