Is she out of her mind? He’s mine. We were at his place last night and well into the morning. She needs to get her nasty hands off my man.

“Well,” I say under my breath.

Grace’s gaze locks on what I’m seeing and she lets out a growl. “Pres.” She draws my attention away. “Listen, the only way you’re going to fix this is to walk over—”

I don’t let her finish. I know exactly what I have to do.

My feet travel quickly as I march toward them. Anger boils in my blood as I think about the last few weeks when Zach held me, kissed me, made love to me like I was the only woman alive. Now this bitch is touching him? Not just no—hell no. She’s going to learn really quick where her hands do and don’t belong. And Zach, well, he’s going to learn a few things as well.

Zach’s eyes follow me as I approach. He glances at Felicia and then back to me. Yeah, you’re in trouble.

I don’t slow down or pause. I stand right in front of Zach, grip his neck, and pull his mouth to mine. Right here in the middle of the town bar, I kiss him. I let every person know exactly what we are. Zach doesn’t falter, his hands grab my back and he holds me tight to him. His lips move with mine as catcalls and whistles ring out around us. I don’t know how long we’re like this, but it feels like an eternity.

I stake my claim on the boy that has always been mine. The worry melts away about what people will think. Grace is right—we’ve always been special.

Once I feel my point is made, I lean back. Zach’s lips form a cocky grin. “Hi, darlin’.”

“You’re in trouble.”

“If that’s how you punish me, I think I could accept this.”

My head dips as I give him a no-nonsense look. “Big. Trouble.”

“Felicia,” he says as he pulls me against him. “I’ve decided I am going to go to the auction gala next week.” I look at him with confusion. “Get me two tickets. Presley will be coming as my plus one.”

“Be sure you get us a hotel room too,” I tack on. “We’ll probably need some privacy after.”

She huffs and walks away.

“So we’re going to a gala?”

“It made my point.”

I gaze at him, remembering why the point needed to be made. “Why exactly was she hanging on you?”

He brings me flush against his body. Zach’s nose rubs against my ear as he whispers. “She’s drunk, and I was being nice. Nothing more. But you ousted us in one hell of a way.”

I lean back so I can look in his eyes. “I guess it’s time the women in this town know that you’re not available.”

“Presley.” His deep voice grumbles as the gratification in his eyes shines. “I haven’t been available since I was fifteen years old.” He kisses my forehead, pulls me tighter, and goes back to talking to Trent like nothing happened.

I look over at Grace, who’s standing with her arms crossed and sporting a grin.

Well, no more hiding for me.

Wyatt shows up with some chick I’ve never seen before. “If it isn’t Mr. and Mrs. I’m-so-stupid-I-think-I-had-the-whole-town-fooled.”

“Shut up, asshole.” Zach jokingly punches his brother.

Wyatt rubs his shoulder. “I’m hurt. I go through all the trouble of makin’ you both realize how dumb you are, get you back together, and you punch me? Dick.”

“You did this?” I ask with a smirk.

“Well, yeah, Cowgirl. How else did you think you’d wake up?”

I love that, even with all the crap between us, Wyatt would never make me feel uncomfortable.

I lean in and kiss his cheek. There are so many things I want to say, but not here. Wyatt is the reason that I’ve been able to see past my own pain. “You’re a good friend. You’re going to make some woman very happy someday.” I glance over at the girl he brought with him. She basically has a bikini top on and shorts that are more revealing than my underwear. “Hopefully someone else,” I say offhandedly.

He laughs. “I think you’ve been drinking already.”

“Not a lick.”

“Well, then maybe you should, because no one can tame the wild beast that is me.”

His humor is his defense. I see through it, but we all need our armor. I’ve hid behind walls for a long time, and honestly, if it weren’t for him, I still would be. Safety is a luxury that should never be taken for granted. When my world kicked me in the teeth, the vulnerability I felt was unnerving. It rocked me to my core. While Wyatt hasn’t had that type of horrific experience, he hurts.

“The only thing wild about you is your hair.” Zach nudges him.

Wyatt flips him off, grabs his drink, and throws his arm around his bimbo of the night. “Peace, suckers.”

Zach and I both grab a drink. He drinks his beer while I sip my Jameson until Grace drags me away and onto the dance floor. We giggle and dance, like old times. Songs continue to change, but we keep steady where we are. I love to dance. I love knowing that I also won’t look like a fish out of water when we line dance. I can handle numbered steps.

“Man.” Grace laughs. “Zach is about to pummel that guy staring at you.” She spins me around and I see him watching someone.

My eyes dart to where he’s watching and I giggle. It’s the guy who I danced with the last time. “He’s oblivious to the fact that I was making out with Zach before, huh?”

We continue pretending like I don’t care until I see Zach bang his bottle on the bar and start walking toward him. “Shit.” I rush off, Grace following.

I catch Zach before he can reach him. “Where you off to, Cowboy?” I smile.

Zach immediately thaws. “Going to set the record straight with someone.”

“Not worth it.”

“You’re worth everything.”

“Awww.” I kiss his lips. “You’re so cute.”

“I like you like this,” Zach says as he keeps walking.

“Like what?”

Zach leans down, the warmth of his breath tickling my skin. “Happy.”

I like it too, but God if I’m not scared that this could end quickly. There’s no more secret Presley and Zach. No chance of us going slow, because everyone knows. This town will probably hold a damn parade tomorrow. My kids will need to be told right away, and who the hell knows how that will go.