“Or what? You’ll punch me? Bring it, f**ker. I ain’t been in a fight for weeks and I’m more than happy to take out that pent-up aggression on you.”
Carson shoved him.
Tater started to charge but a big guy stepped between them, placing a meaty hand on both of their chests.
“Take it the f**k outside or I call the sheriff. Dig?”
After snagging his beer, Tater started walking backward. He grinned at Carolyn. “Fun while it lasted.” He vanished into the crowd.
Immediately Carson wrapped his fingers around her upper arms and hauled her to the tips of her boots. “What the f**k are you doin’ here?”
“Having a night out.”
“Like hell you are. Get home where you belong.”
“No.”
“Tryin’ my patience, woman.”
“Your patience?” Carolyn jerked out of his hold. “Spare me. I’m the queen of patience when it comes to you. So where’d your friend go?”
“Who?”
“The woman I saw you with earlier. I didn’t quite make it to the back booth to see if she was sucking you off or if you preferred to f**k her.”
Carson’s eyes widened.
“Surprised to hear me say that word?” She stepped in close enough to poke him in the chest. “Fuck, f**k, f**k, f**k, f**k, f**k, f**k. Fuck her and f**k you if you’ve been f**king her. How’s that? Did I get the f**king point across you f**king cheating ass**le?”
“I’d never…” His face had turned mottled red and he looked ready to commit murder.
The bouncer returned and inserted himself between them. “Ma’am? Are you okay?”
“No, I am not okay. Not even close to okay.”
“What can I do?”
“If you could get me some napkins so I can dry myself off that’d be appreciated.”
“Sure thing. Be right back.”
Carolyn reclaimed her place at the bar, giving Carson her back, thankful there weren’t mirrors so he could see her face.
He didn’t make a move toward her. Nor did he speak. But she sensed him seething.
Good. Let’s see how you f**king like being ignored, you dumb f**ker.
Another guy moved into the open space on her left. “Ma’am. You all right?”
Lord, save her from gentleman cowboys. “I’m fine. Just spilled on myself.”
“That happens to me too when I drink tequila.”
She released a brittle laugh. “Wish I could blame it on booze.”
“Can I buy you a drink?”
Then Carson stepped up and loomed over the man. “I’ll shove a bottle straight up your ass if you don’t get the f**k away from my wife.”
“Sorry, man. I thought—”
“You thought wrong. Beat it.”
After the guy left, Carson moved in close enough she could smell the whiskey and cigarettes on his breath. “Goddammit, Carolyn, what are you doin’ here?”
Somehow she’d masked the hurt and let her anger show. “You spend so much time here lately I wanted to experience the appeal of it for myself.”
“Where are my sons?”
“In the car. Locked in the trunk. With guns and the candy I used to lure them in.” She got nose to nose with him. “Don’t you ever, ever, ever question that I’d put their safety, happiness and wellbeing above everything else in my life.”
Shame flashed in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Yes, you are. You’ve been a sorry excuse for a husband and a father and I’m done putting up with it.”
“What are you sayin’?”
“You know exactly what I’m saying.”
“Carson? Is everything all right?” a female voice inquired.
He shook his head at whoever was behind her.
Carolyn turned, her stomach plummeting when she realized the dark haired woman she’d seen Carson with was Edie. The same woman she’d caught him with seven years ago. The same woman who’d taken every opportunity to make Carolyn miserable whenever they ran into each other.
Edie’s gaze winged between them. Then she offered Carolyn a smirk. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Obviously I am, so now you can buzz off.”
“There’s no need to be rude. Carson and I were just…talking.”
“I don’t care.”
Edie’s eyes went comically wide. “You don’t believe me?”
“I believe I asked you to leave.”
“I didn’t mean to cause problems.” Edie sent Carson a pleading look. “It’s not what you think. I needed someone to talk to and a shoulder to cry on. And since Carson has such big shoulders…he obliged me.”
Carson made an irritated sound.
As Carolyn studied Edie’s smug face, the situation became clear. She suspected Edie had heard Carson had been hanging out at the Silver Spur a lot lately. And Edie knew perfectly well that the gossip mill would churn with news that she—the recent divorcée—was spending time alone in the back room with Carson McKay.
How long had it taken for the news to reach Carolyn?
One. Day.
So Carolyn knew Carson hadn’t been stepping out on her—at least not with Edie. Given the size of this town? If he had been cheating on her, she would’ve heard about it long before now.
“I’ll oblige you too by reminding you that Carson is my husband. He’s a good man. But that’s the thing, he’s my man. Mine. He’s not your friend, he’s not your confidante, so back off.”