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“Get your hand off me, you prick!” Wren snapped, jerking her arm away.
“I’m warning you, son!” Gregory pointed his index finger in my face.
The moment Lincoln tried to pull her away was the exact second I lost my shit, returning to the bad boy that had always gotten me into a hell of a lot of trouble.
That’s also the moment I took a swing at Lincoln’s pretty face, hitting him square in the nose. When I heard the crack, blood spurting from both his nostrils, I had a feeling all hell was going to break loose.
And it did.
* * *
“Do you mind telling me what the fuck you thought you were doing?” Gage asked after he headed outside.
I remained leaning on the hood of my car, nursing a bruised ego more than anything else. Sure, I’d allowed the situation to get out of hand, but the pissant Lincoln deserved the broken nose he’d gotten. As far as Wren’s father, I wasn’t even going to talk about the way I felt about him. I’d managed to get in two solid punches to his face, which had tickled me pink.
All I could do was grin, even though I was worried about what was happening with Wren inside the damn place. “I guess I wasn’t thinking.”
“No, I guess you weren’t.” He paced the pavement in front of me, cursing under his breath. “He’s a goddamn congressman, for the love of God. Do you understand what would have happened to your career if the man had decided to press charges?”
“Well, I knew you’d talk him down. Besides, I thought it best to confront him.” I’d managed to put in a call to my attorney to try to find out the details regarding my father’s interference with the ranch. Maybe that would provide a few answers.
“Jesus Christ, dude. How many times have I gotten your ass out of hot water before?”
“About as many times as I did when you were a kid,” I retorted.
He took a deep breath, his glare evil looking in the shrill light of the parking lot. “Yeah, I know you did, but we were stupid kids then. You’re a goddamn grown man now. You finally returned home, and you pull this shit.”
I shrugged and pressed my hand against my split lip. The reason I was so pissed was that Wren’s mother had gotten in the middle of the melee, slapping me hard across the face. Hell, my ears were still ringing.
“Your daddy might own half of Texas, but in Montana, Gregory Tillman is now king. Do you hear what I’m saying?”
“I hear you loud and clear.”
“But you don’t give a shit,” he chided me.
“Not in the least.”
“Fuck.” He grumbled some more then looked over his shoulder. “I have to admit, she might be worth the trouble you got yourself into.”
I gave him a hard look and he threw up his hands. “I’m not poaching. I’m just saying she is one fine-looking woman.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“You really like her.”
“I’m too old for her, but yeah, I like her.”
“That’s right. You’re an old man just like I keep telling you,” Gage laughed. “The owner is going to want you to pay for the damage.”
“Fine. Just have him send me a bill.” When the door opened and Wren walked outside, I immediately stood, wiping my hands on my jeans.
He patted my shoulder. “You’re lucky this time I was able to keep Gregory from putting your ass in jail. Sometimes I think that’s what you need.”
“Very funny. I appreciate you taking the call.”
Chuckling, he headed toward his truck, and I suddenly wasn’t certain what to say to her. She’d let loose a second time, telling off both her parents. Now she appeared angry, frustrated, and uncertain what she’d done had been the right thing.
She stood where she was for another ten seconds before walking closer. “About in there.”
