Free Stone Temptation [Texas Stallions 3] by Morgan Fox Page B

husky tone, standing chest to chest with the heavily tattooed man.
    James was a little over six feet tall and so was Bullet. The men squared off. Gracie felt the tiny hairs all over her body stand on end.
    Bullet laughed. “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready,” he snapped, eyeing Gracie from around James. “I’ve got business with the lady.” He stared coldly. “If you can call her that.” He and his goons erupted into disruptive laughter, drawing all eyes toward them.
    Gracie cringed. She detested that they had found her and feared that their arrival would reveal her secret. Why had they wasted their time coming for her? Did Bullet really think that using her would do anything to get what was owed to him? Damn her stupid brothers for dragging her down with them.
    “You’re not welcome in here.” James blocked him as he tried to step in her direction. “Take your friends with you when you leave.”
    Bullet’s top lip curled into a snarl. “Who the hell are you?”  he barked.
    Calmly, James murmured, “I’ m the cop that’s about to put you and your crew in jail if you don’t leave now.”
    Bullet glared at her, and a chill shot up her spine.
    “She can’t stay in here forever, Cop,” he said with vehemence.
    James’s shoulders broadened, and his posture went ramrod stiff. His one hand balled into a tight fist at his side, while the other rested on the bulge at the small of his back. He was carrying his weapon. “Do I really need to haul your ass in, Reginald ‘Bullet’ Norez?”
    His gaze sprung quickly in James’s direction. “Oh yes, I know who you are. You’d be wise to keep your nose clean in my town,” James warned. He nudged his chin in the direction of the six men standing at Bullet’s back. “Please pass that along to your boys.”
    A wicked snarl tugged at his lip. “I’ll be sure and do that,” he said, his eyes dancing toward Gracie. The menacing stare left her cold and fearful. Slowly, they retreated from the diner.
    Letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, she took hold of James’s wrist and asked, “You know Bullet?”
    James nodded. “Yep, from high school…until he dropped out. He was an asshole then, and he’s an even bigger asshole now.” He stared at her intently. “Gracie, I don’t want you going home alone tonight. Let me take you home and check things out.”
    She nodded without hesitation. The last thing she wanted was to be alone. The idea of him being with her settled her nerves just a little. “I’d appreciate that, James.”
    With a crooked smile, he said, “Good. I’d feel better knowing you’re safe, but before we head out I need to call this in to the station.”
    James unclipped his cell phone and walked to the far side of the counter. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she assumed it was full of details about the type of person Bullet was and the potential for trouble in town.
    She hadn’t been in Temptation for more than a day, and the darkness from her life had found her. Resting her head in her hands, she prayed this was not a glimpse of what was lurking in her future.
     
    * * * *
     
    Gun in hand, James slowly opened the door to her hotel room and began checking for intruders. The small room was easy to cover, checking under the bed, in the closet, behind the doors, and in the bathtub. The room was clear.
    “No one’s here,” he whispered, turning to see her right behind him.
    “Are you sure?” she asked, even though she had been with him every step.
    He offered her a reassuring smile. “Yes, Gracie, I’m sure.” It killed him to see her so frightened.
    She rubbed her arms like she was cold, and before he realized what he was doing, he pulled her into his embrace. She trembled as he held her. “Gracie, it’s okay,” he said softly against her ear.
    “No, it’s not,” she cried. “It will never be okay.” Her arms came around him, holding him close.
    He didn’t know what to say to her,