Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

Autumn’s stomach tumbled as she watched Jarom and Easton put on headgear and wrap their hands. She’d tried to convey to Easton not to hurt him, but she wasn’t sure if the cowboy got the message. He had said they tried not to hurt protection details, but Jarom had challenged him, and Easton’s pride was off the charts. Obviously Jarom’s was as well. She related to men much better than women, but this alpha male struggle had her stomach flipping over.

It was ironic that she’d knocked Jarom down, punched him, and kicked him only … yesterday? Now she could admit, only to herself, that she was falling in love with him and loathed the thought of watching him get thrashed by Easton.

Jarom wasn’t a cream puff like Easton had said, but he wasn’t prepared to fight someone with Easton Coleville’s skills. Jarom had no training and only pretty boy muscles. She knew he was trying to prove something to her. How could she explain that she loved the way he protected her emotionally, rescued her in the water, kissed her, and held her while she slept? She trusted him and thought he was ultra-attractive. He didn’t need to get injured or beat up by Easton to prove how incredible he was.

Maybe he had to prove something to himself though. So she stood outside the ring, afraid for Jarom and feeling incapable of protecting him.

It was a gut punch to realize she felt fear as an adult, but her hands were tied. She’d already undermined Jarom by telling him not to fight. She didn’t want to do that to him again.

She’d been terrified often as a child, and then she’d encased her heart in iron. She rarely felt fear, love, hope, or much compassion anymore. Especially after falling for Charles and having her heart broken, she’d become more machine than human. She’d protected the innocent and hated that they were in dire situations, but she hadn’t let the stirrings of compassion become full-fledged empathy, certain it would damage her warrior abilities if she felt anything deeply.

She felt plenty now. Fear for Jarom. Love for Jarom. Frustration at Easton but understanding why he’d agreed to fight when Jarom hadn’t backed down. Easton was a great guy and a cocksure alpha male. He’d barely touched his lips to hers when she’d flipped him over and hopefully made her point that she wasn’t interested.

The men started circling each other and her fears escalated. Along with the bios of each of the ranch hands, Aiden had information on the training Jared Coleville, retired Green Beret Captain, had imparted to each of his sons. Easton was almost as well-trained as Nick or Paul, though with a lot less real-world battle experience. Jarom didn’ t stand a chance.

She clenched her hands together and said the first prayer she’d said since she was a small child.

Please, God. Not for me but for Jarom. Make this quick and don’t let him get seriously injured, body or soul.

Jolting, she couldn’t believe she’d just done that. She’d let her guard down with Jarom and let him hold her through the night. She’d kissed him and been certain she’d entered another stratosphere, a world full of bliss and light. She wanted to love and hold him even if it was completely irrational to hope for such a thing. And now she had prayed.

She shoved the worry over what was happening away as Easton moved in and threw a jab at Jarom’s chest. Jarom darted to the side, and a hit that would’ve stopped some men’s hearts glanced off. Autumn’s eyes widened. Jarom was quick.

Easton kept throwing concise and powerful punches, and Jarom either deflected or dodged. Easton taunted nonstop and Jarom responded with his usual charm. She found herself smiling a few times at their witty razzing.

As minutes ticked by with no real damage to Jarom, she thought maybe her prayer could be realized. They could dance around until dinner and she’d force them to think it was a draw. It would hurt Easton’s pride but help Jarom’s.

Suddenly, Jarom leaped into Easton’s space and started landing solid punches to his abdomen. Easton grunted, probably more surprised than hurt, but the hits drove him back a couple steps.

Easton grinned. “Yes, bruh, that is bussin’. You aren’t a cream puff after all.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Jarom said.

Then the battle really began. Autumn was helpless to do anything but clench her hands and say quiet prayers in her head as the men duked it out.

She was impressed, stunned actually, with how well Jarom held his own. He wasn’t a battle savvy machine like Easton, herself, or the men she worked with, but someone had trained him to fight, and he was strong, quick, smart, and instinctive.

The fight wore on. Jarom split Easton’s lip. Easton cut Jarom’s eyebrow and landed vicious punches to his upper body that had her wincing. Jarom was making more mistakes and not dodging quick enough as time passed. It was obvious he was tiring and his head was probably ringing. Then Easton landed an impressive uppercut that knocked Jarom’s head back. Easton darted his foot out and took Jarom off balance, driving his fists into his chest and plowing Jarom onto his back on the mat.

Autumn cried out.

Footsteps pounded from the barn into the workout area.

Thankfully, Easton didn’t continue to punch Jarom but stayed low and offered Jarom a hand up. Jarom took it and Easton pulled him to his feet as Papa Jared rushed in. She thought Jarom swayed on his feet, but she might be projecting her own worries.

“Millie heard from Chad you two were duking it out. Stop it right now, Easton.”

Easton held up his hands, blood dribbling down his chin from the cut to his lip. “It was all him, Papa. I didn’t do anything.”

“You kissed the girl I love,” Jarom said quietly.

Autumn’s eyes widened, as did Papa’s and Easton’s.

Was this not about Jarom’s pride and the cream puff thing? Could it be more about his love for and instinct to protect Autumn? Her heart threatened to burst out of her chest. She loved him too. Even if they had no future. She routinely fought her bodyguard buddies when they tried to protect her, but with Jarom it was different. His protection and the safety he offered were mostly emotional, but rescuing her in the lake and staying on his feet for so long in the ring had been physical. She’d never felt so bubbly warm and loved. Jarom was proving he’d do anything for her. Would he stay with her?

“Sorry, bruh,” Easton said. “I’ve been interested in Autumn for a while, but I didn’t know you loved her.” He looked to Autumn. “Do you knock him down if he tries to kiss you?”

“No,” Autumn admitted in a quiet squeak.

Jarom’s blue eyes were warm as he studied her.

“Well … all right, then,” Jared said. “You two shower up and don’t make Mama keep dinner. She’ll fret it won’t taste as good, and she works too hard. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Jarom and Easton said together.

“Thank you,” Autumn whispered to Papa, grateful he’d interrupted. Jarom wouldn’t have lasted much longer, and as it was, he’d proven how tough and fast he was. He had reason to feel better than when he had come into the barn.

The older man nodded to her and then pivoted. She heard him mutter something about, “Boy needs to get over Cassie,” before he stomped out of the workout area and through the barn. Cassie? She could’ve sworn she’d heard Millie mention that name in regards to Easton. Did Easton love a Cassie at some point?

Easton and Jarom quietly unwrapped their hands and took off their headgear. There was no taunting or talk at all. Autumn’s stomach twisted with nerves. Jarom loved her. He’d fought for her. She loved him back. She’d prayed for him .

What was she going to do about all these new, unexpected, and maybe not unwelcome feelings?

Her iron heart was soft, moldable, and open to him. All the work she’d done over years, decades, to protect herself was at risk.

That was more terrifying than facing a dozen mafia henchmen.