Twice the Malone Read online

  Twice the Malone

  Laylah Roberts

  Laylah Roberts.

  Twice the Malone.

  © 2021, Laylah Roberts.

  [email protected]

  laylahroberts.com

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

  Cover Design by: Allycat’s Creations.

  Photographer: Golden Czermak; FuriousFotog

  Models: Maverick Willett

  Editing: Celeste Jones.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Let’s keep in touch!

  Books by Laylah Roberts

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Claimed by her Daddies

  Let’s keep in touch!

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  Books by Laylah Roberts

  Doms of Decadence

  Just for You, Sir

  Forever Yours, Sir

  For the Love of Sir

  Sinfully Yours, Sir

  Make me, Sir

  A Taste of Sir

  To Save Sir

  Sir’s Redemption

  Reveal Me, Sir

  Montana Daddies

  Daddy Bear

  Daddy’s Little Darling

  Daddy’s Naughty Darling Novella

  Daddy’s Sweet Girl

  Daddy’s Lost Love

  A Montana Daddies Christmas

  Daring Daddy

  Warrior Daddy

  Daddy’s Angel

  Heal Me, Daddy

  Daddy in Cowboy Boots

  A Little Christmas Cheer

  Sheriff Daddy

  MC Daddies

  Motorcycle Daddy

  Hero Daddy

  Protector Daddy

  Untamed Daddy

  Her Daddy’s Jewel

  Haven, Texas Series

  Lila’s Loves

  Laken’s Surrender

  Saving Savannah

  Molly’s Man

  Saxon’s Soul

  Mastered by Malone

  How West was Won

  Cole’s Mistake

  Jardin’s Gamble

  Romanced by the Malones

  Twice the Malone

  Men of Orion

  Worlds Apart

  Cavan Gang

  Rectify

  Redemption

  Redemption Valley

  Audra’s Awakening

  Old-Fashioned Series

  An Old-Fashioned Man

  Two Old-Fashioned Men

  Her Old-Fashioned Husband

  Her Old-Fashioned Boss

  His Old-Fashioned Love

  An Old-Fashioned Christmas

  Bad Boys of Wildeside

  Wilde

  Sinclair

  Luke

  1

  Men sucked.

  So did being in a bar alone.

  Oh, and bosses? Well, they sucked most of all.

  Scarlett finished off her drink. Richard should have been here with her. This was meant to be her opportunity to make her move.

  Make her move.

  Right. As if she’d have had the guts to make a move.

  Scarlett tore up her napkin in frustration.

  Loud laughter came from the corner of the room. Turning, she saw four gorgeous men at the pool table. She wished she could have fun like that. Hell, she wished she had the confidence to stroll over there and talk to them the way some of the other women in the bar had been.

  “Want another drink, dollface?” the bartender drawled. She looked to be about eighty, and she was wearing an outfit Scarlett could only dream of having the guts to wear. A short, tight skirt and sequined top that plunged daringly low in front. That was some impressive cleavage she had going on.

  She glanced down at her white shirt and pressed jeans. Even her casual wear was boring. No wonder Richard never looked twice at her.

  Face it, Scar. He’s never going to be interested.

  They were here in Freestown, Texas for two nights to check out the property his company was looking at buying. But he’d had her change his flights at the last minute, leaving Scarlett drinking by herself in a honky-tonk bar. Was that the proper term for a place like this? She wasn’t sure, but there were plenty of cowboys around. Like the four in the corner. And country music was blasting from the jukebox.

  “Thanks, I will.”

  “Figure that might save more of my napkins from being destroyed,” the woman replied.

  “Sorry.”

  Her phone buzzed.

  Margo: How’s it going?

  Scar: Richard never came. Think he’s with someone.

  Margo: Well, the guy is a dick.

  Scar: Haha, you should do stand-up.

  Margo: You need to forget him, Scar. He’s not good for you. Guy’s a player and a jerk. How often have you worked overtime without even a thanks?

  Scar: I know. You’re right. It’s just that I can’t stop. I’ve got some weird obsession.

  She hated who she’d become. Someone who just sat around waiting for the cute guy to notice her. She never used to be like this. But life had hit her pretty hard these past few years, and it seemed like she couldn’t find her self-confidence again.

  Margo: You know what will get you over that obsession?

  Scar: I’m afraid to ask.

  Margo: Cowboy dick. Nice, fat, juicy cowboy dick. Now go get you some, girl.

  Scarlett let out a small gasp. She could feel herself blushing.

  “Must be something interesting on your phone there, darlin’.”

  Her head snapped up and her eyes landed on the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Wide shoulders that were encased in a tight, plaid shirt. Dark jeans. And his face.

  Oh. Lord.

  Chiseled. Masculine. Topped with an impudent grin and blue eyes that danced.

  “Enjoyin’ the eye candy, darlin’?”

  “W-what?” she stuttered out.

  “It’s okay. You just keep eating me with those eyes. I don’t mind being objectified.”

  “I . . . I . . . .” Oh, crap. Had she been staring at him? She had, hadn’t she?

  “Cute blush you have there. What’ve you been watching on your phone? Porn?”

  “What?” she squeaked. “No. Why would I watch porn? In a bar? In public?”

  “We’re all adults here.” He shrugged.

  “That would be weird. And wrong.”

  “Now, now. Don’t be putting yourself down for your needs. Naughty girl.” He tapped her nose.

  Shock made her mou
th drop open. Did he really believe . . . but he couldn’t believe . . .

  “I’m a good girl.” She winced. Had that really just come out of her mouth? There was something wrong with her.

  His grin was doing something to her. It was frying her brain. Making her stutter and stumble. And her insides heat.

  “Are you?” He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Well, if you decide you want to be naughty for the night, I’m just over there with my brothers.” He nodded to the corner where that same group of guys she’d been admiring before were hanging out.

  “Your brothers?”

  “Mm-hmm. I have a lot. Sometimes we even like to share. Think about that, naughty girl.” He winked at her then grabbed the bottles of beer the bartender set down for him before walking off.

  And, yeah, she watched that tight ass of his as he walked away. She was human, after all.

  “Damn, that’s one fine ass.”

  She jolted, wondering if she’d said that instead of thinking it. She turned to look at the older woman who watched her knowingly.

  “Um, I, uh . . .”

  Jesus, Scarlett. Spit it out.

  “I was a few years younger, I’d tap that.”

  Scarlett had just taken a sip of her drink and she nearly spat it back out at those words.

  “Course, then I’d likely fall for one of those rascals. And they’d break my heart. Those Malone boys are trouble, sweetheart.”

  Scarlett nodded. She could tell that from just that one encounter.

  “But the most delicious kind of trouble,” the woman added. “If you can guard your heart against their charisma, you’ll have yourself a wild ride. Something to tell your grandkids about.”

  “I’m not here for sex,” she said in a prim voice.

  “Your loss.”

  “This is a very weird conversation. Do you usually try to convince customers to sleep with those men?”

  The older woman barked out a laugh. “Nobody ever needs convincing to sleep with those boys. Gorgeous and charming rogues, the bunch of them. Well, except West. That man’s a total grump. But he’s taken anyway. Still can’t believe such an ass found a sweet woman to put up with him.” The woman shook her head and turned away, but Scarlett wasn’t listening much anyway.

  Another shout came from the corner, and she glanced back. It seemed they had plenty of women to spend time with. He must have just been teasing her. Or maybe he was one of those guys who had to know that every woman wanted him.

  Then her gaze hit his, and she blushed as she realized he’d been watching her. He winked.

  Oh, Lord.

  You’re in trouble, Scarlett Jean.

  Knowing she needed to get a hold of herself, she slid off the stool and walked on surprisingly wobbly feet toward the bathroom. She just needed a bit of a break from him, from that gaze, that smile, that wink.

  How could he be so sexy? So damn confident? It wasn’t fair.

  She threw another look over her shoulder at him. This time he was facing away from her, laughing at something. Her nipples tightened.

  His . . . his pheromones or whatever it was shouldn’t be affecting her from here. Keeping her head down, she walked toward the bathroom while pulling her phone out. She should probably check to see if Richard had texted her.

  He’s your boss, Scar. Even if he texted you, it’s after hours. Grow a pair.

  Suddenly, she banged into something firm and large. She wobbled on her heels and would have fallen on her ass if two firm hands hadn’t caught her upper arms.

  “Whoa, there.”

  That deep voice. It sent a shiver through her, while his hands seemed to burn through her top, searing her.

  Branding her.

  Shit. She needed to get her head together. Branding her? Really? Then she sucked in a breath as she looked up at the man she’d bumped into, the one who had his thumbs running along her upper arms in a caress.

  “W-what?”

  How had he gotten here so quickly? Was there another entrance? What was going on?

  “You should pay more attention to your surroundings. Especially a woman alone in a bar. You can’t walk around with your eyes down and your head in the clouds.”

  There was a definite scolding note to his voice which was very different from the suggestive teasing in the bar. And there was something different in his eyes. They seemed darker, almost.

  More serious.

  Was this really the same man? What was going on here?

  “You paying attention?” He waved a hand in front of her face, looking concerned. “How much have you had to drink?”

  “Uh, only a couple of Manhattan’s.”

  “What the fuck is a Manhattan?”

  “Well, it—”

  “You know what, it doesn’t matter. Why people would drink that shit rather than a good beer is beyond me.”

  She frowned, feeling insulted. “It’s a sophisticated drink.”

  “Sure it is.” His gaze ran over her. “Sophisticated, huh? Where you from?”

  “None of your business. Why are you being rude? Is it because I didn’t immediately fall into your arms back in the bar?”

  His dark eyebrows rose. “Why would you do that?”

  That wasn’t what she expected him to say.

  “Because . . . I . . . you . . . you accused me of watching porn!” she squeaked out.

  Oh, hell. Why did she say that?

  “Did I? That’s interesting.” Something strange crossed his face. His eyes moved over her, taking her in. “You sure about that?”

  Was she sure about that?

  “Yeah, pretty sure. I was just sitting at the bar, minding my own business when you came up and flirted with me. Then I came here to go to the bathroom, and you somehow get here before me. I bang into you on accident, and all you can do is accuse me of being drunk.”

  Her breath heaved in and out of her lungs by the time she finished speaking. She half-expected him to fire back at her. Instead, his lips turned up in the most gorgeous smile she’d ever seen.

  Holy. Hell.

  It chased away the darkness she’d seen in his eyes and it made her want to do dirty, dirty things to him.

  Okay. Did they make Manhattan’s stronger in Texas or something?

  “Well, now, were you watching porn?” he drawled.

  “No!” She felt herself blushing as his grin widened.

  Yikes.

  “No need to be embarrassed, if that’s what you’re into, then I’m certain I can accommodate you.”

  Okay. This guy had some kind of personality disorder right? How could he go from flirty to grouchy and back to flirty in the space of like twenty minutes?

  “I’m going to the bathroom now,” she told him. “And when I come out, I’m going to forget we ever met.”

  “Ah, don’t be like that.” Reaching out, he ran a thumb across her cheek. Shivers ran through her body. Wrapping a hand around her neck, he tugged her toward him. It felt like he was claiming her.

  Really, Scar? Quit it with the claiming and branding shit. You’re not in the Wild West.

  Although, it was starting to feel like she’d entered some sort of strange universe. One where sexy cowboys flirted with her and then scolded her with their next breath.

  Where they gave her admiring looks.

  But Scarlett knew what she was. Somewhat chubby and plain. She tried her best with what she’d been given. She’d tried every diet out there, she exercised. But it seemed like her curves just never disappeared.

  Probably why Richard never looked twice at her.

  She had an ass and chunky thighs and large boobs. She tried not to be too hung up on her appearance, but sometimes it was hard not to let insecurity take over. Okay, most of the time.

  Especially when she hadn’t had sex in five years. She missed sex. So much. Even more than that, she missed cuddling.

  What she wouldn’t give for a night on the couch, cuddling and watching movies.

  “Earth to sugar.
”

  “Hmm?” She glanced up at him.

  His lips twisted into another grin. Be still her heart.

  “You really do drift off into that head of yours, don’t you? Maybe I should see what I can do to keep you in the here and now.”

  What did that mean? She didn’t drift anywhere. And how was he going to . . . oh holy fuck! He was kissing her.

  Except, she wasn’t sure that kissing was the word to use to describe this. Because she wasn’t certain she’d ever been kissed like this before. His hand was still around the nape of her neck. His hold firm and unrelenting. She wasn’t going anywhere. But instead of fear, she felt this buzzing of excitement. In contrast, his other hand was cupping her face. His thumb brushed back and forth across her cheek so gently. So sweetly.

  There was nothing sweet about this man, though.

  He was all hardness as he pressed himself against her. There was nothing soft. No flaws she could feel. Oh, she was certain he had them, but not physically.

  His tongue slid across her lips and she found herself having to fight his demand.

  Kissing had never been her favorite thing. At least not with tongue.

  “Damn, these jeans are sweet but next time, wear a skirt.”

  Why? And what next time? There wouldn’t be a next time. She stared up at the insane man holding her captive. One hand rested on the wall, the other moved to the side of her neck. Then he put his thumb on her chin, tugging at it.

  “Open your mouth, little one. Let me in.”

  Little one? Was he mocking her? But she only saw sincerity in his face.

  She shook her head. His eyebrow rose. That darkness entered his gaze again, making her shiver.

  “No? I feel like I should warn you that I don’t like to be denied.”

  “Then I guess you best let me go and find someone else. I’m sure there are plenty of other women out there who won’t tell you no.”