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  “Changing the subject, are you?”

  Her smile returned in a flash. “Yes.”

  He smiled back. “I can respect that. Sometimes it’s as boring as all get out living in Hailey but I know everyone, good or bad, and for the most part I get along with the locals. I work too much and don’t have a lot of free time to ponder my life choices. I left for a while but then returned. I’m not sorry I did. I missed my brothers, not that many of them are around all that much.”

  Brit arched an eyebrow.

  “Drake is the oldest and he’s an attorney in Dallas. He’s been visiting home more often recently though since he got divorced. I can’t say I’m sorry about that. He married this real snooty type, kind of cold and bitchy. Navarro is solid and he’s a homebody so I get to see him all the time. River used to travel the rodeo circuit until he got hurt and now works with horses, just not ours.” He paused. “Ryder is in a band and they travel a lot unless the bookings dry up or one of the members needs time off. Dusty is in town but he tends to hole up with his new friends for weeks at a time so yeah, I wish they were all around more. You’ll get to meet all of them eventually if you stick around. Of course Trip used to be solid. He and Navarro have always run the ranch.”

  “Where did you go when you left here?”

  “Here and there.” He shrugged. “I―”

  “Britney?” a familiar male voice interrupted.

  Something inside Brit froze for a second and then her heart pounded hard. She stared up in alarm at a face from her past. Brad Pillow hadn’t changed much in the four years since she’d seen him last. What had brought him to Hailey was a mystery and a nightmare. Fear gripped her, making her mute, as she gaped up at him in horror.

  “I knew it had to be you.” Brad grinned. “The hair is longer, you’ve lost weight, but I’d recognize you anywhere. You still have the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.”

  She couldn’t breathe. She had to force air into her lungs when her chest started to burn and her face tingled hot but it took her seconds to get it past the lump in her throat. She took a breath and then another but still couldn’t form words. Brad Pillow stared at her, waiting for her to say something.

  “You know her?” Adam glanced at Brit, then frowned at Brad. “I’m Adam Raine. I―”

  “He just met me.” She scooted for the edge of the booth to put distance between herself and Adam. “I’m on my way to Dallas and stopped in here for a meal. It’s a long drive from New Mexico. That’s where I’ve been living,” she lied. She stood on shaky legs that she prayed would support her weight. She trembled and her fingers curled into fists at her sides to attempt to hide that fact. “It was good seeing you but I need to get back on the road again. I have a job interview there in the morning.” She darted a terrified look at Adam. “Thanks for the conversation, mister.” She tried to inch past Brad when she faced him again.

  His hand grabbed her arm and he frowned, not allowing her to move around him. “Kyle is out and he’s looking for you.”

  A moan rose in her throat but she managed not to utter it. She fought the urge to tear her arm out of the loose hold and bolt for the door. “I’m aware. I don’t want anything to do with him. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention seeing me or telling him I’m on my way to Dallas.”

  Brad had light green eyes and they narrowed while he stared down at her. His hold tightened a little. “What kind of friend would I be if I did that?”

  He wasn’t her friend, he was Kyle’s. The two had grown up together, run in the same circles, and had gotten into some of the same bad habits. “Please, Brad? Just let me go.”

  He cocked his head. “I don’t think so. Not unless you want to persuade me.” His gaze lowered to the top edge of her shirt where the swell of her breasts began. “I always did envy him when he found you under that rock. Watching him with you made me wish I were the one touching you.”

  Bile rose. She knew exactly what he offered. Blackmail. If she let him touch her, he wouldn’t tell Kyle he’d seen her. Brad had always given her the creeps with the intense way he’d watched her sometimes. She’d suspected he was interested in her more than he should have been, but he had never hit on her for fear of Kyle’s rage. They might have been close friends but her ex-husband had an insane possessive streak when it came to men touching his wife. His thing had been showing off what he had, making sure others envied him, but never allowing them too close.

  “Let me go,” she whispered.

  “Is there a problem?” Adam stood, leaving the booth.

  Brad frowned and turned his attention on the other man. “No. Britney and I are old friends. We’re going to go get aquatinted again.” He looked away and turned, his hold on her arm tightening. “My truck is right outside. We’re going for a drive and have a talk. We’ll catch up while we discuss old times.”

  Her mind tried to work around the terror that filled her. Should she go with him and then escape outside? Make a scene in the bar so he couldn’t take her? He took a step and pulled her, making her numb legs stumble. A hand grabbed her other arm and jerked her back.

  “You’re not taking her anywhere.” Adam shook his head, glaring at Brad.

  She looked up at Adam. He held on to her arm but his focus was fixed on Brad. He frowned deep enough that lines crinkled the corners of his mouth and his eyes had narrowed dangerously.

  “Release her,” Adam demanded. “She doesn’t look willing to chat with you.”

  Brad turned to face him. “Britney is none of your concern. Stay out of this.”

  Adam shook his head. “Take your hand off her or you and I are going to go get acquainted outside in the parking lot.” He paused. “I’m a fighter, not a lover, when it comes to men.”

  Frustration was an easy emotion to read on Brad’s face as he studied Adam. “I’m not going to fight with you. You’re putting your nose where it doesn’t belong.” His chin lowered and he glared down at Brit. “Tell him how much he doesn’t want to get involved, Britney. Mr. Raine here has no idea how nasty Kyle can get.”

  Brit knew a threat when she heard it. Adam had said his name and Brad had caught it. He’d tell her insane ex-husband she had spent time with Adam Raine and he’d come after him. Her mouth went dry. Her terrified gaze flew to Adam.

  “It’s okay, mister. Just sit down. I’ll go with him.”

  Adam frowned at her, searched her eyes, and then nodded. His fingers released her arm. “Fine.”

  Brad smirked in satisfaction that he’d won and turned away, took a step, and his hold on Brit tightened when he tugged on her arm.

  “Hey!” Adam called out.

  Brad turned his head but never saw the fist coming until it slammed into his jaw, causing him to fall to the floor. Brit gasped when she was jerked forward by his tight hold on her arm but she didn’t land on top of him. A beefy arm hooked around her waist and yanked her back, tearing her free from Brad’s grip. She found herself locked against Adam’s body until he gently lowered her back to her feet.

  “Are you all right?” He stared at her with concern.

  Her mouth opened.

  “You just made a big mistake,” Brad yelled, fighting to get to his feet.

  Adam gripped Brit’s hips, lifting her as she gasped, and spun her around. Her feet came down on the booth seat. The hands left her and she twisted her head just in time to see Adam turn back to take on Brad. Brad took a swing with his fist but Adam ducked, plowing one of his own into his opponent’s stomach.

  Brad made a loud sound when the air was forced from his lungs and his body was thrown backward. He hit a table, landed on his back, and beers were knocked over. Glass broke and the voices in the bar silenced until only music could be heard.

  “I don’t know where you’re from,” Adam said loudly. “But we don’t manhandle women in Hailey.”

  “Damn it,” the bartender shouted. “Don’t break up my bar. Take it outside, Adam!”

  Brad rolled to his side and clumsily staggered to hi