Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Amelia
The motor whines on the mechanical bull, and the crowd roars as some poor bastard named Chad clings to the saddle like his dignity depends on it.
I gotta give him credit, though. Out of all his friends, he’s lasted the longest, closing in on a whopping eight seconds.
I just hope for the sake of his date, he can go longer in the bedroom.
“Table four needs another round,” Jess calls over her shoulder.
I suppress a groan. It’s been nonstop since happy hour, and it doesn’t appear to be winding down anytime soon. Once word spread that the mechanical bull was fixed, everyone and their mother decided tonight was the night they’re gonna learn how to ride.
I’m exhausted, and I still have another two hours on the clock. Grabbing a shaker, I toss in some ice and start pouring. The bull throws Chad, and the crow erupts in a chorus of dramatic moans as he hits the mat. Luckily, he finds his footing, and the showboat takes a bow.
Rolling my eyes, I laugh. It takes me a good ten minutes to catch up on everyone’s orders, and when I finally do, the door swings open once again. But instead of finding a rush of people eager to ride a bull, I see Maddox standing in the doorway, looking worn.
His hair is a mess, like he’s spent the better part of the day running his fingers through it, and his flannel is half-unbuttoned, the sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing inches and inches of ink. His jeans have dirt on them, and his shoulders appear to be slumped in defeat.
He doesn’t look like a man here to unwind after a hard day’s work.
He looks lost and a little desperate.
Depleted.
He looks like he needs a hug, and stupid me really wants to be the one who gives it to him.
I really don’t understand what’s become of my life.
For years we barely spoke. We’d stand in the same space and pretend the other didn’t exist. Now he’s everywhere.
Intervening when my ex-husband gives me trouble.
Rescuing me from car trouble. Doling out orgasms like it’s his job.
Asking for a chance to correct his wrongs.
Making me feel seen and safe. It’s all messing with my head, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to fall fast and hard for the man who broke my heart.
He weaves through the crowd and drops onto the only empty stool at the bar. Pulling myself together, I make my way over to him.
“If you’re here to give me a ride, I should tell you I got my car back today.”
His eyes lift to mine, and he scrubs a hand over his face. “Good. I’m glad.”
“But you’re not here to take me home.”
“Not tonight. I mean, I would if you needed me, but…” His voice trails and he glances behind me, focusing on the bottles that line the shelf. “Uh…do you think I can get a drink?”
Yeah, there’s definitely something off with him tonight.
“Your usual?”
He laughs, but there isn’t much humor to it. “Didn’t know I had a usual. I guess I’m becoming one of your regulars.”
“Yeah, it’s weird.” I set a clean glass on top of the bar and turn to grab the bottle of whiskey he favors. Filling his glass, my eyes flick to his. “Seeing you every day, it’s weird.”
Hearing you tell me how you wish my son was yours is even weirder. But I won’t get into that.
“You’ll get used to it.”
I slide the glass toward him. “You sound confident.”
“It’s the only thing I’m sure of,” he says, knocking back half the drink in one swallow. The burn must hit because his eyes shut for a second as he sets the glass down. “Consistency is key.”
I hum thoughtfully. So he says.
“I need a favor.”
Unsure if I heard him correctly, I blink. “From me?”
“Yes.”
“Jesus Christ. Not you too.”
What the hell is it about me that makes men think I am their go-to for favors?
Sure, Maddox is nothing like Russell. He’s not the type who would take advantage of any women, let alone me.
I think he’d willingly cut off a limb before he ever asked me for a dime.
I guess if he’s asking for a favor, it’s gotta be personal.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I wave my hand dismissively. I’m not about to tell him Russell came in here looking for money. I have already been embarrassed enough.
“Nothing. What’s your favor?”
“It’s Della,” he adds, snapping me out of my stupor. “She got bit by a rattlesnake earlier today.”
My breath catches because fuck, that’s serious.
“Oh my God,” I say, bracing my hands on the edge of the bar. “Is she okay?”
“According to Shadow, yes.”
My brows pinch together and I pull my lower lip between my teeth.
I already don’t like where this is going.
The other night when Della came to visit me, Shadow followed her out of the bar.
He claimed he was just making sure she got to her car okay, but I saw the look in his eyes.
He was more than intrigued by Maddox’s sister.
“She was with Shadow when she got bit?”
He shakes his head. “No, Shadow was at the ranch when I got the call. He followed the ambulance.”
That piques my curiosity, but before I can question him further, he continues.
“They admitted her. I’ve been trying to call her to see how she’s doing, but she won’t answer the damn phone.”
“Did you try calling the hospital?”
“Yeah. They won’t give me any details without her consent,” he mutters, dragging out a sigh. “She and I aren’t exactly on good terms these days.”
I sensed some tension between them at William’s funeral, but I just figured emotions were high with the loss of the grandfather.
But thinking back, Della didn’t seem herself the night she was here either.
The thing is, even if I wasn’t consumed by my own drama to notice it then, I probably wouldn’t have asked her any questions.
Della and I weren’t teenagers anymore, and even though we kept in contact over the years, we are both out of touch with each other’s lives.
“Ya’ll used to be so close.”
“Yeah, well, things change.” He lifts his glass and polishes off the rest of his drink in one swallow. His reaction to the burn mellows some, and he sets the glass on top of the bar without making a face. “Can I have another?”
My gaze flicks to his empty glass before I glance around the room.
The crowd has thinned a bit, and everyone looks like they’re being served.
I spot Jess at the other end of the bar, and one of the new hires roams around, checking tables.
I’m overdue for a break, and now’s probably my best chance at taking one.
I take his glass and the bottle of whiskey, then turn to Jess.
“Hey, Jess. I’m going to take my break. If it gets busy again, just holler.”
“No problem.”
I bring my eyes back to Maddox and make my way out from behind the bar.
“C’mon, cowboy. Follow me.”
Narrowing his eyes, he slides off the stool. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere a little quieter.” I lead him to the corner booth at the back of the bar that’s reserved for the Fallen Demons and point to the leather seat across from me. “Sit.”
“Bossy tonight, are you?” he asks as he drops his ass into the booth. “I like it.”
“Flirting won’t get you any favors, cowboy.” I fill his glass and nudge the glass across the table. “Talk to me,” I say.
He stares at me quizzically for a moment, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “Is this how you get your customers to share their secrets?”
“Seeing as you haven’t paid me for a drink tonight, technically you’re not a customer.”
“What am I then?”
I contemplate my answer. A week ago, I would’ve probably said he was my enemy, but now I don’t know what he is. I decide to settle for the safest answer.
“A friend.”
It sounds like a lie even to my own ears.
“A friend with benefits?” he taunts, flashing me a grin that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. As quickly as it appears, it fades, and he leans over the table, getting entirely too close for comfort. “I don’t want to be your friend, Amelia. Thought I made myself clear yesterday.”
“All you made clear is that you like fucking me.”
He hums softly, his gaze dropping to my mouth.
“More than like it, baby.” He lifts his hand and reaches across the table.
His thumb drags across my lower lip and his eyes flit back to mine.
“When are you going to let me take you on a proper date so I can prove to you I’m not walking away this time? ”
“You think one date and some sex is going to erase the past?”
He lowers his hand and shakes his head, squaring his shoulders back. “No, but we gotta start somewhere.”
“How about we start with you telling me what’s going on between you and Della?”
He leans back against the booth. “Not where I was going with this, Amelia.”
“Actually, it is,” I counter. “You came here tonight because your sister got hurt, and you needed a favor from me.”
He swipes a hand over his face and sighs. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
I shake my head. I don’t want to be a distraction from what’s bothering him, and I think he could honestly benefit from airing out his troubles. Something tells me he doesn’t do that often.
“Fine. There has been animosity between us for a long time, but things kind of imploded more recently. After the funeral, I found out that my grandfather left the ranch to both of us.”
“That makes sense,” I say. “You’re both William’s grandchildren.”
Anger flashes in his eyes.
“It makes no fucking sense at all. Della abandoned the ranch. She left everything for me to handle on my own. The ranch. Our grandfather. Fucking everything.” He pauses for a beat, roughly dragging his fingers through his hair.
“You know, after our mother died, I knew my life was going to change. That I was going to be forced to become a man and take on more responsibilities. It’s the very reason I ended things with you. I didn’t want to drag you down.”
The first time he spoke those words, they angered me. Now, I’m just saddened by them. I get we were both young, but things could’ve been different if he had just spoken to me about what was going on. Instead, he robbed me of the opportunity to decide my fate.
“I did not know just how hard things were going to get,” he continues. “And while she was off making a better life for herself, I was struggling to hold everything together. The ranch is in trouble, Amelia.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“We’re drowning in debt, and I got some fucking oil mogul trying to rip the land out from under me.”
“Does Della know any of this?”
He scoffs. “No. How would she know? She doesn’t ask questions.
She doesn’t fuck visit. Our grandfather has been sick for over a year, and I can count on one hand how many times she’s visited, and the number of times she offered to help is even less.
The only reason she’s back here now is because he’s dead. ”
His fingers close around the glass, and he knocks back the drink. This time in one gulp.
“You need to tell her, Maddox. She’s a smart woman, and she’s good with numbers. I mean, isn’t that what she went to school for? Maybe she can help.”
He lowers the glass back to the table and pours more whiskey into it. “I’m not asking her for help. That ship has sailed. The Fallen Demons are going to buy her out.”
I gawk at him. “She’s signing over her inheritance to the MC?”
“She’s going to. I just haven’t told her about it yet.”
My eyes widen. “Maddox, you can’t do that.”
“The fuck I can’t,” he growls. “She’s made it clear she wants nothing to do with the ranch. This is the best solution for everyone involved. She gets her money, I keep the ranch, and she goes back to her cushy little life. The club will provide protection, and I will get Landry Oil off my back.”
“How do you know that’s what she wants?” He opens his mouth to speak, but I quickly silence him by leaning over the table and pressing my finger to his lips.
“No, you listen to me. I get you’re hurt, and you probably even feel a little betrayed, but you don’t get to play God with everyone’s life.
You’re robbing Della of the chance to make her own decision, just like you robbed me of making mine. That’s not fair.”
I pull my hand away and take a deep breath.
“Amelia, don’t compare what happened between us to what’s happening between me and my sister. It’s not the same.”
“It’s exactly the same.” I grip the edge of the table and slide out of the booth. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
His hand closes around my wrist. “Don’t go.”
I snatch my hand free and take his empty glass, along with the bottle of whiskey. “Talk to your sister, Maddox. Don’t make the same mistake twice.”