The Heart the Cowboy Broke

by M J Andrews

  “Be grateful I’m wearing a towel little bro. When I’m in my condo I don’t typically bother with it,” she teased, and she swore a growl was heard from Sawyer and the vein on his forehead throbbed again.

  “Sheriff, I know you’ve asked that there be protection assigned to me,” she said.

  “I think it would be best and we were just talking about that,” he announced.

  “Well, how nice of you two to talk about things that concern me without me present. Whomever you have scheduled to surveil this evening, please ask them to dress casually,” she ordered.

  Sawyer tilted his head as if questioning her authority. His beautiful bright green eyes narrowed before he asked, “Why?”

  She shrugged, “I’m going out with some girlfriends to the Barn House and I would prefer if whoever is assigned not interrupt my fun. I’ve had a hell of a week and I want to unwind with some dancing, beers and cowboys.”

  Without waiting for a response, Lexi turned on her heel and climbed the stairs to her bedroom. There she blow-dried her hair, applied makeup, and picked out a sexy little black dress with some seductive red heels. Lexi used her hair to cover her scar. Some guys didn’t feel comfortable talking to her because of it and others wanted to know everything about it. She was hoping that because it was Silverton that she could have a normal night since everyone already knew how she got the scars.

  She sat on the end of her bed, slipping on her heels when her door flew open and a pissed-off looking Sheriff walked in and closed the door. His hands were sternly placed on his hips and his face dawned a ‘don’t mess with me’ glare that she was sure scared half his deputies. It was a good thing she didn’t find him intimidating.

  “You’re not leaving this house tonight,” he directed, his tone held authority.

  Lexi glanced up from where she was strapping on her heel and stood to face Sawyer. She would not be threatened, not by some psychotic serial killer, an asshole prosecutor or a sexy Sheriff. He didn’t intimidate her. She had chewed up more criminals in her time than he had in his entire police career. She straightened out the front of her dress before she moved toward him. His gaze scrutinized every inch of her body and if it was even possible, his scowl deepened.

  “Sheriff,” she started in a calm, almost creepy voice, “am I under arrest for something?”

  Before he answered, she interrupted, “No, I am not. Therefore there are no grounds by which you are to confine me to this residence. I will not have my life dictated by a serial killer and a Sheriff. I will be leaving this house in five minutes when my ride arrives. If you intend to be the one on shift this evening, then fine. We need a designated driver anyway.”

  She made to move past him to open the bedroom door and sneak out, but Sawyer caught her hand. His face had become gentle and relaxed. He held her hand and tugged her against his hard body. It wasn’t fair that the man had to be the one she hated. He was too damn tempting and her feelings were jumping around like an unmedicated child with ADHD.

  “Is this about what happened downstairs?” he asked.

  She scoffed, “Contrary to your beliefs, Sheriff, not everything revolves around you. And it would take a hell of a kiss to get me to comply with your requests, that one was mediocre at best.”

  His face moved closer to hers as she glared at him with pure defiance. He was going to kiss her again and Lexi didn’t know if her will power could handle another lip lock with him.

  “I think it was more than mediocre, Lex,” he whispered, his lips just a hair away from her lips. She could feel the soft breathe on her face and smell his earthy cologne.

  “It’s not going to happen again, Sheriff,” she hissed, as she gritted out the last word before she slid out of his grasp and made her way downstairs. A groan was heard as she descended the stairs before loud footsteps followed behind her. In the driveway, Daisy sat on the hood of her car. Black hair blew in the wind and beautiful tattoos on full display. She stepped off the porch toward Daisy.

  “Lexi!” Sawyer bellowed from the stoop.

  “Are you coming or do you plan to change the laws on forcible confinement in the next thirty-seconds?” she goaded.

  Sawyer pulled a hand down one side of his face and let out an unpleasant groan before heading towards Daisy’s car. Daisy’s smug grin told Lexi that she enjoyed watching someone outside their family take Sawyer down a notch.

  “Well, big bro, are you ready for girls night?” Daisy asked sarcastically.

  Sawyer mumbled something under his breath that sounded like unfavourable cusses that her good southern mama would faint over. With a deepened scowl, he climbed in the driver’s seat of Daisy’s truck, automatically assuming the role of DD for the evening. Daisy looked amazing as always with her skin-tight black jeans, black tank and cowboy boots. She always wore her hair down around her face and her arms were bare most of the time showing off her tattoos. Jordan and Aubrey were next to pick up since Daisy reached her ranch before the McGuire’s. Both ladies were dressed like supermodels and Aubrey gave Remi a hot kiss on the step before she left. She slid into the truck with a grin on her face.

  “Jesus Aubrey, I think I might have gotten pregnant just watching that kiss,” Daisy joked.

  Aubrey huffed from the back seat as she reapplied her lipstick with a handheld mirror, “You sweet girl, need to get laid.”

  “Now now, Aubrey. Tonight isn’t about me getting laid, it’s about Lex getting laid,” Daisy argued, with a mocking tone to her sultry voice.

  Lexi didn’t have to look at Sawyer to feel his glare burning holes into the side of her face. Lexi kept her eyes on the passenger side window as the ladies in the back talked about possible options for Lexi’s one night plough.

  “What about Finn?” Aubrey asked. Sawyer swerved sharply causing the truck to jolt before he readjusted.

  “What about him?” Jordan questioned.

  Aubrey rolled her eyes as though exasperated with her sister in law, “Well, I know Finn and Lex go way back and I happened to see them having coffee the other day and things looked to be heating up from where I was sitting.”

  The four heads invading the truck quickly whipped to Lexi. For fuck’s sake, couldn’t a girl just have coffee with a friend? But the glare from Sawyer made her think that he could be jealous of his younger attractive little brother. An evil thought crossed her mind and she decided she would play up her “attraction” to the younger McGuire to see what happens. She was convinced it would be like the time Jack tried to flush their house cat down the toilet, but what the hell.

  Aubrey turned to look at the waiting vixens, and with a shrug, she commented, “Finn could be an option.”

  A mischievous smirk lit up Daisy’s face as she caught on to what Lexi was doing. She gave Lexi a playful wink to let her know that she had no issues playing along with her little plan.

  “I always thought you guys would make a cute couple,” Jordan attested.

  Daisy slipped out her cell phone while Jordan and Aubrey talked about how Lexi could seduce Finn. All the while, she could feel Sawyer’s jealousy fill the air of the truck.

  “There!” Daisy shouted excitedly. “Finn said he will meet us at the bar in a bit for a beer. He’s excited to see… ahem… everyone,” Daisy said with an eye toward Sawyer, whose frown deepened and his knuckles turned white from the hard grip he had on the steering wheel. Lexi’s phone buzzed from her purse and she reached in to see a text from Finn and Daisy.

  Daisy: Bro, I need your assistance.

  Finn: How much bail do you need?

  Daisy: You bailed me out once! ONCE. But no, not asking for me. Lexi needs your help pissing off Sawyer.

  Finn: Pissing off Sawyer is what I live for, add in Lexi and you know I won’t say no. What do you need?

  Daisy: I need you to meet us at the bar in 20 and pretend you're interested in screwing Lex.

  Lexi: Take a breath, Finn! It would be fake. But your brother has gone to new lengths to piss me off and I know how much you enj
oy doing that to him. It would be completely fake.

  Finn: Ladies, ladies… you don’t need to convince me. I’m already out the door. See y’all soon. ;)

  Aubrey tapped Lexi on the shoulder from behind, snapping her attention from her phone, “Who are you talking to that would make you smile like that Sexy Lexi?”

  Lexi’s groaned. She hated that nickname and would prefer anything other than Sexy Lexi. Especially since her scars make her feel anything but sexy.

  “It was just Finn letting me know he was heading to the bar,” she answered.

  She was almost certain that Sawyer’s face started to turn a bright shade of red as she released this bit of information. She was about to have some serious fun fucking with him. Payback was a bitch and she was about to handsome in bulk to the broody Sheriff who broke her heart.

  Chapter 13

  Sawyer

  Sawyer pulled into the parking lot of the Barn House and hopped out of the car. Given the large area of the bar, he asked a couple of Deputies to help him surveil the location and wear civilian clothing to blend in with the crowd. He was already pissed and needed something to punch, so he hoped there was a brawl or an asshole who needed a bit of manhandling to help him out.

  Finn. She was looking to get laid with Finn. He didn’t know how he felt about that, considering Lexi had seen him walk out of the bar several times with one or sometimes two ladies. But his brother? No, that was the line that should not be crossed and Finn knew their history, there was no way he looked at Lexi as anything more than a friend.

  After the perimeter had been secured and the guys were set up inside, Sawyer let the ladies hop out of the truck. As soon as they hit the gravel with their high heel shoes, Finn’s truck pulled up next to them. He got out of his stupid ass truck wearing his best denim and a button-down. He immediately spotted Lexi and rushed to pick her up and spin her around as he hugged her. She laughed and he wished he’d been the one to draw that sound out of her. Along with a variety of other sounds.

  “Hey there sweetheart!” he said, as he put her down on her feet but didn’t release her. Instead, he guided her into a spin so he could take a peek at her outfit. “Damn, you look good enough to eat,” he said with a wolf whistle.

  Lexi blushed as she stopped in front of him, “That could be arranged if you play your cards right.”

  Sawyer was done with this shit and leaned against the hood of the truck, took his weapon out of his holster and cocked it to get everyone’s attention. Sure enough, they all turned at the sound of his 9 mm.

  “Y’all want to go inside or are you two just going to eye fuck right out here in public,” he growled as he bit back his anger.

  Finn’s eyebrow raised and a slow smirk grew across his face as Lexi curled her arm around his waist.

  “C’mon Sugar, I’m really looking forward to scuffing up that dance floor with you,” Lexi cooed as she dragged Finn towards the entrance. Sawyer tried not to act like a homicidal maniac when he saw Finn’s filthy paw roaming too close to Lexi’s amazing ass. It looked too damn good in that dress.

  A clap on the shoulder knocked him out of thought on how to bury his brother’s body. The fierce little hand doled out a hardcore slap.

  “How ya doing there big brother?” Daisy asked as she moved into the bar with the others. There was something fishy about the whole situation and if there was something amiss it involved the devils that were his sisters.

  Sawyer was trying hard to maintain a sense of composure and professionalism. Especially since he was assigned to protect Lexi, but the woman was making it hard to fucking do that when she was being a fucking seductress.

  Sawyer steadied himself and moved into the bar. His eyes immediately landed on his target and he checked in with the guys he had posted on the inside. The bar was hopping and the smell of stale air and smoke sunk into his pores. He didn’t know how his sister spent so much time in the shit hole, but she was his sister and they supported her.

  Sawyer posted himself in the corner facing the door and within clear sightline of Lexi. As mad as he was that Finn was fawning over her, he also felt secure that Finn would never let anything happen to Lexi. He stood back and watched as the ladies drank and laughed with each other and others who gravitated towards them.

  “How’s it going baby bro?” Remi said as he shoved at Sawyer’s shoulder. Sawyer eyed him curiously. He was supposed to be watching Jordan’s youngsters tonight. Hopefully, no one would need medical attention in the county because the doctor was not in. Well, she was intoxicated and currently sucking face with some douche canoe from city hall.

  “What are you doing here?” Sawyer asked.

  “Miss Martha took the kiddos for a sleepover, so I figured I’d come to make sure the horn dogs stay away from my woman,” he replied, his eyes falling to Aubrey as she threw her head back and laughed at something Daisy said. She was three sheets to the wind. Nothing Daisy ever said was that funny.

  Aubrey was a beautiful woman, so he understood Remi’s need to ensure all the dicks in the room knew not to mess with her. But there were still some fellas passing through who were charmed by the Canadian sweetheart. And who could blame them? Sawyer was proud to welcome her to the family and was delighted when his brother took the very large tree trunk out of his ass and realized his feelings for her.

  “No offence, but I doubt Aubrey would need your help in that department. She’s got a killer right hook,” he smirked.

  “Aint that the truth,” Remi smiled widely as he raised his beer to his lips for a sip. “I prefer she has all the function of her right hand,” he waggled his brow comedically as Sawyer rolled his eyes and groaned.

  “You two are so adorable it’s disgusting,” Sawyer replied.

  “Yep. But in other news, what’s happening with Finn and your girl over there?” Remi lifted his beer in the direction of the couple. Finn had his right hand on her lower back and was bent into her as he whispered something in her ear.

  “Don’t know, don’t care,”

  “Have you told that to your face? Because right now if looks could kill, Finn would have been dead three times over,”.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied, pulling his eyes from Finn and relaxing the fist he didn’t know he’d made.

  Remi turned to him and stood in his line of sight, blocking his view of the pair. He had his “don’t mess with me” brother face on and Sawyer could tell he was about to start preaching at him.

  “Have you told her everything?” he asked and Sawyer shifted his eyes from his brother.

  “I’ll take that as a no. Why the hell haven’t you told her everything you’ve done to change since that night?”

  “Because it wouldn’t make a God damn difference, Rem. She hates me and I broke her heart. And you know what, I deserve her hate. I was a dumbass kid who did stupid shit and never thought about how it could hurt her. None of us were the same after that night and as much as I wish I could turn back the clock and do it differently, I can’t. And I can’t get her to forgive me…” he sighed.

  He realized at that moment that he would be a different person had it not been for the events of that night ten years ago. He’d always known who Lexi was and always noticed her. But he cared too much about his reputation and popularity when he was in high school. It was hard walking in the same halls as the great Remington McGuire.

  Holding Lexi in his arms the night of her accident shifted his entire world. After she ran from the party, he chased her. He saw the hurt and pain pool in her eyes as she fought back the tears. He knew he had made a terrible mistake. Of all the people who made fun of her, he should’ve known better. He ran for her, but he didn’t reach her in time. He watched as a black car hit her and her body rolled and hitched on the back of the car. The driver never slowed and he chased after the car as Lexi’s screams rang through the air.

  Once she had untangled from the car, he rushed for her. She was unconscious, bloody and pale. Her eyes were close
d and she winced when he held her. The deep jagged slice down her beautiful face bled over his clothing and he took off his shirt, trying to slow it. When the ambulance and police arrived, he drove with her to the hospital. Never letting go of her hand.

  All he thought about was how horrible he had been to her. How he may never get the chance to make it right, to apologize, to tell her how he felt. He refused to let go of her hand until she was wheeled into the ER operating room. He sat in the waiting room for eight hours while they operated and tried to control her internal bleeding.

  The next day, he enlisted in the Army.

  Sawyer shook the thoughts from him and he stared back at his brother. He must have seen the pain on his face because his features softened and he clapped Sawyer’s shoulder.

  “You’re a good man, Sawyer,” Remi said before Aubrey’s body rushed into his in a fierce hug.