Not Really the Outdoor Type by Paige Tyler Page B

it.”
    “Dammit, Kendall—”
    Jason cut him off. “Kendall asked you to leave, so this conversation is over. You need to go. Now.”
    Keith glared at Jason. “Stay out of this, mountain man. This is between Kendall and me.”
    “There’s nothing between us anymore, Keith,” Kendall said.
    “Maybe not,” he said. “But you’re coming with me anyway. I’ll save you from this backwater town, whether you want me to or not.”
    Keith reached out to grab her arm, but Jason stepped between them, knocking his hand away as he put Kendall behind him.
    “Don’t touch her,” Jason said warningly.
    Everything happened so fast after that. One minute Jason and Keith were glaring at one another, the next her ex-boyfriend was throwing a punch at Jason.
    Kendall opened her mouth to warn him, but Jason had already blocked Keith’s punch and was landing one of his own. The blow knocked Keith backward into a rack of fishing poles, and he hit the floor with a thud, the rod and reels bouncing off his head and shoulders as they fell down on top of him. He stayed where he was for a moment, cradling his jaw in one hand and glaring up at Jason.
    “You bastard,” he snarled, moving his jaw back and forth as if testing it. “I think you broke it.”
    Jason returned her ex-boyfriend’s glare with one of his own. “Doubtful, since you’re still talking. But maybe now you finally got the message to get the hell out of here.”
    Keith slowly got to his feet, but kept his distance from Jason. “I’ll sue you for this. And have you arrested for assault.” His gaze swung to her. “You’re my witness, Kendall.”
    Her lip curled. “No, I’m not. But by all means, try it. You took the first swing. Everyone here saw it. If that’s not good enough, the store’s security cameras will be, and you’ll only look more foolish than you already do when you try to press charges.”
    Keith looked around the store, as if trying to find the cameras she was talking about. Outdoor Outfitters didn’t have any cameras, but he didn’t know that.
    After a moment, Keith’s turned his attention back on her. “Fine! Stay here in this Podunk town and work in this place. But when you get tired of cutting fish bait and banging the mountain man here, don’t think I’m going to take you back when you run home to LA, because I won’t.”
    Kendall stepped in front of Jason as he lunged for Keith again. Thankfully, her ex-boyfriend turned on his heel and headed for the door at a very fast walk. Jason started to follow, but she tightened her hold on his arm.
    “Don’t,” she said. “He’s not worth it.”
    Jason hesitated. She knew he’d like nothing more than to go after Keith and rearrange his face for making those nasty comments, but he nodded.
    Kendall sighed with relief. “I’m sorry.”
    Jason shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry about. He was the complete ass, not you.” He looked around. Everyone was still watching them. “Let’s go in the office.”
    He put his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the rear of the store. Once through the Employees Only door, he led her into his office and closed the door.
    “I really am sorry about that,” Kendall said, turning to face him. “I had no idea Keith would come looking for me.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I ever went out with that jerk.”
    Jason reached out to cup her cheek. “Did you mean it? About staying in Copper Canyon?”
    She’d actually decided a few days ago. She just hadn’t told him yet. “Yes, I’m staying.”
    Kendall would have told him that he was the reason she’d decided to stay—that she was falling in love with him—but he bent his head to cover her mouth with his, effectively putting a stop to further conversation right then. Not that it mattered. Their lips said plenty without ever saying a word. And besides, there would be plenty of time for talk later.
    * * * * *
    That weekend, she made her move to Copper Canyon