He scowled down at her.
“It’s okay,” Felicity said cheerfully. “He’s right, I need to be more careful. I’m such a klutz.”
“West, I think you better go get those bags.” Mia reached over for Felicity’s plate of food and carried it towards the back booth. “You can call me when you’re ready.”
West had been dismissed. Something he wasn’t entirely happy about, even though he’d been itching to leave as soon as Felicity had walked through that diner door. But he didn’t like leaving Mia unless he knew she was going to be okay.
Felicity moved past him, swinging her crutches. “Don’t worry, I’ll look after Mia,” she said quietly. She didn’t look over at him as she made her way to the back both. But, somehow, that made him feel like even more of an asshole.
Well, his aim had been to wipe that rosy glow from her eyes when she looked at him. He figured he’d probably succeeded in doing that.
“I’m so sorry about West, Flick,” Mia said as they settled in the booth. Flick managed to rest her crutches in next to her without hitting anyone in the head or tripping them. A minor miracle.
Why did she have to be such a klutz? Especially around him. Perfect, gorgeous, sexy West Malone. He was a fantasy come to life.
Oh, she got that he wasn’t perfect. Nobody could ever accuse him of that. He was moody. Grumpy. Kind of nasty. From what she’d seen the only people he cared about were his family. But she was looking for someone with a touch of mean in them.
Well, maybe West had more than a touch. But he also had a lot of admirable qualities. He was loyal. She knew he’d just snapped at her because he was watching out for Mia. She really liked that about the Malones. They could all fight amongst themselves. And they did, frequently, often physically. But, at the end of the day, they had each other’s backs.
And they treated Mia like she was precious. She loved that for her friend. Mia was the best thing that had ever happened to her. The first time she’d met her had actually been outside this diner when she’d nearly bowled her over. After discovering they were neighbors, Mia had invited her over for coffee. Flick had made the mistake of baking some cookies to take with her. The cookies had been shit. She probably should have followed the recipe. Mia had just laughed and offered to teach her to bake. Flick didn’t have much interest in baking, though, so she usually sat and drank coffee while Mia made gorgeous creations in her kitchen.
That coffee date was also the first time she’d laid eyes on West. Unfortunately, he’d come into the kitchen as she and Mia were talking and picked up one of the cookies, eating it before she or Mia could say anything. His face had immediately turned red before he’d spat it into the rubbish bin. Then he’d actually accused her of trying to poison him with her shit cookies before storming back out of the kitchen. Mia had apologized for his behavior. He hadn’t really grown any friendlier towards her. Mostly, he avoided her. However, over these last few months she’d discovered that while he might have his social shortfalls, he was also a man you didn’t mess with. He was loyal to his brothers and protective of Mia.
“It’s okay. He was right. I could have crashed into you.”
“Not the first time,” Mia said with a grin, clearly remembering the first time they’d met. “Flick, you’re about thirty pounds lighter than me. Even if you did crash into me, I think I could catch you.”
“He was watching out for you. It’s sweet.”
Mia snorted, and Flick grinned at the sound. Mia was gorgeous, with long, strawberry-blond hair and a perfect, creamy complexion. She and Alec together were breathtaking.
Alec Malone had scared the shit out of her when she’d first met him. She’d never met anyone so controlled and cold—until he looked at Mia. Then his whole face softened. He became gentler. She’d come to realize he was one of the good guys. He was used to being in charge and didn’t take any bullshit. But, then, she guessed you had to be tough when you were the head of a family like his.
The Malones were known throughout the county as crazy, wild, and out-of-control. When they weren’t fighting with each other, which happened frequently, they were out causing chaos, adding notches to their bedposts, and using their charm and good looks to get out of trouble. She absolutely adored them.
“It’s not sweet. There’s nothing sweet about West. It’s just that Alec has become a bit protective since he learned I was pregnant, and he’s put all the boys on high alert. If anything were to happen to me under West’s ‘watch,’” she raised her hands and made quote marks with her fingers, “Alec would have a shit fit.”
Flick burst into laughter at the thought of Alec Malone having a shit fit.
“What does Alec having a shit fit look like?”
Mia grinned. “You do not want to know.”
Flick slid her plate over to Mia. “Here, you have mine. It’s cool enough to eat by now. I’ll wait until Doris brings out yours. Although there is a chance she spat in it. She doesn’t seem to like me much.”
“Doris doesn’t like anyone,” Mia countered. She picked up one half of the sandwich without argument, which told Flick she really was feeling nauseous. The nausea hit Mia throughout the day and the only thing that seemed to calm her stomach was eating little bits of food often.
Mia nibbled on the grilled cheese and swallowed then waited for a minute.
“Okay?” Flick asked worriedly.
“Yeah,” Mia said with a sigh. “Don’t think it’s coming back up. Alec has been losing his mind with me being so sick. This is the first time I’ve been allowed off the ranch in two months, I’m not going to have that ruined by vomiting all over the diner floor.”
“You vomit, you clean it up,” Doris snapped. “Don’t care if it’s ’cause you’re pregnant or not.” She dropped another plate down on the table.
Flick winced, wondering how many plates she’d broken doing just that, not that it was her concern.
“So, no mushrooms on toast? You finally told Doris you hate mushrooms?” Mia asked her.
“No.” Flick shook her head, eyes wide. “Not me. West.”
“West? How did he know you hate mushrooms?”
“I told him. He told Doris and then ordered me a grilled cheese. It was really thoughtful.”
“Oh, honey.” Mia reached across the table and grabbed her hand. She’d seen that look on Mia’s face before. She’d had it aimed her way a lot over the years. Sympathy. Pity. “Honey, again, there’s nothing thoughtful about West.”
There was. It was just that his brand of kindness was different than other people’s. He hid it behind a gruff manner. But it was there. Most people wouldn’t have cared that she didn’t like mushrooms and wouldn’t have said anything. Most people wouldn’t care that their sister-in-law was pregnant and feeling nauseous.
“Flick, I know I’ve said this to you before. But West isn’t an easy man. He’s not a man who’s likely to ever be interested in you.”
Ouch.
“Right.” She slipped her hand free of Mia’s and reached for the iced tea Doris had also dropped at their table. Well, hearing that sucked. And it hurt.
Mia didn’t think she was good enough for West.
“It’s not because of you, Flick.”
“Uh-huh.” That’s what she had to say.
“It’s because of the woman he once loved.”
Okay, that wasn’t what she’d been expecting. Her head shot up, and she stared at Mia.
“What?”
Mia nodded sadly. “I can’t tell you what happened. But West was in love with a woman and he lost her.”
Lost her? West? She couldn’t imagine any woman walking away from West. Sure, he might have his, um, social shortfalls, but once you were his then you’d be wrapped up in the protective blanket of West Malone. No way anyone would willingly walk away from that.
Unless she was a moron. Or dead. Fuck, please let her be a moron. Because she knew there was no way she could compete with a dead woman.
“Did she die?” s
he whispered. She clasped hold of the locket around her neck. It had been the last gift her parents had ever bought her. It was silver and heavy and she never took it off, too scared she might lose it. When they’d died, she’d put photos of them inside it. So now she carried them everywhere.
“Yes. And it was in a truly awful way. And, honey, he’s never looked at another woman since.”
“She was his one.”
“Yeah, I think she was.”
She knew she didn’t have to explain what she meant. Mia had already found her one when she’d found Alec.
“Oh.” Suddenly she wasn’t hungry for grilled cheese. In fact, she felt kind of sick.
“I’m so sorry, Flick.”
Flick shrugged. “Not your fault. I always did like to make things hard on myself. Do you think he will ever find someone else?”
Mia shrugged. “If it was anyone other than West or his brothers, I’d say there’s always a chance. But these Malones love hard. They don’t love often. I mean,” Mia blushed a little, “obviously they like to play around. All the younger Malones do anyway. Not Alec, West, or Jaret. But, actual love? No, it doesn’t happen often with them. So, I’m just not sure. And I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
Too late, Flick thought to herself. But she made herself smile brightly at Mia. She didn’t want the other woman to feel bad for her. That was one thing she hated, being pitied.
“He lost her when they were young?” she asked, picking at her sandwich.
“Yes,” Mia said quietly. “As far as I know, he’s never had anyone since.”
And it was highly unlikely Flick was going to be the one he fell for.
Damn. That really fucking hurt.
2
West heard the thundering of hooves. He straightened and looked off into the distance. A horse was pounding its way towards him. He frowned. As it grew closer, he knew it wasn’t one of theirs. The rider was a woman and he knew it wouldn’t be Mia since Alec had banned her from riding as soon as he’d discovered she was pregnant.
So that only left one person who he could conceive of it being. The one person he really didn’t want to see. She hadn’t been around these last few days, and he figured maybe she’d finally clued in. Maybe, after he’d been a complete prick in the diner, she’d come to understand he really wasn’t interested in her.
Mia had ripped him a new one over the way he’d had spoken to her, so much so, he’d briefly considered apologizing.
But West Malone wasn’t a man who apologized, and the point of being an ass had been to make sure she stayed away from him, something that would be ruined if he went over to her house and told her he was sorry.
He figured she was on her way to the main house. He walked towards the back of his truck to grab the tools he needed to fix the fence, but instead glanced back over as she grew closer.
How long had it been since he’d seen her at the diner? Four days? No, five.
And there she was, riding her damn horse with a purple cast on her foot. Was the woman an idiot? Without thinking, he started striding towards her, waving his hand. She didn’t acknowledge him. He let out a low, piercing whistle, and she turned to look at him. She slowed the stallion.
She looked ridiculously small on top of the huge beast. And he wondered what her brother was thinking, allowing her to ride around on such an enormous animal. If he threw her, she could be in very real trouble. Especially since she was riding around with one foot in a cast.
He should probably just let it go. Should let her ride on past. Instead, he strode over to her and, reaching up, lifted her down from the horse. He just held her steady with his hands around her waist as she rested her weight on her good foot. Her crutches were attached to the rear saddlebags. They’d been shortened and tied together.
“West? Is everything all right?”
“No,” he barked. “It’s not.”
Her eyebrows came together. She looked up at him, confusion filling her violet-colored eyes. He’d never met anybody with eyes that shade. Her dark hair lay in loose waves down her back. He fought the urge to twist it around his hand and draw her face back.
He wasn’t a Dom like Alec. He didn’t go to BDSM clubs and play with submissives. But he was most definitely a dominant man. Any woman in his bed would be doing what he said.
One of the many reasons he’d never get involved with Flick O’Malley: she couldn’t handle what he needed.
“What do you think you’re doing, girl?” he grumbled.
“Um, I was going to go see Mia,” she replied. Her eyes widened, panic filling them. “Is she all right? Is it the baby? Is that why you stopped me? To tell me that something’s wrong?”
“From zero to drama in five seconds,” he muttered. Although he liked that she’d immediately been concerned about Mia.
“What?”
“There’s nothing wrong with Mia.”
“Then why’d you stop me?”
“You’re riding with your foot in a cast.”
She looked down at her foot and then up at him. “Yeah, so?”
He felt his eyebrows raise in disbelief. “So? Do you really think that’s a good idea? To go riding while your broken bones are trying to heal? What if you fall off him? What if he gets away from you?”
“I’ve been riding around on Beast the entire time my foot has been in a cast. That’s why I’m using a saddle.”
Damn fool woman. She most definitely needed a firm hand. Applied to her backside.
“You don’t usually ride with a saddle?” What the hell? Why wasn’t her brother after her better?
“No, I usually ride bareback, but the saddle helps me with balance. I wouldn’t take the risk of hurting Beast.”
“Your horse’s name is Beast?”
“Yeah. Like from Beauty and the Beast.”
Oh, God. She’d named her horse after a character from a fairytale.
“Jesus,” he muttered. “Girl, you need a keeper.”
“Um, you can call me Flick, you know.”
“I know.” He just stared down at her, hoping she got his point.
“And I’m not a girl. I’m twenty-five.”
That surprised him. He would have put her at twenty, tops. But it didn’t matter that she was twenty-five, she was still far too young for him. If he ever got involved with someone again, which was highly unlikely, it would be a woman, not a girl.
And this girl would never be the right one for him.
“You shouldn’t be riding around with your foot in a cast, girl,” he told her firmly. “It’s a stupid, foolish thing to do. I can’t believe your brother lets you do it.”
Something flickered in her eyes. It was gone before he could analyze it.
“Well, like I just said, I’m twenty-five. I don’t need anyone’s permission to do what I want to do.”
Her coming back like that surprised him. He’d never seen her be anything but cheerful and positive.
“You know that’s not the way Haven works. Around here, the men take care of the woman. Maybe I need to go over to talk to your brother and see he does his job better.”
Another flash of something in her eyes. Panic? But before he could decipher it, it was gone. He decided he’d been mistaken. Especially when she gave him a big, bright smile. “All right, then, I won’t do it again. I’m getting this cast off in two days anyway. Not a big deal if I don’t ride Beast until then. Now, if you wouldn’t mind helping me back on, Mia is expecting me.”
He gently shook her. “Didn’t you just hear a word I said?”
“Hard not to hear you when you’re yelling,” she told him, a bite in her voice again.
Fuck. Was he yelling? Shit, he realized he had been.
“I’m gonna put your ass in my truck. Will your horse follow?”
She sighed. Sound filled with frustration. “He’ll follow,” she said reluctantly.
He didn’t say anything more. He just picked her up in his arms and cradled her against his chest as he
carried her over to the truck. Feeling how light she was just pissed him off more.
He set her gently down as he opened the passenger side of his truck. Before she could slide inside, he picked her back up and sat her down. Grabbing her belt, he reached across her and did it up.
“Seriously? You’re doing up my seatbelt just to ride a mile across ranch land? Nobody belts up to drive that far.”
“You do,” he snapped back at her. He tried not to read too much into why he felt so protective over her. He decided it was because she reminded him of a child. It didn’t matter that she didn’t smell like a child, that she didn’t feel like a child in his arms. She might be light, but she wasn’t bony. She had curves and she smelled like peaches.
Fuck. She would smell like his favorite fruit.
He moved around the hood of the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. He started up the truck and shifted it into drive.
“Aren’t you going to do up your own seatbelt?” she asked sweetly.
“Nope.”
It was all he was going to say. He didn’t have time for chitchat. He was already taking time out of his busy day to see her safely to Mia.
“I can see you’re one of those ‘do as I say, not as I do’ kinda guys, am I right?”
He glanced over at her in surprise as he made his way slowly towards the ranch house. He looked in the rearview mirror to see her horse following along obediently.
“Have you used up your quota of words for the day or something?” She crossed her arms over her chest, looking disgruntled.
“One of my brothers will give you a ride home and to take your horse back. Don’t ride it over again until that cast is off and the doctor gives the okay for you to ride again,” he ordered as they pulled up outside the house.
She didn’t say anything, just gave him a look.
He turned to her and reaching across, took hold of her chin, turning her face towards him. “Got me, girl?”
Her gaze narrowed. It was plain to see she was ticked off at him.
“I am not a girl. My name is Flick. And you aren’t in charge of me.”
“You ain’t leaving this truck until I have your word,” he growled at her.
How West Was Won (Haven, Texas Book 7) Page 2
