Page 36 of Rain or Shine

“You’d know something about that, wouldn’t you?” Shane huffs out.

I look up at him, considering what Zander said. It’s odd timing that he was riding by as the fire started, but coincidences happen. Shane has done nothing but help me since coming to town. He wouldn’t do this.

Zander presses his shoulders back, mirroring Shane’s stance. “What else would you be doing downtown this time of night?”

“I guess you’ve never been to Vegas.” Shane smirks. “Not everyone is in bed by nine.”

Fury brews in Zander’s eyes as he opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.

“Shane was coming to see me.”

All eyes move my way, and Zander’s jaw clenches. “At three in the morning?”

“Yeah—yes.” I clear my throat, moving closer to Shane. He slides his hand lower on my back, grazing the top of my butt ever so slightly. “We’ve been hanging out.”

“You’ve been hanging out in the middle of the night?” One of the cops skims my outfit, pausing a little too long on the thin nightshirt barely covering my chest.

Shane must notice, because he hugs me even closer. His arm wraps over my shoulders, draping over me like he’s offering himself up as a blanket. I sink into his hold. God, he smells good beneath all the smoke.

“Yes, in the middle of the night.” I hold my chin high. “I don’t think I owe you an explanation for what time of night I’m seeing my boyfriend.”

“Your what?” Zander snaps. “No fucking way. You’re my⁠—”

“I’m not your anything anymore, Zander.” I cut him off, glaring. “It’s none of your business what I do or who I date. I don’t owe you an explanation.”

The cops look between me and Zander, confusion wrinkling their brows. They stand around waiting, like they expect Zander to tell them what to do. They might wear the badge, but Zander pulls the strings in this town.

When he doesn’t speak, one of them steps forward. “You live above the bar, right, Harloe?”

I nod, glancing at the mess that was my home only a few minutes ago.

“Do you have somewhere else you can go for the night? We’ve got to block this off while we investigate, and the fire department will have to give you the all clear before you can enter the building. I can give one of your brothers a call if you need a phone.”

My brothers.

My chest tightens. Liam is running around directing his crew. Will is overworked and already too busy with the ranch. And Asher is—I have no idea where Asher might be at this time of night.

I frown, glancing at the bar. “No, you don’t need to call anyone. I’ll figure something out.”

Zander steps forward, but Shane speaks up before he can say anything. “She’s coming to my place.”

My head whips his way as his fingers dig into my side. If I thought lying about him being my boyfriend was going to get us in trouble, staying at Ironside Ridge will have our small town’s rumor mill working overtime. They’ve only now stopped talking about me staying there when I ran out on my wedding.

Shane’s fingers graze my side like he’s trying to reassure me, but there’s no way he realizes what he’s getting himself into.

“Like hell she is.” Zander reaches for me, and Shane shoves himself between us.

“You touch her without her consent, and we’re going to have a big fucking problem. This is Harloe’s decision. Not yours.”

The crackle of tension is thicker than the smoke hanging heavy in the air.

After a beat of silence, Zander turns on his heel and storms to his truck. He slams the door behind him and peels off. This is far from over, but with the whole town watching, he’s letting it go tonight.

“You sure you’re okay going home with him?” The cop scans Shane, taking in the patches on his cut.

I rest my hand on his chest, trying to ignore that he’s solid muscle beneath his T-shirt. “I’ll be fine.”

“Call us out if you need anything.” With a final suspicious glance at Shane, they leave us to talk to Liam again.