Scorpion: A Rough Romance (Montana Bad Boys Book 2)

by Piper Stone

  “Have you visited Snake’s grave yet?” Hawk finally asked.

  I hadn’t anticipated the question so soon. The answer was gut-wrenching. “I’m not certain I can.”

  He eyed me warily, finally nodding in acceptance.

  “You know, I didn’t expect to see you. Your contract was locked in place for at least six more months from what I can remember.” Hawk’s words were somber.

  “You have a good memory.” Laughing, I shoved my hands into my back pockets. “The contract was bullshit and you know it. Once the shit hit the fan, my days were numbered just like yours were.”

  “And you said you’d never return.”

  I wanted to say never say never, but I’d made no bones about the fact I had no intention of coming back to Missoula on dozens of occasions. “My uncle died, willed me some property. I had to come back to deal with them. Somehow, I think my outcome will be entirely different than yours.”

  A grin crossed his face as he inched closer. “Didn’t he own that bar on the west side?”

  “Yep. It’s all mine now. Truth is I think I need your help. It’s a piece of crap, but one my uncle wanted to take to new levels. I need to figure out what the hell to do.”

  “So, there’s a possibility you’re going to stay then?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I’m weighing my options.”

  “Then why do you need my help?”

  “Ever hear of a kid named Billy Kane?”

  Hawk rubbed his jaw then chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve heard of him. The truth is the asshole is bad news. Why do you ask?”

  “Because I just fired his ass as manager of Raunchy Ride.”

  He walked closer, issuing the same kind of stern look I’d seen during his command. “Then you got trouble, my friend. Billy Kane is not only a convicted murderer, but he just happens to be the son of one powerful and rich politician. I think you just made an enemy, something you’re going to regret. Be prepared, brother. Billy and his father will do everything in their power to destroy you.”

  Chapter Six

  Caroline

  “Just what the fuck do you think you were doing?”

  My cousin didn’t mince any words. In fact, she was one of the toughest women I’d ever met, the kind that could cut out a man’s heart with a dull knife then enjoy a shot of whiskey on the side. While we’d never been close as kids, with a single phone call, she’d invited me into her home for whatever length of stay I needed while in town.

  I jerked on the dress I’d hung over the towel bar, darting a single glance in her direction. I didn’t need to see her face to know how pissed she was. Her tone of voice was enough. She stood in tight faded black jeans and a muscle tee shirt. With her short midnight black hair and almost garish makeup, she looked more badass than the asshole cowboys from the night before. The look was a far cry from the linen skirt and professional blouse she’d worn when picking me up at the airport. I could only imagine what kind of defense attorney she was.

  Take no prisoners.

  The thought brought a smile to my face.

  “Look, I’m sorry about last night.” I turned on the water, hissing from the burn slicing across my hands. I’d been stupid to jump out of a moving vehicle. I could simply add it to the list of ridiculous things I’d done lately.

  “You mean this morning,” Brandy huffed. “And you’re hurt. What in the hell?” She reached around me, yanking open a cabinet. “Put some antiseptic on those before they get infected.”

  “I fell in the parking lot. Okay?” As if I was going to admit any of the antics from the night before.

  “Uh-huh. Because of all that liquor you consumed? You know, I had to give some lame excuse to my boss because you stayed out all night. I even had to reschedule a court hearing for tomorrow since I had no idea when or if you’d return. Notice I say if. Why the fuck didn’t you call me?”

  Because I left my phone in the car. Because a big he-man forced me to spend the night with him. “Because I fucked up. Okay? I was feeling sorry for myself.” I bit back another hiss as I blotted both hands with the antiseptic. When I looked at my knee, I shook my head before grabbing a tissue and gently pressing it against the scrape.

  The awkward silence was atrocious, but we barely knew each other, my father moving the family away from Montana before I was even born. Maybe my father was pining away for the place, hence the reason for the expansion.

  Huffing, she continued to glare at me while I wrapped a towel around my hair, inching closer then taking a deep whiff. “I told you that you shouldn’t have gone alone.”

  “But you refused to go with me,” I retorted.

  “That’s because I was supposed to have an early morning. Did someone accost you?” she demanded.

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  “Jesus Christ, Caroline. I warned you about the damn bar. I should never have allowed you to go alone. You can’t handle that kind of place all by yourself. You’re just not tough enough.”

  “You don’t know me, Brandy, not even a little bit. You definitely have no idea what I can or cannot handle. You might be making big bucks defending idiot criminals, but I just trashed my career and my love life all in a single day. Then I was forced to take a job at my father’s firm, one that barely makes ends meet. After that, on some freaking whim, I decided to take a chance on expanding my father’s business by traveling thousands of miles to a place I’ve never been before, only to find that the man who owned the bar is now dead. You know what? I think I’m tougher than I look.” Huffing, I rubbed my hair so aggressively with the towel I knew I was ripping strands off at the root.

  “Yeah? You have no idea what tough means, not in this town.”

  “Why don’t you explain? Is it the roughneck cowboys who think they are all that and a bag of chips?” I ignored the sting in my hands and handed her back the bottle.

  Shrugging, Brandy half laughed, yanking it from my hand. “The world of the cowboys isn’t what you read about in romance novels, cuz. They work hard to make a living, often going hungry because they can’t feed their herds. That makes them play hard when they have the time or the money. Given they are constantly squeezed with the threat of huge corporations attempting to push them out of their land rights and politicians who constantly look the other way, they are usually one angry group of assholes. What they refuse to tolerate is a brassy woman. I have a feeling that’s the kind of gal you are. Even if you are a country music star.”

  “I’m no star, for God’s sake. I’m washed up. Didn’t you get that memo?” I retorted. “You’re the one with the fancy job, a fabulous townhouse, and a very nice car.”

  “Yeah, well, looks can be deceiving. I’m looking for a new job, but we’re not changing the subject.”

  I held my tongue for a few seconds while I brushed out my wet hair, dragging it into a ponytail. “As I said, you don’t know me in the least. Maybe I don’t know exactly what I’m doing, but I don’t like giving up.” Although that’s exactly what I felt like doing. “And I don’t care if the cowboys get pissed off or not. Besides, they’re all talk.”

  “Fine. We’ll agree to disagree, but I’ve defended some of these assholes who are all talk, including three who landed in prison on manslaughter charges. And guess where their offense occurred? In the middle of a raunchy bar just like the one you think you can salvage. Something for you to keep in mind.”

  She gave me another disgusted look before walking out, the heels of her boots thudding on the cheap linoleum floor.

  I clamped my hands around the counter, staring at my reflection in the steamy glass. The distorted view was exactly the way I thought about myself.

  Muted.

  Shadowed.

  Unrecognizable.

  I’d been shocked when Brandy had offered me her guest room instead of suggesting a hotel, but given my expense account was shitty, likely to teach me a lesson, I’d been overjoyed. My father’s words of wisdom regarding my cousin?

  “Watch your back,
little girl, but I hope you find the verve you lost.”

  I hadn’t bothered to ask what the hell he’d meant.

  After a few seconds, I knew I had to give Brandy some kind of decent excuse. I gave my reflection an ugly face before placing the towel over the bar, hesitating before turning out the light. I found her in the kitchen, a massive mug in front of her and a cigarette in her hand. The scent of coffee had the same effect as before, leaving bile in my mouth.

  “I’m sorry I made you miss a day of work.” I shifted toward the coffeepot, my stomach still churning from the amount of alcohol as well as the ugly conversation with Scorpion.

  Brandy took a deep puff of her cigarette then stubbed it out. “Look, I don’t care about missing a day’s work. I’ve been working fourteen-hour days for months without a single day off. What I care about is that you’re vulnerable, completely out of your element. No matter what you think, cuz, this is entirely different than Nashville. Whatever cowboy you went home with ain’t gonna soothe that aching heart of yours. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

  “Sounds like you have a story of your own.”

  She chewed on her lip, shaking her head. “That’s in the past. You told me you want to focus on your career. Then do it.”

  “Just don’t think we’re the same because we’re family. Besides, it wasn’t just any cowboy. He was the owner of the bar.” As I poured a cup of coffee, I expected a barrage of nasty words. Instead, I got silence.

  When I heard the chair shifting, I wasn’t certain I wanted to hear what she had to say.

  “Cooper McKenzie,” she said, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say there was a hint of reverence in her voice.

  “You know him?”

  “Yeah, I know of him anyway. He’s a regular bad boy.”

  Why the hell was there a glint in her eyes?

  “Meaning what?” I realized my hand was shaking as I brought the cup to my lips. I knew better than to think it had anything to do with the effects of the night before.

  Brandy jerked to a standing position, moving against the counter. I could feel her heated gaze concentrated on me. “A man most likely to face ten to fifteen in the Montana State Prison.”

  Biting back a smile, I shifted to face her. “He didn’t seem that bad.”

  “Yeah? Well, looks can be deceiving.” She studied me, cocking her head then opening her eyes wide. “Wait a minute. You fucked him. Didn’t you?”

  There was no possibility of hiding the flush as it crept up my cheeks. “We had... words.”

  Laughing, she slapped her hand on the counter. “I haven’t had a date in months and one night in town and my cousin gets fucked. I’ll be damned.”

  “It wasn’t like that. Besides, I’m never going to see him again.”

  “Then please tell me what it was like. I heard the rugged Marine was back in town.”

  “So, he is a Marine.” I said almost in passing as I attempted to take a sip of the overheated coffee.

  “Yes, he’s a Marine. You guys didn’t talk after doing the nasty?”

  Cringing inside, I wasn’t entirely certain what to tell her. “We talked, but not about his career. Do you want to share anything about him?”

  “What’s the point if you’re never going to see him again?” she chided, a grin remaining on her face. When I hesitated, she hopped up on the counter. “Oh, come on. Spill it.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.” Other than he spanked and fucked me. I shivered just thinking the words.

  “Uh-huh. Why aren’t you seeing him again? Do you two lovebirds have a fight?”

  “Stop it. Okay? I fucked up last night. I should have made an appointment and gone to the bar during the daylight.”

  “Instead of having several drinks.”

  I couldn’t fight the moan from slipping past my lips. “We argued. I insulted him. He chastised me. I doubt it’s a reconcilable issue.”

  Her second hesitation made me glance at her face. She had something wicked on her mind. That was easy to tell.

  “What?” I demanded.

  “Look, I’m not into relationships and I think you’re still smarting from whatever really happened with that rock star you were dating. In my opinion, relationships are a fraudulent method of trying to make us believe that in order to be happy, we need a man in our lives, but I can tell you like this guy.”

  “That’s not some glowing recommendation to pick up the phone and call him.”

  “My guess is that you don’t have his number.”

  I wanted to wipe the smirk off her face. “No, and I’m not even certain I could find where he lives.”

  “Ah. Interesting. If your hookup location wasn’t a motel, I’d say he took you to his uncle’s ranch. A few miles from Raunchy Ride? The stench of manure permeating the air? A little rundown place with a sagging porch?”

  Another laugh bubbled to the surface. “Something like that. How do you know?”

  “Because Jasper has been a client for a few years, although I never worked with him. He was buddies with my boss, but I talked to him a couple of times. I had no idea Jasper died. Jesus. He was a nice guy.”

  “That’s not what Scorpion said.”

  Brandy gave me a knowing smile. “Every family has secrets. Something for you to remember.”

  I wasn’t certain what she was getting at, but I certainly didn’t need to get involved in some darkness surrounding a man I barely knew. “Doesn’t matter. We’re not seeing each other. In fact, Scorpion doesn’t give a shit about the bar and I’m not going to either. I shouldn’t have come here.”

  “Scorpion?”

  “That’s what he calls himself.”

  Brandy laughed. “The name suits him. Do you want a piece of advice?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Nope. You don’t,” Brandy said as she slid off the counter. “I heard all the crap you told me about that boyfriend of yours who tossed you away.”

  “He wasn’t my boyfriend!”

  “Just like you don’t like Cooper and don’t plan on seeing him again. I can see through bullshit a mile away, Little Miss Sunshine. I might have reservations about all men, but you need one in your life. If Cooper ignited that spark within you, I say go for it. What the hell? I can’t expect you to live your life ignoring your passion. That’s merely something I need to do.”

  “Go for it,” I murmured. “And just how am I supposed to do that?”

  “You do what every woman does when she’s hungry for a man. You entice the hell out of him, no matter what rules you break.”

  I narrowed my eyes, wrinkling my nose. “That’s not me and I’m shocked you’re telling me that.”

  “Well, honey, I’ll share a little truth with you, something our parents never had the guts to tell us. All you have to do is give a man a nudge. You’ll know if he’s worth the effort soon enough. If he’s an absolute jerk, toss him away fast. If not...” She grinned in a mischievous way. “That is unless you’re afraid of the naughty girl inside.”

  Afraid.

  “I don’t know,” I finally answered.

  “And what exactly don’t you know?”

  “He’s dominating as hell, thinks his shit doesn’t stink, and he’s rough around the edges.”

  She gave me a full-out grin. “That’s what you call a cowboy. When you mix bad boy of the year along with years spent in the Marines, I’d say he’s close to perfection, at least for a few nights of extreme pleasure. Is he hot as shit?”

  “I thought you knew him.”

  “That was years ago. Everybody changes.”

  I rolled my eyes, shoving the coffee away and making a face. “I guess they do.”

  “Go on, tell me what he’s like now. That’s the least you can do.” She moved toward the cabinet, yanking out a glass and filling it with ice.

  The second I closed my eyes, a series of images floated into my mind, every single one of them lurid. And all were centered around Scorpion. “He’s everythi
ng you could imagine. Sexy. Rugged. His face is carved like only a god’s could be and his eyes are dreamy,” I whispered then bristled. What the hell was I saying? “But I have work to do. He’s nobody to me. I’ll finish up my report.”

  “Uh-huh. We’re going to get you that rental car today, although I might suggest something more rugged like a truck that can take a beating. That is if you can handle it.”

  The woman was purposely pushing all my buttons. Maybe I deserved it for forcing her to miss work.

  I heard the refrigerator door being opened and watched as she made a drink, including copious amounts of vodka. When she stuck the red concoction in front of me, she shook her head.

  “What is that?”

  “A Bloody Mary. Drink it. It’s going to cure what ails you and might just make you get your head out of your ass.” She waited until I took it into my hand, moving toward a pad and on the side of the refrigerator, scribbling some kind of a note.

  When Brandy ripped off the sheet, she folded it then shoved it into the bodice of my dress.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, the drink looking better and better to me.

  “Trying to keep you from becoming an old maid. Take my advice. Go make up to him. Tell him you’re sorry. Make him feel like he’s the one in charge. It always works.” Winking, she headed out of the kitchen.

  I yanked the note into my hand, staring at the address. “Not a fucking chance in hell.” Tugging open the cabinet door under the sink, I tossed the piece of paper into the trash. The rough and tumble man meant nothing to me. It was time to finish a report and arrange a return flight home. Tennessee men I could handle. Montana men?

  Who would want to?

  * * *

  Idiot.

  I was a bumbling idiot. Why had I retrieved the address out of the trash?

  I stood staring at the front of the house, surprised that it was actually much bigger than I’d originally thought, although it definitely needed some TLC. I’d parked next to the battered truck and as I stepped outside, I couldn’t help but notice a dilapidated garage off to my right, the door partially open. Hunkering down, I could definitely see at least two vehicles parked inside. I darted a quick look at the house, my curiosity getting the better of me. Using whatever ridiculous stealth mode I thought would keep my arrival silent, I half jogged toward the garage.