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I stood up straighter, finally turning to her. “Why?”
She laughed. “Because he’s a loser. And he’s caused a lot of problems in this town. You’re from Nashville, right? I bet you could find a lot of better guys there.”
I’d tried my luck. And ended up with Trevor.
I may have messed things up with Cain, but I also knew I wouldn’t take people talking shit about him. So far, I’d managed to avoid it. But the rising anger each time someone teetered on the edge of saying something bad about him was palpable.
And this woman was the tip of the iceberg.
“Can you remind me when I asked for your advice? Because as far as I know, I didn’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I only take advice I ask for, not petty words from someone who obviously doesn’t know a damn thing about who Cain Smith isnow.Not whatever you saw in the past.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What do you see in him anyway?”
“I see the man who ran me a bath when I was sore from working in the fields. The man who danced with me even though he hated every second. I tried my luck in the city, and let me tell you, I did not find a man like Cain there.”
“Then you’re stupid,”she said.
“Yeah. Maybe I am. Or maybe I’m making a move on a man who everyone else is missing out on.”
I brushed past her, ignoring her glare, and was about to head outside when Lucas suddenly appeared in front of me.
“There you are,” he said. “Have you thought about the date?”
I hadn’t realized he wasn’t still on the stage. That’s how little attention I was paying.
“Um, listen, I’m really sorry but?—”
His smile didn’t falter. “You have a thing with Cain, right?”
“What? How did you?—”
“I’m not completely stupid. But I still thought I’d shoot my shot.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “About ... saying no.”
“Don’t sweat it. You seem pretty happy here. And I travel, so it would be long distance anyway.” He shrugged. “But I hope he tells you how pretty you are.”
I thought back to the conversation in the truck. “He does.”
“Good. Then I wish you the best.”
I gave Lucas one last smile before I went outside. The cool night air hit me in the face.
“He already pissed you off, didn’t he?” Hugh was still out there, eyeing me like he knew everything that had happened.
“No,”I snapped, my anger already rising again. “Cain didn’t piss me off. Trust me, if he did, he would be the one hearing about it, and no one else.”
“Oh, touchy. I see the protectiveness goes two ways, then.”
I blew out a breath and crossed my arms. I needed to text Cain and tell him that I was outside. Or go back inside and face the consequences of my actions. Instead, I seethed.
Then a jacket landed on my shoulders.
“You really should have brought something to keep warm with,” a deep voice said.