to her eyes.
A loud crack sounded behind Sierra.
Clay grunted and dropped to the ground, taking her with him.
Sierra fell to her backside. Clay’s hand loosened its hold on her hair. She rolled to the side, bunched her legs and shot to her feet, putting several feet between her and Clay before she looked back and came to a complete stop.
Clay lay on the ground, his hand clamped over his cheek.
A big man with massive shoulders and an iron jaw loomed over Clay.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Clay demanded.
The big guy growled. Literally growled. “Your worst nightmare if you lay another finger on that woman.”
Sierra watched in wonder. The children gathered around her legs, clinging to her, shaking in their fright.
“I’ll do whatever the hell I want,” Clay said. “That woman’s my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Sierra reminded him.
“I don’t care if she’s your great-aunt Sue.” The man poked a finger at Clay. “If you ever lay another hand on her, you’ll have to reckon with me. Do. You. Understand?”
“I don’t have to take this.” Clay rolled to his feet and came up swinging.
The big guy ducked and, in one smooth uppercut, popped Clay in the chin, knocking him to the ground again. This time, Clay lay for a moment, blinking. “I’ll kill you for that.”
“Big talk for a man who can only seem to push women around.”
Clay rubbed his bruised chin. “You gonna let me get up?”
“You gonna apologize to the lady?” He tipped his head toward Sierra.
Her ex-husband’s lip curled into a snarl. “Ain’t got nothin’ to apologize for. She’s the one who walked out on me.”
The big guy shot a glance at Sierra. “Seems to me she had reason.”
“That’s a load of bull.” Clay started to rise.
Big Guy pushed his foot into Clay’s chest. “Not until you apologize.”
Clay’s cheeks burned a ruddy red and a muscle ticked in his jaw.
Sierra held her breath. She’d never seen Clay apologize for anything.
“I’m sorry,” Clay said, his voice tight and angry, not apologetic in the least.
“Say it like you mean it,” Big Guy warned, his fist clenching.
The color deepened in Clay’s cheeks and his lips formed a thin line. “Fine. I’m sorry,” he said, his tone measured, softer this time, but just as tight, the anger simmering between the surface.
Big Guy stepped back.
Clay rolled over, pushed to his hands and knees and staggered to an upright position, glaring at the man. “Who the hell are you anyway? And don’t give me that crap about being my worst nightmare. What makes you think you can get in between me and my wife?”
“Ex-wife,” Sierra repeated. “The divorce has been final for months. I have the signed copy to prove it.”
“Not in my mind.” Clay turned toward Sierra, his gaze boring into hers, his hands tightening into fists. “I never would have signed that paper if the judge hadn’t threatened to throw me in jail.”
Sierra planted her fists on her hips. “Yeah, well, it’s done, legal and final. I’m not going back to you. I have a life now. And it doesn’t include you.”
Clay shot a look at Big Guy. “But it includes him? What? Is he your new boyfriend?”
Sierra lifted her chin. “If he was, it’s none of your business.”
Clay’s eyes narrowed and he studied Big Guy. “So, you ditched me to hop in bed with him?”
“If she did, it has nothing to do with you.” Big Guy crossed his arms over his massive chest and stood with his feet braced slightly apart, like a conquering warrior. “What she does is her own business.”
Sierra’s heart fluttered. By all appearances, Big Guy was a man’s man. He didn’t need to push a woman around to make himself feel big. He was larger than life and, at that moment, a hero in her eyes.
“Yeah, well, you can’t be everywhere she is.” Clay faced her. “I’ll see you when your boyfriend isn’t around.”
Sierra’s cheeks heated at Clay’s reference to the stranger being her boyfriend. She figured now wasn’t the time to correct him. Perhaps if Clay thought the guy who’d kicked his butt was her boyfriend, he’d be less likely to target her. “Just leave me alone, Clay.”
“You belong to me,” her ex said. “No hulking ape takes what’s mine.”
“Okay, buddy.” Big Guy gripped Clay’s arm and marched him toward his truck. “I can take a man swinging at me and I can take some verbal abuse, but when you start calling me a hulking ape, I draw the line.” He opened the door and shoved Clay into the driver’s seat. “Leave my girlfriend alone, or you’ll be reckoning with me.” Then he slammed the door and stepped clear of the truck.
Sierra held her breath, fully expecting Clay to push the truck into gear and run Big Guy over.
Clay lowered his window and yelled, “It ain’t over.”
“Oh, yes, it is.” Brenda Larson stepped out of the building with a phone in her hands. “The sheriff is on his way.”
Clay slammed his truck into Reverse and backed up so fast, his tires spit up gravel. He swung around and left the parking lot and Sierra in stunned silence.
Brenda waved. “Gotta get back to my babies.”
“Go. I’ll get the kids inside.” Sierra waved toward her friend. Brenda ducked back inside, leaving Sierra with Big Guy and the thirteen crying children, clutching her legs.
“Are you all right?” her hero asked, turning his full attention to her. He had reddish-brown hair, cut high and tight like a military man, and his eyes could have been brown or green depending on the way he turned his head toward the sunshine.
Sierra gulped and tried to remember his question. “Uh, yes. I’m okay.” She rubbed her arm absently.
“Did he hurt you? You know, you can file a report.” The man closed the distance between them and took her hand, his face darkening. “He did hurt you.”
Sierra stared down at the bruises forming on her arm. She pulled against his grip. “I’m fine. Right now, I need to get these children calm and inside.”
Eloisa sobbed against her leg, clutching Sierra so tightly, she couldn’t move without knocking the little girl over.
Several
