Page 17 of Rocky Mountain Devil

“The guy you were running away from.”

Drat. He wasn’t supposed to have noticed. “Jeff.”

Rafe raised a brow. “So that’s his name.”

Laurel shook herself, trying to make sense of what was going on even as her brain continued to whirl. Next attempt. “Rafe, what are you doing?”

“You asked me that already. I told you. You okay to stand on your own?”

Embarrassed, she realized she’d been leaning against the long, hard length of him. She went to retreat, but his arms remained firmly in position, holding her in place.

“Want to let go?”

“Not particularly.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Rafe Coleman, let me go this instant.”

He did, stepping to one side.

Disappointment shouldn’t have been her first emotional response. Laurel told herself to be quiet and do the next thing, which the plan book said was escape.

Stupid timing.

Jeff appeared around the corner, his glance taking in her and Rafe with a great deal of curiosity and a bit of concern. “Everything okay back here?”

Rafe used the hand resting on her hip to pull her against his side. “No troubles. Welcome to Rocky. I’m Rafe Coleman.”

He held his free hand toward Jeff who shook it briefly as he introduced himself.

“Jeff Lawson. Good to meet you.” He turned his dark brown eyes on Laurel, looking her over carefully. Intimately. “Hey. Long time.”

What did she say? What did she do?

What she’dliketo do was haul back and plant her fist in his smug face, but that probably wouldn’t be very appropriate.

Instead she answered with as little emotion as possible. “Years, actually.”

He had the grace to look uncomfortable, as he very well should, and right then she was kind of happy Rafe had her propped up against him as if they were already an item.

She twisted her head to offer Rafe a lover-ish smile as if this was old hat to her. If they could procrastinate for long enough, maybe Jeff would get bored and leave, and she wouldn’t need to talk to him one on one.

No such luck.

“I should get back to the animals before someone decides to try goat wrestling.” Rafe placed his mouth near her ear and lowered his voice. “You want to come with me?”

He was a darling for trying to give her an out, but leaving was impossible. She checked her watch. “I’m due at the face-painting station in a few minutes.”

“I guess our kissing break is over then,” he joked, offering Jeff a cheeky smile. “They’re never long enough in my opinion.”

Jeff didn’t say anything.

She had no idea what he thought about Rafe’s comment because she refused to look at him. Her face was hot, and her heart was pounding, and she was very thankful when Rafe tugged her with him into the open area in front of the tent, Jeff following like a ghostly annoyance.

“See you later, hon.” Rafe squeezed her fingers. “Same place next break?”

“Rafe.” Her cheeks flashed even hotter at his sexy laugh. He gave her one final cocky grin, then tipped his chin at Jeff and left.

She was back in the safety of the crowd, only Laurel didn’t feel safe. She’d lost that the moment she laid eyes on the last person she’d ever wanted to see.