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“Everyone, man. Surely you’ve heard.”
“Heard what, exactly?” I say through clenched teeth.
“The story of the Pike girls. Rory and Callie.”
“Let’s say I haven’t.”
“I’ve tapped Rory Pike, and she fucking enjoyed every minute of it. And Callie was waiting her turn, but we didn’t get there.”
This is unreal. I’m ready to yank Patrick Lamone right over the counter and beat his face into a pulp, but it occurs to me that he’s not smart enough to make this shit up.
“You’re saying you’ve been with Rory Pike.”
“Yeah. Back in high school, and she loved it. Women can’t fake that shit.”
I’m too angry to laugh in his face, but man, does he have a lot to learn about women. But dumbasses never learn.
“Maybe you’re telling the truth,” I say, “and maybe you’re not. Doesn’t really matter. One goof-up in your bed doesn’t make the Pike girls easy.”
“You haven’t heard about Callie, then.”
Pat Lamone’s an idiot, no doubt, but as much as I want to walk away, I can’t. “What about Callie?”
He looks around. Why, I’m not sure. The hotel’s vacant except for us. Then he lowers his voice. “She and Rory fucked their way around high school. Ask anyone.”
“I’m asking you,” I grit out.
“Why do you think she couldn’t look me in the eye when you guys checked in? She knows I know.”
“My family had students at that school almost every year. If there were any rumors about the Pike sisters, they would have gotten back to me.” I curl my hand into a fist. One more word, Lamone. Just one more…
“Dude,” Pat says. “Everyone knows about the Pikes.”
“Everyone knows what about the Pikes?”
“They’re gold diggers. All of them. Willing to sleep their way to the top.”
I try to hide the surprise on my face. What the hell is he talking about? He’s so wrong. We couldn’t get them to accept our help, other than through the foundation, after the fire. And Callie’s already afraid my mother hired her out of pity.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Lamone.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I walk closer, my stomach hitting the counter. “If I hear one more word come out of your mouth, or anyone else’s, about Callie, Rory, or any other Pike, I will personally run you out of this town.”
“Easy, Steel. I don’t want any trouble.”
“Then you shouldn’t be spreading lies.”
“Lies. Yeah. Think what you want.”
“Do I have your word you’ll never mention the Pikes again? Because if I don’t, I’m going to pull you over that counter and take all the anger inside me out on you.”
“Anger? What are you so fucking angry about?”
“Other than the shit coming out of your mouth? My father was shot yesterday, asshole.”
His eyebrows nearly fly off his forehead. “Talon Steel was shot?”
“Yeah, someone tried to off my father. And I’m so fucking angry I can’t see straight. And right now, you’re a worthy target for all that rage.”
“Look,” he says. “I like you guys. I’ve always liked the Steels. And the Pikes. I got nothing against any of you.”
“Interesting way of showing it. Spreading rumors.”
“They’re not—”
I grab him by the collar before he can finish. “You don’t want to take me on, Lamone. I’m bigger and stronger, not to mention meaner, than you could ever hope to be.”
“Easy,” he chokes out. “Let go of me.”
I let him go harshly, and he nearly falls to the ground. He would have if he didn’t grab the edge of the counter.
I leave him there and go back to the room.
“Where are the drinks?” Callie asks.
Fuck. The drinks. Now I have to go back down there. “Machine isn’t working.” Man, I hate lying, especially to Callie, but if I go back down there, Pat Lamone may not live to see another day.
“No problem,” Callie says. “Tap water’s fine.”
“Tap water it is,” I say. “Maybe one day the Snow Creek Inn will begin stocking minibars.”
Callie laughs sweetly. “That’ll be the day.”
I fill two glasses with tap water when a thought spears into my mind.
Do the Steels own this place? Other places in town?
And why haven’t I thought of any of this before?
We’re billionaires. Fucking billionaires. Sure, we have many other investments, but the money to fund them had to come from somewhere.
Who the hell makes billions raising beef?
Chapter Forty-Six
Callie
I’m going to tell him.
I’m going to tell Donny Steel that I love him. I’ll make sure he knows I don’t expect his love in return…though I hope I get it.
No. I’m going to tell him so he knows without a doubt that he can trust me with what he’s about to tell me.
My word is good, of course.
But words can lie. I’m not lying to him when I tell him he can trust me, but he doesn’t know that. I want him to know for sure he doesn’t have to hold back with me.
