Page 5 of Love Loathe Devotion (Tightrope #3)

When I lift my head ready to tear into the stranger who had bumped into me, I never in my wildest dreams expected to have this reaction or for it to be Eddie Crowe. When his big hands wrap around my upper arms to steady me, my mouth falls open and no sound comes out as my brain processes him.

“Hey there, spitfire.”

The sexy smirk on his lips makes my belly flop and I struggle to get my brain to re-engage.

God, he’s hot. Tall, broad shoulders, biceps that flex when he moves, and he’s sporting a cowboy hat to boot.

This man was my walking crush as a girl growing up and not just because of his thick hair and deep brown eyes that you could drown in forever.

I always had a thing for cowboys growing up and my wall was littered with posters of those wranglers with the thick thighs, and asses that you just wanted to take a bite out of, but this man and his gravelly voice had been my number one.

If my crazy heartbeat is any indication, that silly crush is still alive and breathing. My only comfort is that I now share that crush with thousands of other women who got on board the cowboy romance train and, more importantly, the Country music superstar that is Eddie Crowe.

Pulling myself together only takes seconds, but it feels like forever as I stare at the man who is still holding onto my arms like he hasn’t realized he can let go just yet or maybe doesn’t want to.

“Sorry, I should have been more careful. Are you all right?”

His voice is like melted caramel dripping over crushed glass, smooth but with just enough of an edge to make me want to squeeze my thighs together and close my eyes.

Before I can answer, I catch sight of Randy storming toward me, his face slightly puce from anger. I should feel bad for what I’ve done but the way he responded, and tried to gaslight me into making me believe it was me in the wrong, proved how right I was to get my revenge.

Petty. Yes, but then I never considered myself perfect.

“Don’t you walk away from me, Laney.”

Randy reaches angrily for my arm and, before I can pull back, Eddie steps between us, blocking him from getting near me. His arm is out to keep me there as I grip his forearm, his big body shielding me from Randy’s reach.

“You got a bit of temper there, buddy.”

Randy drags his gaze from me and looks up at the man with a frown of confusion. Rusty and Kendal walk from the back and clock us, but neither of them look surprised to see Eddie Crowe in their shop going to bat for me.

“This is between me and my girl.”

“I’m not your girl, Randy.”

Eddie towers over Randy, crowding him with his size. The way he commands the room. I know I would set the feminist movement back a hundred years with the way I’m letting him fight my battle, let alone for the swoony thoughts in my head.

“See, she ain’t your girl, Randy, and if I was you, I’d leave before I forget myself and teach you some manners.”

“Fuck you. Look what she did to me.”

Spittle flies as Randy loses his cool and points at the fresh tattoo.

I wish like hell I could see Eddie’s face so I could tell if he was judging me for what I’d done, and a slight flicker of guilt has my cheeks heating in shame.

I feel his back move where it’s pressed against my front and wonder if he might be laughing.

I glance at Rusty to see he’s chuckling, and Kendal is outright grinning.

“Well, that’s quite an interesting piece of artwork.” He looks up at Rusty and Kendal. “You outdid yourself with this one, Rust.”

“I have to say, I did enjoy this one immensely.”

“I’m going to fucking sue you so hard your great-grandchildren will be paying me back.”

I shake my head as Randy rants, my guilt once again receding. I shouldn’t be surprised, he has always been a brat and, yes, this is a doozy, but he fucking deserves it and more for the way he treated me.

“I bet you did, Rust.”

Eddie angles his head back towards Randy, his profile offering me only a glimpse of the way he feels and he is pissed.

“Let me say this again in case you somehow misinterpreted what I meant by teaching you some manners.” He leans in closer to Randy but keeps his hands by his sides.

“Manners mean you don’t ever raise your voice to a woman, or call them derogatory names.

Especially not this woman, because if you do and I hear about it, then we’re gonna have a big problem, and believe me, you do not want that.

So run along and maybe reconsider your life choices, because it seems one of them was cheating on this beautiful girl here, and that’s one you’ll regret on your deathbed because she is everything good in this world and you know it. ”

Wow, no man has ever said something like that about me before, let alone someone who doesn’t even know me; it makes me feel treasured in a way no man ever has before.

Eddie steps aside as Randy glares, his gaze full of contempt, but I know he won’t do anything.

Randy is a bully, and bullies never fight someone they know will beat them because they are cowards.

I just hate that it has taken me so long to see it.

He casts a last glare full of hatred and the promise of retribution at me and then shoulders his way past us and out the door.

As the door closes, I let the breath I’d been holding go, the adrenalin leaving my body and making me shake, my head feeling light. Eddie Crowe turns to face me, his hand moving to the small of my back as he leads me to a chair in Ink Tank’s reception and forcing me down.

“Sit.”

“I’m not a dog,” I snap but I do as he asks, my legs feeling weak. I remember I hadn’t eaten anything today, I was too nervous about what I was planning.

“Kendal, can you get some water please?”

Squatting on his haunches beside me, he rests a hand on my shoulder and smirks, making my belly flutter again at the warm feel of his big hand on me.

“Still got some attitude left, I see, spitfire.”

“Sorry.” I feel contrite as I realize I’m taking my rattled emotions out on him, on my music hero, and it has nothing to do with him.

“Nothing to be sorry for.”

“I know but you were being nice, and I’m not normally a bitch to people who stick up for me.”

“So that’s your ex?”

“Yeah, that was Randy.”

He nods but doesn’t say more, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Kendal rushes forward and hands me a glass of water which I gratefully down.

“Thank you.” I look up at Rusty and Kendal, who are watching me with concern in their eyes.

“So you got a name or am I gonna call you spitfire?”

I smirk as he takes the glass from me. “Laney is fine.”

His grin is like being bathed by the sun, warm and comforting, and it makes my breath hitch in my chest.

“It’s nice to meet you, Laney. I’m Eddie.”