Theirs To Defy: a Reverse Harem Romance

by Stasia Black

Hunter just nodded without comment. He hated coming out to town for just this reason—that look of pity on everyone’s faces when they talked to him. Even after more than a year. Drinking at home alone was even more depressing, though, so here he was.

  Last week was the one year anniversary of Janine leaving him. What was the quote from that movie he loved—get busy living or get busy dying? It was from the Shawshank Redemption, a movie about being in prison. Which was what his house had felt like lately. He’d had enough of holing up there by himself. He was sick of the silence. He used to find the quiet of country living calming. Peaceful.

  But for the past year all he heard was the absence of her voice. Man, she’d always been complaining about something. The hot water ran out too quickly. She hated the mosquitos in the spring. The gravel driveway meant her car was perpetually dirty. Not that she had anywhere to go where a nice car would be noticed.

  It was funny how the things that drove you nuts about a person ended up being the things you missed most.

  Or maybe he was just a damn fool. Sentimental. Nostalgic.

  What he probably really missed was her body warm beside his in the bed at night. The way he could roll over and kiss the nape of her neck, and, no matter how ornery she’d been that day, her body would go all soft. How she’d open her legs and grasp his ass and pull him into her.

  Even when they were both furious with each other, they could still communicate that way. By the end, it seemed like the only thing they had left. Stony silences all evening would give way to furious lovemaking at night. Biting and clawing as she brought him to the brink. Clinging to him for the briefest moment of their mutual climax like there was some hope, some future for them.

  And then pulling away the second it was done, sometimes going to sleep on the couch like she couldn’t stand his touch a second longer.

  He’d never understood her. But he hadn’t been able to ask her why she did it—why she kept coming to bed each night only to wrench herself away right afterwards. At first he thought it was because she loved him. But eventually he realized it was to punish him. Yet another reminder that he might have his ring on her finger but she’d never truly be his.

  Hunter’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out to check who was calling. There was never a night off when you were the only large animal veterinarian within two counties.

  Mom flashed across the screen. Hunter’s face soured. Jesus, if there was anyone worse than people in town staring at him with pity it was Mom with her cheer-Hunter-up routine. She meant well. He knew she did. But he could only handle so much enforced cheer a week and he’d already spent most of Sunday at her and Pops’ house. He let the call ring out since she’d know being sent to voicemail after a couple rings meant he’d rejected her call.

  When it finally stopped buzzing, he shook his head. Jesus, coming out tonight wasn’t helping anything. He’d still been fixating on Janine as much as he ever did at home. And these bar stools were damn uncomfortable.

  He set his beer back on the bar and turned sideways on his stool so he could reach into his back pocket to grab his wallet when he saw the door to the bar open.

  And in walked the most stunning woman. She had long black hair that was pulled back in a slick ponytail. Her face was flawless. Porcelain skin, big blue eyes. Heart-shaped face, pink lips.

  Unlike most of the women in the bar, she wasn’t dressed like she was looking to get noticed. She was wearing a dark t-shirt and jeans—not too tight but just enough to show she had curves in all the right places. Also unlike everyone else in the bar, Hunter didn’t recognize her. Unusual in a town the size of Hawthorne, which was barely a blip on the map.

  Apparently everyone else found her just as interesting because half the bar had turned to stare at her.

  Shit. Hunter knew that feeling. Hunter hated that feeling.

  He turned back to the bar and took another sip of his abandoned beer. He was just about to reach for his wallet again when the woman sat down on the barstool beside him.

  He froze, hands on his mug of beer. Had she seen him and come down to sit by him specifically or had she just randomly chosen an empty seat at the bar?

  He watched her out of his periphery and she didn’t so much as glance his way. Yeah, wishful thinking, jackass.

  Still, he didn’t go for his wallet again.

  The woman glanced up and down the bar. Bubba was bartending tonight, along with Jeff. Jeff was at the other end of the bar, making an ass of himself like usual while Cherry and Lacey hung on his every word. Cherry was leaned half over the bar top, her cleavage so low he bet Jeff could see her belly button.

  The newcomer smiled and shook her head a little at the scene, like it amused her in some way. Bubba finally finished mixing drinks and handing them off to Mary who was waitressing tonight and then came over to the woman.

  Bubba was as much an institution as his bar. A big man with a belly to match, he had a long gray beard and a ride or die tattoo on his knuckles that pretty much said it all.

  The woman didn’t look intimidated by him though. She just smiled back at him when he turned to her and asked, “What can I get you, beautiful?”

  She hesitated a moment, like she was about to order something but then reconsidered. She tilted her head sideways, showing off the long curve of her neck. “What do you have on tap?”

  Bubba listed off several beers and she chose a dark IPA.

  Hunter sipped at his beer and pretended to be minding his own business while Bubba served her up a big glass of dark beer. She took a long sip, licking the foam off her lips at the end.

  Hunter swallowed hard and averted his eyes.

  “Ah, that hits the spot,” she said after another long sip. “Is the kitchen still open?”

  “Till ten,” Bubba answered. “What can I get for ya?”

  She was quiet a moment, then blurted, “I’d kill for a burger,” like it was a confession she was admitting to a priest.

  “My kind of lady. Beer and burgers. Coming right up.” Bubba turned and walked to the end of the bar where it connected to the kitchen to put in her order. Hunter couldn’t help his eyes seeking her out again as she sank back on her stool, taking another long sip from her beer.

  But then his vision was blocked by Larry leaning on the bar between Hunter and the woman. Larry was in his late forties and had been a teacher at the high school before he got fired for showing up to school drunk.

  “I agree with Bubba,” Larry slurred, obviously drunk. He smelled like a damn brewery. “It’s sexy seeing a woman who knows how she likes her beer. With plenty of head.”

  Son of a—

  “I’m Lawrence.”

  There was no response from the woman. Hunter imagined her giving Larry a cold, “fuck off, I’m not interested” face.

  “So you’re new in town,” Larry persisted, shouldering between Hunter and the woman even more.

  “This is a small town. Everyone knows everyone. So when a bombshell like you walks in…” Larry paused, “…well, it’s hard not to notice. Hard being the operative word, if you get what I mean.”

  All right, that was enough.

  But the woman seemed fully capable of standing up for herself.

  “Whoa whoa whoa,” Hunter heard her say. He still couldn’t see because of Larry blocking his vision, but from the way Larry was leaning in, he had to be crowding the woman.

  Her firm voice was clear. “I’m not interested. You need to back up. Now.”

  Larry’s body moved sharply like she might have shoved him, but he had a firm grip on the bar top and he barely budged.

  “What?” Larry said, a nasty tone entering his voice. “I’m just being friendly, don’t be a—”

  Hunter had had it.

  “She said she’s not interested.” Hunter yanked the back of Larry’s collar, choking him and knocking him off balance until he stumbled backward and landed on his ass.

  Hunter was already on his feet, standing between the red-faced Larry
and the woman still sitting on the stool behind him.

  “Get the hell out of here before I call Marie,” Hunter threatened.

  Larry blanched and struggled to get to his feet.

  “And call a cab or I’ll call her anyway.”

  Larry nodded and stumbled off toward his table.

  Larry was mostly harmless but there was nothing Hunter hated more than men who disrespected women.

  He turned around to apologize to the woman and her eyes jerked up almost guiltily. Had she been checking out his ass? Hunter bit back a smile.

  “Sorry about him.”

  She just waved a hand and took a long pull of her beer. Too big a swig, it turned out, because she was immediately choking and spraying beer all over the bar top.

  Hunter jumped forward and pounded her back several times. “Are you okay?”

  She coughed again but nodded, grabbing a napkin to wipe her mouth and then, discretely, the bar top.

  “I’m fine,” she gasped when she could finally breathe through her windpipe again. She took another sip of beer to soothe the last of her coughing fit. Then she winced. “I don’t suppose you could ignore the part where I was just the bar’s own personal beer geyser? I haven’t been let out in polite society for a while and apparently I’m rusty at it.” She smiled self-deprecatingly and Hunter couldn’t think of the last time he’d seen anyone more charming or lovely.

  “So,” she said when the silence had gone on long enough to be awkward. Shit. Talking. He was supposed to be talking here. He should say something witty. Engaging.

  He had nothing.

  “Is Marie his wife?” she asked.

  It took him a second to realize what she was asking and he finally shook his head with a smirk. “Larry wishes. No, she’s the sheriff.”

  “Oh.” She looked a little surprised. “I take it Lawrence has had a few run ins with the law?”

  Hunter gave an eye roll. “I think he spent more nights in the drunk tank last year than he did at home. Marie got so tired of hauling his ass in she started playing death metal all night on full blast at the station, which, from what I understand, is hell when you’ve got a hangover.” He smiled. “Most nights Larry gets himself home now before getting too sloppy.”

  “I’m Hunter, by the way. Hunter Dawkins.” He held out his hand but then pulled it back at the last second. “Shit, I don’t want you to think I’m just another asshole at the bar trying to hit on you. Sorry,” he pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “I can just leave you to your beer.”

  He started to grab his drink, ready to get up and leave.

  “No,” she put a hand on his forearm briefly before jerking it away again. His arm tingled where she’d touched him. When was the last time a woman had touched him? He’d thought about trying for a fling a few times since Janine, but in such a small town, it hadn’t seemed worth the effort. Hawthorne wasn’t exactly the kind of place you could pull off an anonymous one night stand.

  “It’s fine,” she smiled. “I don’t mind the company. With someone who knows how to respect personal space, that is,” she clarified with a smile. “I’m Isobel.”

  “You want another, Hunter?” Bubba asked, pointing to Hunter’s now mostly empty beer mug.

  “I’ll just have a Coke this time. Thanks, Bubba.” He had to drive home.

  Hunter looked at Isobel quizzically. “So what does bring you to our little town? It’s true we don’t get too many new faces around here.”

  “I’ll be working at Mel’s Horse Rescue for the summer.”

  Of course. “I should have guessed,” Hunter nodded. “The few new faces we do get around here are usually the ones who cycle through there. You should have a good time. Mel and Xavier are great people.”

  “You know them?” Her interest was obviously piqued. Then she shook her head, “I guess everyone knows everyone around here.”

  “True enough,” Hunter chuckled in agreement. “But I’m actually godfather to their second son. He’s two and a half.”

  “Really? Wow, that’s awesome. So you know them, know them.”

  Hunter nodded. Mel and Xavier had been nothing but supportive, both when he and Janine were together and… after. He tried to get out to the ranch to hang out with them whenever he could. It was impossible to be too sad with two rambunctious little boys running around, asking you questions a mile a minute.

  “They’re good people,” he repeated.

  Isobel propped her elbows on the bar top, her head tipped slightly sideways as she watched him. Her blue eyes were bright but there were slight shadows underneath them.

  What was her story, he wondered? She’d done nothing but smile since he’d been talking to her, but it was like he could sense a sadness layered just underneath the surface. It was hard to describe, but it made her even prettier. She was obviously a strong woman not afraid to stand up for herself, but there was a fragile quality to her at the same time.

  “It’s amazing work they do,” she said. “I heard about their horse rescue from a horse trainer I know back in New Hampshire. He couldn’t stop singing their praises. Is it true they’ve got twenty-five horses at the ranch that they’ve rescued now?”

  “More than that,” Hunter said. “Some of the horses they’re able to rehab and get adopted but there are usually a steady stable of at least thirty horses out there now.”

  Her eyes were wide with admiration.

  “So that’s how you heard about the rescue,” Hunter asked. “From your trainer friend?”

  “Yeah. He told me about it a while ago. I always thought working out here sounded like an amazing opportunity, just something I’d never have time for.” Her eyes clouded over for a moment and she looked down before pasting on a bright smile and shrugging. “Well, I finally have some time and it seemed like a perfect fit.”

  Hunter’s eyes narrowed, wondering what was going on in that lovely head of hers. “New Hampshire, you said? Is that where you’re from?”

  But before she could answer, Jake came up and interrupted, beer in hand. “Hey Hunter,” he gestured toward the pool table. “Connor’s leaving if you want in on the next round.”

  “Oh.” Hunter shot a quick glance at Isobel, then looked back at Jake, trying to communicate telepathically. Come on, Jake, move the fuck on. Hunter wanted to smack the guy upside the head. Couldn’t he see he was talking to a beautiful woman?

  But Jake just kept standing there so Hunter finally said, “I’m good. You guys can keep playing.”

  “Ohhhhh,” Jake said, looking over at Isobel like he finally understood. And was being totally fucking obvious about it.

  Hunter felt the back of his neck heat up as Jake winked at him and turned around, finally walking off. But when he looked back at Isobel, she was just smiling into her beer.

  “Here ya are, darlin.’ Char-grilled just like the good Lord intended.” Bubba set down Isobel’s burger in front of her.

  She thanked Bubba and picked up her burger but then paused, looking over at Hunter. “Sorry, is it rude if I just dig in right in front of you?”

  Hunter waved his hand. “By all means. I already ate.”

  “Oh thank God, I’m starving.”

  He laughed and she took a huge bite of the juicy burger. Apparently it tasted good because her head fell back in bliss as she chewed.

  Annnnnnnd now his jeans were tight because, fuck. That was the hottest thing he’d seen in a long while.

  Her eyes had dropped closed, she was so lost in the sensual experience of eating the burger. Hunter watched the delicate column of her throat as she chewed and swallowed. His eyes traced down her throat, past the collar of her t-shirt, down to the round swells of her—

  Shit.

  He jerked his eyes back to her face, only to find her watching him ogle her. Well, fuck.

  He felt his neck heat and he looked away, back behind the bar. Only to see Isobel’s reflection in the mirror, two spots of color high on her cheeks as she watched him surreptitiously over the top
of her burger like she was amused by his embarrassment.

  Everything he was feeling right now—God, he hadn’t felt it in so long he barely recognized it. Attraction. This was what attraction felt like. He almost couldn’t believe he was actually sitting here, talking and flirting with this beautiful woman.

  She finished swallowing her bite. “So this bar is like Cheers. Where everybody knows your name?” She took another bite and Hunter couldn’t help smiling sheepishly.

  “Yeah. Well. Small towns.” He couldn’t help his thoughts turning back to Janine. “You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em.”

  “I’ve always liked them,” Isobel said, leaning in like she’d detected his suddenly soured mood and was trying to jostle him back into the moment with her. “My best memories are of the small town where I lived in New Hampshire.”

  Right.

  Because she wasn’t Janine. This girl grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, not an expensive neighborhood in Manhattan. Janine used to brag about being from Soho like it was an exotic foreign country. Hunter shook himself and loosened back up.

  They chatted easily as she ate her burger. He learned she loved working with horses and all about the personalities of the horses at the stable where she’d worked in New Hampshire. She was so animated as she talked about each one, Hunter couldn’t take his eyes off her. She mentioned she was taking some time off from college but she’d gotten a far away look in her eye and seemed uncomfortable so he hadn’t pressed anymore.

  “I feel like I’ve been talking non-stop,” she said, taking a sip of her beer. She’d only drunk about half of it, and eaten a little more than half her burger before setting it down on the plate and ignoring it. “Tell me about you.”

  Hunter shrugged, feeling embarrassed. What could he say? He was the town vet who spent his days armpit deep up the back end of cows and horses, struggling every month to pay his bills and keep the lights on? He knew all too well exactly how unimpressive he was.

  Besides, really, what was the point? It wasn’t like he could have a relationship with this woman, even if she was as perfect as she seemed. He wasn’t sure he was ready, if he would ever be. And she was only going to be here for the summer. The last thing he needed was to get involved with another woman who couldn’t wait to be rid of him.