by Stasia Black
“Worthl—?” Liam’s nostril’s flared. “She certainly deserves better than you. You were born trash and you’ll die trash. How long till you end back up in prison? They got a bed still nice and warm with your name on it?”
“You wanna say that ag—?”
“What’s going on here?” Xavier’s booming voice made Mack’s head jerk to the right.
Shit, the boss was heading toward them and he didn’t look happy. Mack stepped back from where he’d been in Liam’s face.
“Kitchen duty for a month still not enough to teach you two to play nice?” Xavier stopped between them, glaring at one and then the other. “I’m not going to be embarrassed by two of my men acting like jackasses, am I?”
“No, boss,” Liam said, looking at the floor. Mack liked that. Cowed was a good look on him.
“Mackenzie?” Xavier growled and Mack shifted his gaze away from Liam.
“Sorry.” Mack respected Xavier. The man had given him a job even knowing he’d done hard time. It was a rare second chance in a world that didn’t often give them. “No problems here.”
“Good,” Xavier bit out. “Better not be.” With one more glare in both their directions, he turned and kept on his way.
As soon as he was out of ear shot, Liam just had to open his mouth again. “How about we let Calla decide who’s the better man?”
Mack gritted his teeth, shaking his head as he turned to follow Xavier. The only way this wasn’t going to end with his fist in Liam’s face was if he left now. “You stay away from her. Stay away from me too if you know what’s good for you.”
“Sounds to me like someone’s afraid he won’t measure up.”
This mother fucker was just begging for it, wasn’t he? Calla was Mack’s kind of people. He wouldn’t let Liam fuck with her or fuck her over. Mack turned back to Liam and put his finger right in his face. “I don’t play games with good women. But I can guaran-goddammed-tee you that if she’s heading back to anyone’s hotel room tonight, it’ll be mine.”
Shit. He hadn’t meant to say that. If he really had Calla’s interests at heart, he’d forget he ever met her. He might be a better choice than Liam, but not by much. Besides, Mack wasn’t in the market. Calla didn’t need him spreading his shit on her. The days of thinking he could change the cards he’d been dealt were long gone.
Liam grinned, obviously happy to be getting under Mack’s skin. “We’ll just see about that.”
This time Mack turned and didn’t look back. He had to get out of here before he did something he’d regret. Liam O’Neill would get what was coming to him eventually, and if there was any justice in the goddamned universe, Mack would be there to see it.
Chapter 8
LIAM
Liam stood near the bar that had been set up at one end of the hotel ballroom and watched the door for Calla.
The party had been in full swing for almost an hour but she and Mel had yet to make an appearance. At least Mack was staying well away from him. Liam’d only glimpsed him once since he’d been down here. Best move that wanker had made all year. Liam was surprised he’d showed at all. Mack wasn’t exactly famous for being sociable.
Liam took another swig of beer. He had to give it to them, these people knew how to party—they poured Guinness by the pint.
He glanced around the packed space. A live band was set up at the far end of the room. The fiddler sawed away like the devil himself had lit a fire under his arse. Another line dance had broken out. Liam couldn’t help watching on in amazement. All these grown damn men and women stomped and swung and clapped in almost perfect synchronicity as the music barreled on.
He’d just emptied his second pint as the song finished and a loud round of applause and whistling filled the room. The dancers broke off into couples or headed toward the sidelines as a slower tune started up.
And that’s when she walked in.
Liam blinked, thinking his mind was playing tricks on him again. For the past half hour he’d been looking up and down every jean-clad, big shiny-belted woman.
So he was not prepared for the siren that walked in sporting a cleavage-bearing red dress with a giant slit up the side showing off so much leg it’d make a grown man cry. He might not have even recognized it was Calla if not for Mel walking beside her, holding her hand and urging her forward.
He was still blinking back his surprise as Mack walked right up to her and grabbed her hand from Mel, lifting it to his lips.
Liam’s fists clenched. Where the fuck had that bastard been lurking? Liam jumped up from his barstool, about to make a beeline toward them, when his path was suddenly blocked.
Liam barely managed to stop from barreling into the woman in time. He was about to step around her and continue toward Calla when she put a hand on his arm.
“I thought I saw your name on the registry.”
Liam looked down, frowning at the blonde who held his arm possessively.
Well shite, it was the betty from the bar last night.
“Looks like we’ll be competitors. If you need any help with your mustang, I’d be happy to come out and we could work her together. And any time you want to practice your riding technique…” she smiled at him coyly. “I’m happy to oblige.”
Aw Jaysus. If he’d known she was the clingy stalker type, he never woulda feckin’ touched her last night. Time to shut this down. “Look, Betty—”
“Bethany,” she corrected, eyes flashing for a moment before she went back to batting her lashes.
“Yeah, well,” he didn’t hide his grimace. “Let’s just call last night what it was. A mistake.” He tried to pull away from her but she just giggled and latched onto his arm harder.
“Don’t be silly. We were both just a little drunk. Tonight I’ll really show you a good time.” She tried to pull him toward the dance floor.
Now she was just pissing him off. She was pushy, had a face that looked the same as a million other girls, and he felt like he was choking from the cloud of hairspray from her overly puffy blond hair.
Add that to her stalker tendencies and she was one hundred percent not attractive. He was about to tell her just that, but a little voice at the back of his head whispered it might not be the smartest idea. It was a small community and she knew who he was. Letting his inner arsehole loose probably wasn’t a grand idea, much as he was tempted.
Dammit, he hated this being a responsible lad shite.
“Sorry, miss.” He pasted on a disingenuous smile and peeled her arm off him. “I’m not interested.”
But she just kept smiling at him, leaning over to no doubt bare her cleavage in the little tube top she was wearing. “You can run now, but you can’t hide, Mister,” she said in a baby voice. “I’ll be here when you realize just what you’re missing.” Then she tapped him on the nose with her forefinger and he jerked away.
Any of Liam’s responses to that delusional statement definitely wouldn’t count as gentlemanly. So he bit his tongue and walked away without another word. In his experience that was the only way to deal with crazy.
But when he looked for Calla, he couldn’t see her anywhere. She and Mel weren’t by the entrance anymore.
Shite. Liam scanned the ballroom for any sight of them. Okay, there was Xavier. Hard to miss a man who stood a head taller than most. The only way Xavier would be at a party like this was if Mel had dragged him. And where there was Mel, he’d find Calla. Time to get this night back on track.
Liam smiled and made his way around the edge of the dance floor until he came up to Xavier. Just as expected, Mel stood right beside him.
But Calla was still nowhere to be seen. He was about to ask where she’d gone when he heard a loud peal of laughter behind him.
Which was when he turned around and saw her at the edge of the dance floor. Apparently trying to teach Mack to two-step.
Son of a cunt.
At least from the clumsy way Mack was fumbling around it was obvious he was a shite dancer.
Small
compensation, considering it only seemed to charm Calla more. She grinned as she yelled out instructions, her arm linked with Mack’s as they stomped and then started forward again. Well, they were supposed to be going forward, but Mack was still backing up. Which just made Calla laugh more as she tugged on his arm to try to get him moving with the rest of the group.
Jaysus, Liam had only been caught up with that blonde leach for a couple minutes, and here Calla and Mack were already looking as chummy as if they’d known each other for years and not days.
Enough of that.
Liam was about to head to break into their little dance lesson when Mel suddenly caught his arm. Her face was serious so he stopped instead of just blowing her off. It was loud with the blaring music and noise from the crowd, but he leaned down to hear what she had to say.
“You guys need to take it easy with her. She doesn’t have much experience with men.”
Liam nodded and was about to pull away because every second he wasn’t by Calla’s side was another that Mack was wheedling himself into her good graces. Mel’s grip just increased on his arm.
“I’m serious, Liam.”
He paused at that. She did look serious. Deadly so. Was he missing something?
“I just want to show her a good time, that’s all.”
Mel’s look didn’t soften. “What I’m telling you is that she’s not used to men like you.” She leaned in so she was talking directly into his ear. “Or any man. You get what I’m saying?”
Liam pulled back sharply so he could look her in the face. Did she mean—
“Tell me you get what I’m saying.”
Liam’s gaze went to the lovely woman on the dance floor and then back to Mel. He leaned down, glancing around to make sure no one else would hear him. “Are you saying she’s a virgin?” Calla had to be in her mid-twenties. Surely there was no way that she wouldn’t have had—
“I’m seriously breaking the girl code by saying anything about it. But I’ve seen how you guys operate and—”
“I’ve never done anything with a woman they weren’t fully on board with.” Liam couldn’t help his sharp tone and Mel winced.
“I’m not saying that you have. Or would.” Mel huffed out a breath. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”
Liam didn’t know what to do with this information. Staying away from virgins was one of Liam’s hard and fast rules. He looked out over the dance floor at Calla laughing and leaning into Mack.
Jaw tightening, he bent back down to Mel’s ear. “You tell Mackenzie this?”
She shook her head. “No chance. She let it slip while I was doing her make up and I probably shouldn’t have even told you, but—”
“I’m glad you did.”
She nodded, still looking uncertain.
He gave her arm a squeeze and then started through the crowd to get to Calla’s side. If Mack hadn’t been in the picture, he might have left well enough alone. Getting tangled with a virgin was usually the last thing he would have been up for.
But Mack was in the picture. He might not know her well yet, but the last thing she needed was to be seduced by some fucking ex-con. Liam was more determined than ever to get her away from the bastard.
Chapter 9
CALLA
“Your right foot. No, your other right.” Calla laughed even harder as Mack stumbled along to the line dance steps, his face an adorable mask of concentration as he stomped a beat after everyone else. At least he was finally moving back and forth with the crowd, even if he didn’t seem to be able to catch onto the simple step-kick, triple step pattern of the dance.
“Step, kick, tri-ple step,” she said, overexaggerating each syllable as she tried to demonstrate.
He seemed to finally get it, but then came the part where they were supposed to shuffle forward and he was still stomping and kicking. She grabbed his arm and dragged him forward, laughing so hard her stomach was starting to hurt.
God, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun. Maybe never?
She’d been so nervous while Mel was doing her hair and showing her how to apply some light make up. The dress alone had been so daring Calla hadn’t been sure she’d be able to go into public in it. So she hadn’t said no when Mel offered her a shot of tequila before they headed downstairs to the ballroom. She might have snuck a second while Mel went to the bathroom, barely able to hide her scrunched face before Mel came back out.
Calla was usually a strict beer drinker. But she couldn’t say she didn’t like the way the tequila heated her chest, burning all the way down. Then there was how, just moments later all her limbs went nice and loose and suddenly she’d been eager to get down to the party. To Mack and Liam.
Maybe it was wrong of her not to have chosen one over the other yet.
Then again, screw that. It wasn’t like she was looking for marriage. She just wanted to have fun tonight without stressing over all the shit she usually did.
Mel had tried to get her into a pair of heels but it took about zero point three seconds to determine that nope, there was no way she’d be able to take two steps in the damn ankle breakers. In the end, Mel agreed that Calla’s good cowboy boots—as opposed to her daily work ones—with the dress did look pretty cute. Cute wasn’t a word that had ever been applied to Calla before, so with Mel’s encouragement and one more shot of liquid courage, they’d come downstairs.
All her old anxieties came back the second they walked into the crowded ballroom. God, people she knew were going to see her in this get up.
Before she could start hyperventilating and running back to the exit, though, Mack had come up to her. It was impossible to miss the appreciation in his eyes as he looked her up and down. She was sure she’d gone beet red, but he pulled her out to the dance floor.
The song came to an end right as Mack started shuffling the right direction. She held onto his arm to hold herself up she was still laughing so hard.
“Glad I’m entertaining you,” Mack said gruffly, but she could tell by the twinkle in his eyes he wasn’t actually put off.
On impulse, she went up on tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek. She meant it to just be a quick peck but he wrapped an arm around her waist, his other hand slipping around to cup the back of her head.
His gray eyes were more intense than she’d ever seen as he leaned down. He wasn’t aiming for her cheek, either. Calla dropped her eyes closed, waiting for their first kiss with bated breath. She’d only kissed one other boy her whole life and it turned out Tommy Shelton had been dared to kiss the class tomboy for five bucks.
But a hairsbreadth away from Mack’s lips touching hers, a voice cut in loudly. “Can I have the next dance?”
Calla pulled back from Mack in surprise to see Liam standing right beside them, a broad grin on his face. He held his hand out toward Calla. Calla could feel Mack’s body stiffen, they were standing so close.
But Calla could only smile back at Liam. He looked more handsome than ever in his tight jeans, black shirt and shiny black cowboy boots that had silver embellishments. He might not be from this country but damn, he wore Western well.
“Now the Sleazy Slide,” the band leader called out and everyone around them hurried to line back up.
Calla stepped away from Mack but she grabbed his right hand. “Let’s dance!” With her other hand, she took Liam’s, then she pulled them both into the line, one on either side of her.
“Watch me,” she squeezed Mack’s hand and he looked at her with an expression that said, help.
“Left slide,” she called out as the whole line started shifting that way. This one was more complicated than the Cotton-Eyed Joe.
Liam picked it up quickly and when he did the little shimmy along with the slide, she couldn’t help appreciating his ass in those tight jeans. The next second, though, she was distracted by trying to help Mack figure out how to do the half-turns. She’d abandoned trying to get him on the beat a long time ago, but the whole crowd was facing a ne
w wall and Mack was still trying to slide.
Mack stumbled his way through the song and Calla continued laughing harder than she ever had in her life. Liam was hamming it up on her other side, making sure to wiggle his ass in an overexaggerated manner.
When the song was over, Calla clapped and whooped as loud as anyone else. She fanned herself with her hands. With all the bodies in the room plus the dancing—not to mention the tequila earlier—she was definitely past comfortably warm.
She lifted her hair off her neck as the band started up the next song. Couples around them started pairing off for the two-step.
“May I have this dance?” Liam asked, taking hold of her hand and pulling her toward him. Calla glanced over her shoulder to see Mack glowering so she reached back and squeezed his arm. “Next one’s yours!”
But then Liam had her pulled up against his body, one hand in hers and the other tight around her waist. And damn, it was like the man was born to two-step. He took command as he led her around the floor and Calla felt her body sinking into his. While she had plenty experience line dancing, she’d only two-stepped like this a handful of times—and when she had, she was usually standing in for the guy because there were too few of them at the dance. She’d certainly never been able to just lose her body to the rhythm and follow the lead of a man with a strong, firm grasp on her waist.
As they rounded the edge of the dance floor, Liam spun her out. She shrieked and laughed as the next second, he was spinning her back into him. Her hands rose to his chest as he pulled her snugly against him. Her breathing was erratic and not just because she was short of breath from the dancing.
Liam O’Neill had her in his arms. When had she stumbled into this alternate universe and when was reality going to come smashing back down like it always did?
Liam grinned and rolled his hips into hers before pulling them back into the whirling crowd of dancers.
