Page 25 of August’s Cowboy Braxton

I blinked at her, not sure I’d heard her right. "Good?"

“Honey, you were handling your own life just fine long before he came along. Don't let him convince you you've suddenly become helpless."

The words landed exactly where they needed to because that was what I feared most. That I'd spent years building independence and credibility and respect, only to have one man with a protective streak decide I couldn't be trusted to manage my own safety. That I'd fought so hard to be seen as more than a crown and a smile, only to be reduced to someone who needed rescuing. That I'd become the fragile thing everyone assumed I was.

"You're right."

"I know I am." Evie squeezed my hand. "You're strong, capable, and smart. You don't need some bodyguard telling you how to live your life."

"He's just trying to help."

"Is he? Because from where I'm sitting, it sounds like he's trying to control you."

"He thinks it's protection."

"Maybe. Or maybe he's one of those men who thinks keeping a woman safe means keeping her small."

I thought about Braxton's face when I refused to cancel my appearances. The way his voice had gone cold and final. And the way he'd looked at me like I was making the wrong choice just by insisting I had one.

"He walked out."

"Then he proved my point." Evie stood and offered me her hand. "Come on. Let's get you home."

“Back to the ranch?"

"Is that where you want to go?"

I thought about the empty house. The storm lanterns. The couch where Braxton and I had kissed. The bedroom where I'd heard him pacing downstairs, standing guard.

"I don't know."

"Then come to my place. We'll make tea. Figure out what you want to do next."

I let her pull me to my feet.

Evie's house was small and warm and smelled like lavender. She made chamomile tea and wrapped me in a quilt on her couch.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Do you want me to call Ruby? Or the mayor? Figure out alternative security for the weekend?"

I hadn't even thought about that. If Braxton was gone, I still needed protection. Or did I?

Maybe the threats were just that—threats. Maybe whoever was sending them wanted to scare me into silence. Maybe the best thing I could do was refuse to be scared. Maybe Braxton leaving proved I didn't need him after all.

My phone buzzed.

I pulled it from my pocket and looked at the screen. Then froze.

He'll leave. Men like him always do.

The number was different from the previous messages. I'd gotten a replacement SIM card two days ago after the tracking device was discovered. Nobody had this number except for Ruby, the mayor, Braxton, and Evie. That was it.

"Addison?" Evie leaned forward. "What's wrong?"

I showed her the screen.