Read Online Bad News Cowboy by Maisey Yates - Free Book Online Page B

thought did not fill her with arousal. In fact, it kind of made her feel sick. So she supposed she wouldn’t be doing that. But Jack didn’t have to know that.
    â€œYou look uncomfortable, Kate, and from where I was sitting, it looked like this bonehead was blocking your exit.”
    Chad turned to face Jack, pushing his hat back again. That was one annoying nervous habit. “How is it your business, Monaghan?”
    Jack chuckled and crossed his arms over his broad chest, the muscles in his forearms shifting, and in spite of herself, Kate felt her heart rate pick up a little bit.
    â€œIt’s my business because anyone who’s bothering Kate has to deal with me.”
    â€œOh, really?” Kate all but exploded. “Anyone bothering me has to deal with
me
, Monaghan. End of discussion.” And now she was just pissed. She turned her focus back to Chad. “And you. I wouldn’t go out back with you and do...that...even if you bought me a whole dinner at The Crab Shanty.”
    â€œOh, come on, Kate. You are obviously asking for it,” Chad said, his tone dripping with disdain now. “Shoving your tits in my face like that.”
    And suddenly, Chad was being pulled backward, then spun around and slammed up against the wall. Jack was gripping the collar of his shirt, his forearm pressed hard against the other man’s collarbone. “If you’re in the mood to get your jaw broken tonight, then keep talking,” Jack said, his voice a growl. “Otherwise I’d walk away.”
    A hush had fallen over the bar, all eyes turned to Jack and Chad.
    And on her, too. She had lost control of the situation, and she didn’t like it at all.
    â€œJack, don’t,” Kate said.
    â€œAre you actually defending this dickhead?” Jack was incredulous.
    â€œNo. But I don’t need your help to say no. Let go.”
    Jack released his hold slowly, but there was still murder glittering in his blue eyes. “Whatever you want, Katie.”
    And then Chad lunged at Jack. It was a mistake. Before Kate could shout a warning, Jack was in motion. His fist connected with Chad’s jaw, the sound rising over the lap steel that was filtering into the room from the jukebox.
    â€œWhat’d I tell you, asshole?” Jack looked down at Chad, his expression thunderous. “I would’ve let you off because she asked. But since you made it about you and me... Hopefully, you don’t have to get that wired shut. Drinking out of a straw for six weeks would really suck.”
    Jack stepped over Chad’s crumpled form and walked out of the bar. Kate looked around the room. The only people who were still watching were members of the rodeo club. Everyone else had gone back to their darts and their drinks. A punch-up in Ace’s wasn’t the rarest of events. But seeing as Jack had just punched out one of their own, the club was still interested.
    â€œWell, he was being an ass,” Kate said, turning and following the same path Jack had just taken out of the bar.
    It was downright chilly out now, the fog rolling in off the ocean leaving a cool dampness in the air. She could hear the waves crashing not too far away but couldn’t see them because of the clouds.
    The moon was a white blur of light mostly swallowed up by the thick gray mist. She could see only the faint outline of Jack, walking to his truck, thanks to the security light at the far end of the parking lot.
    â€œAre you just gonna leave me here?” she shouted, breaking into a jog and going after him.
    â€œI figured you could get a ride,” he ground out.
    â€œI did not need you to come over there and intervene.” She stopped in front of him, and he turned around to face her.
    She could only just make out the strong lines of his face, could barely see the way his brows were locked together, his expression still enraged. “It looked like you did. Don’t be such a stubborn child all