Page 22

I was confident Fiona would handle it just fine. Maybe I’d send her to these dinners and stay out of it. They’ll think they can manipulate her and underestimateher. That could be to my advantage. Also, I wouldn’t be arrested for physically assaulting the motherfuckers.
I was walking back from the restroom when I sawher!She was in worn jeans, scuffed boots, and a whiskey-warm smile with that self-satisfied asshole, Maverick Kincaid.
All the women at the restaurant were dressedup. The men, well, some were in suits like me, others like Maverick in jeans and shirts. Most men had a Stetson, most men, andmyElena. She should look out of place, be uncomfortable, but she didn’t because she didn’t give a damn.
The girl I knew cared about what people thought. She was careful. Even demur. This woman was laughing at something the bartender was saying while Maverick (did I mention he was a smug asshole?) watched her with besotted eyes.
I should’ve kept walking to my table, my private room, my personal hell, instead, I took a detour because, who the fuck was I kidding, I couldn’t resist Elena. Was it the same for my father when it came to Maria? My desire turned to ash in my mouth, and acid pumped into my stomach.
Like father like son.
If my mother ever found out I’d dipped my pen into that particular ink, she’d lose it—and I’d lose her. She was so fucking fragile, and even though she irritated the hell out of me, she was my only living parent, and I would take care of her no matter what.
I should’ve still kept walking, especially now thatdesire was replaced with disgust and anger. She washis, was she? How dare she?
I saw a young blonde woman walk past them, holding a cowboy’s arm. She said something, and Elena laughed while Maverick growled. I got closer and heard him say, “You’re responsible for her, bud.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Kincaid,” the eager young cowboy said, his arm around the blonde.
“Now, fuck off, both of you,” Maverick muttered.
Elena eased closer and whispered something in his ear. Her body was relaxed in a way that made the sourness in my gut turn to fucking flames.
“You’ve moved up in the world, Elena, having dinner at Blackwood Prime?” I slid into the barstool next to her.
The bartender paused. “Sir, may I help you?” Her tone said don’t fuck with my customers.
Well, she could go fuck herself. “I’m with Senator Jessup’s party. I’ll have a Macallan 12, neat.”
The bartender, whose name tag saidBailey,looked at Maverick, who nodded.
What the fuck?
Maybe it showed on my face because Elena turned to face me, her back to her companion. “And you’ve not come a long way at all, have you, Duke Wilder? Still hanging out with puss boils like Otis Jessup. Did Celeste show you her new tits? She got them special in LA for Christmas.”
She hadn’t said two words to me, and now she was sassing me. I was pissed, yeah. But my dick, it didn’t getthat message. It got the other one, the one where I wanted her using her mouth on it.
Where had the sweet girl I knew gone? Who wasthiswoman? I didn’t know her, but I was intrigued as hell.
The blonde rushed back and pulled out a purse from under the bar. “Forgot.”
She kissed Maverick on the cheek and gave me an enquiring look. “My, my, they do grow them nicely in Texas, don’t they?”
“You mean like—” I started, but Elena cut in deadpanning, “Cattle? Oak trees? The egos of certain cowboys?”
I grinned. “My, my, Elena, you’re certainly showing your claws.”
“They’re new.” She waved her unmanicured nails at me.
Maverick chuckled, “Joy, you were on your way, darlin’.”
“I was,” she said airily. She smiled at me, and the wattage was impressive. “I picked up a cowboy.”
The way she said it was adorable. “Good for you.”
She laughed.
Maverick groaned, rubbing his face. "You would." He then glared at Elena. “This is your fault.”