Page 89 of This Broken Heart

I turn, expecting to find that rascal Dusty sniffing around her again, but it’s far worse. Tyson Kyle, resident heart breaker, has separated Erin from the pack and appears to be going in for the kill.

“Fuck me.” I mutter. “Go over there and break that up.”

“Why me?”

“Because I don’t want people getting the wrong idea if I go.”

Skyler frowns. “Yeah, wouldn’t want people thinking you like that woman.”

“A little less sarcasm and a little more saving Erin from that walking STD.”

“No.” He leans against the bar, smiling as he tips his beer back. “You want her? You go get her.”

I hesitate, torn between keeping up the charade and stopping whatever Tyson’s planning.

When he reaches out to touch her arm, the decision is made.

I push through the crowd, stopping just behind her. I’ve got a few inches of height on Tyson and plenty of bulk. It’s not hard to loom over him.

He looks up at me with a competitive light in his blue eyes. “Josh Olson. How you been, buddy?”

“Doing fine.” I say, trying to keep the growl out of my voice. “Erin, Skyler was wanting to talk to you.”

She glances over her shoulder, fixing me with a mischievous smile. “I’ll find him later.”

“She’ll find him later, Olson.” Tyson gives me a smug smile that says, beat it.

I put my hand on her waist, guiding her away. “She’ll talk to him now.”

Erin gives Tyson an apologetic shrug, allowing me to tow her back through the crowd by the hand. I pull her in front of me, putting my lips by her ear. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”

I don’t miss the shiver that trembles across her shoulders. “That depends, is it working?”

More than she could know.

“Such a naughty little thing.” I murmur, letting my fingers brush along the small of her back.

59.

Erin

Josh decides we’ve had enough partying for one night. That’s fine by me. I don’t know most of these people and I don’t feel compelled to start the new year with them.

The heat in his eyes, though, now that’s worth following.

He opens the truck door, helping me up even though I’m perfectly capable of getting in by myself.

Once he’s behind the wheel, he starts the truck up. “Clark does a fireworks show every year at midnight. If we drive out to the west 80, we can see it.”

“From this far away?”

“It’s flat as a pancake out here. You can see for miles.” He throws the truck in reverse. “You want to check it out?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

Josh nods, turning the truck down gravel roads.

I prop my elbow on the door, resting my chin on my fist as I peer up at the sky. “You can see so many stars out here. It’s beautiful.”