Chapter 16
Before I can even think about backing away, Liam’s father turns toward me, his eyes sweeping over me in a way that makes my skin crawl.
A smirk curls his lips as he drawls, “Well, what do we have here? You dipping your finger in the honey pot, son?”
He lets out a loud, humorless laugh, the sound scraping against every nerve in my body.
“Lordy,” he continues, shaking his head like this is all some grand joke. “Your mother would love this. After all the shit you gave me for chasing after pretty little things, and here you are. No better than me.”
Liam’s jaw tics, the muscles in his forearm flexing as he clenches his fists at his sides. His father’s infidelity to his mother is understandably a sore spot for Liam.
Liam’s voice is a low, dangerous rumble when he says, “I’m going to ask you one more time, Carl. What are you doing here?”
His father straightens, his smile twisting into something colder, meaner.
“Carl,” he echoes, like the name tastes bad in his mouth. “Well now, there ain’t no room for that, boy.”
He steps closer, puffing up his chest like he’s still got the right to intimidate Liam.
“I’m your father, and you’ll address me as such.”
Then he turns his attention to me. His gaze rakes over me again, dismissive and calculating.
“Olivia,” he says, deliberate and sharp. “You need to remind your boss that he may think he’s in charge, but it’s my name on that sign, too. Always has been. Always will be.”
Something inside me freezes, anger swirling in my gut. But before I can speak, Liam steps between us, blocking me completely from his father's view.
His voice is low, shaking with fury.
“Her name,” he growls, “Is Olive.”
The way he says it makes my throat tighten painfully. He’s not just correcting him. He’s claiming me. He’s drawing a line in the sand.
Carl laughs loud, deep, and mocking.
“Easy, son,” he drawls, like Liam’s anger is a joke to him. “There’s a million more where she came from.”
The words slice through the room, acid burning hot under my skin. But Liam doesn’t move. Doesn’t flinch. He just stares his father down, jaw clenched so tight I can see the muscle ticing in his cheek.
Carl presses on, oblivious. Or maybe he just doesn’t care. Really, that’s probably the case because the only person he cares about is himself.
“Now. Where do we stand on the Birmingham deal?”
Liam’s voice is ice-cold when he answers. “We don’t stand anywhere.”
Carl blinks, thrown off for half a second but recovers with a sneer.
“Couldn’t land the deal, eh? Damn shame,” he says, fake pity dripping from every syllable. “Well, no worries. I’ll speak to Teddy at the picnic today. Remind him who really runs Stonewater Rodeo Stock.”
I huff out a sharp laugh before I can stop myself. It’s pure disgust.
Carl’s head snaps toward me, his eyes narrowing.
“What’s so funny, sweetie?” he sneers, his voice coated in condescension. “You’re no longer needed here. Why don’t you go on back to whatever bed you crawled out of?”
The words hit harder than a slap. But I don't flinch. Because men like Carl get off on knowing they’ve struck a nerve.
“And you,” Carl adds, pointing a gnarled finger at Liam like he’s talking to a disobedient dog. “You should get dressed, boy. We’re going to work.”
The air between them crackles. Liam’s whole body goes taut, fists flexing at his sides, his voice a low, dangerous growl.
“You’re not welcome here, Carl.”
There’s a finality to the words that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand.
“You never were welcome,” Liam adds, voice shaking with fury he’s kept buried for years. “And you sure as hell don’t get to talk to her like that.”
His arm slides back slightly, his hand brushing against mine, warning me to stay close. Because this isn’t just an argument anymore. It’s a war that’s been brewing for a lifetime. And Liam Stone? He’s done playing nice.
Carl watches the silent exchange between me and Liam and something ugly flashes across his face.
“Well,” he sneers, straightening his jacket like he’s still the one in control. “If I ain’t invited here, guess I’ll just take a little trip into Sheridan. Speak to Teddy myself.”
Liam’s smile is lethal.
“Do it,” Liam says, his voice a razor’s edge.
Carl’s eyebrows shoot up, surprised. “I will.”
Liam steps forward, just enough to make the air between them snap with tension.
“Be sure to mention how you haven’t worked a single goddamn day on this ranch in your life. Be sure to tell him how you tried to sell it off for quick cash when your gambling debts caught up to you.”
The color drains from Carl’s face, then floods back in an angry, blotchy red.
Liam adds, “And don’t forget to tell him how you wouldn’t know the difference between a Brahman or a Plummer if your life depended on it.”
Carl’s fists clench, his cheeks blazing.
“How dare you,” he snaps, voice shaking with fury and humiliation.
Liam takes another slow step closer, towering over him now.
“I dare because you came waltzing in here like you had a fucking right. Like you had anything to do with building this life. But you didn’t. You don’t. You never will.”
Carl opens his mouth, but Liam cuts him off with a voice like steel.
“Now,” Liam says, low and final. “Get the hell out of my house.”
For a second, no one moves. Then Carl turns and storms out, the screen door slamming behind him so hard it rattles the windows.
Liam stands there, breathing hard, fists still clenched at his sides. I move to him without thinking, wrapping my arms around his waist, pressing my forehead against his chest.
“I’m so proud of you,” I whisper, voice thick with emotion. “I know that had to be hard.”
His arms come around me instantly, crushing me to him like he’s afraid I’ll disappear too.
“You're my home, Olive,” he murmurs against my hair. “I’m not letting anything, or anyone take that away.”
I peer up at Liam, my fingers brushing lightly against his arm, grounding both of us. Trying to get us back on track.
“We should get ready for the BBQ,” I say softly. “Try to do any damage control before Carl can cause more trouble.”
Liam exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.
“Yeah,” he mutters. “I need to let Sam know Carl’s back. No telling where that bastard might pop up next.”
“And Phern,” I add with a small smile, trying to lighten the moment. “She’ll want to know, too.”
At that, Liam barks out a short, rough laugh.
“God, Phern’ll have him run out of the state faster than a stampede.”
His smile fades as quickly as it came, tension knotting his shoulders again. I step closer, laying my palm over his heart, feeling the frantic beat there.
“Are you okay?” I whisper.
His hand covers mine, squeezing gently.
“Yeah,” he says.
But it’s not convincing. Not even a little.
Because deep in my bones… deeper than instinct and fear… I feel it. Something heavy and unseen has shifted, pulling between us like a riptide. I don't know what it is. But I know whatever it is it’s not good.
We pull into the fairgrounds and park next to Sam’s truck. Inside the cab, Sam and Charlie are tangled up together, kissing like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
Liam taps lightly on the window, grinning, but there’s a tightness to it I can't ignore, like he’s still stressed about his father even though he’s pretending that he’s not.
Sam doesn't even look embarrassed as he gets out of the truck. Neither does Charlie, who just laughs as she climbs out, only pressing a loud, exaggerated kiss to Sam's mouth, who, in turn presses one to the slight swell of her stomach. It’s effortless. Easy. Untouched by fear.
I glance at Liam out of the corner of my eye, wondering—
Will he ever be that comfortable with me?
Will there ever be a time when he touches me in front of the world like he’s not afraid of what it means?
Before I can linger on the thought, Phern’s beat-up truck rolls in beside us. She hops out, slamming the door shut with a scowl.
“I should’ve stayed home today,” she mutters, adjusting her sunglasses as she comes to a stop next to me. “Between my brother being disgustingly in love and you two about to join the club, I’m gonna be icked out all damn afternoon.”
I laugh lightly, bumping my shoulder against hers, grateful for the normalcy. But Liam doesn’t laugh. Doesn’t even smile. That heavy feeling in my chest tightens.
Phern notices, of course, because nothing gets past her, but she just lifts a brow and says casually, “Where’s Uncle Carl? I’d like to have a word with him. Especially after that last text.”
“Text?” I ask, frowning.
Phern nods grimly.
“Yeah. That asshole started a group chat with the three of us. Sam, Liam, me.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s vile. I can't believe some of the shit he said.”
Charlie crosses her arms, her expression dark.
“It’s terrible,” she echoes. “Stuff about the ranch. About Liam. About you.”
The bottom drops out of my stomach. I look at Liam, waiting for him to react. Waiting for him to say something. Instead, he stiffens, his eyes tracking across the crowd.
“I see Teddy,” he says, already moving. “I’m going to say hello.”
“Want me to come with you?” I offer, trying not to sound like I’m grasping.
He shakes his head without meeting my eyes.
“Nah. I’ll be fine.”
He walks away. Leaving me standing there with his family, smiling like everything’s fine. They—bless them—don’t act like anything is strange. But deep down I know. Something inside Liam is breaking. And I don’t know if he’s going to let me help pick up the pieces.
Charlie points toward a bright yellow tent near the edge of the fairground.
“Is that a lemonade stand?” she says, eyes lighting up. “If so, let’s go.”
“Anything you want, darlin’,” Sam says immediately, his whole face softening as he takes her hand and leads her away.
He shoots us a grin over his shoulder completely oblivious to the storm brewing behind him.
Phern turns to me, planting her hand on her hip. Her sunglasses are perched low on her nose, but I can see the sharp glint in her hazel eyes, anyway.