The Virgin Next Door (Stud Ranch 3)

“Torpedo’s over there.” He pointed to the small cluster of brown horses hovering near the hay trough. “With the white patch between his eyes. Sweetest little gelding you ever saw.”

“Poor fecker doesn’t realize he got stuck with a gammy mog from the wrong side of the tracks,” Liam shot back. “Frankly I’m shocked anyone would put a living creature in the hands of an ex-con who knows more about carving shivs than taking care of horses.”

Mack’s blood went hot. “You think you’re going to do any better? Growing up with that silver spoon up your ass?”

“Better a silver spoon than all the cock I’m sure you took while you were a prison bitch.”

Mack’s blood lit on fucking fire.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” Mack got toe to toe with the Irish bastard. “And if you’re so confident, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is? A hundred bucks says my mustang goes for more green than yours at auction.”

Liam’s eyes flashed and he stepped into Mack’s chest, knocking him backward several steps. “You’re on, you ruddy bastard. But let’s make it interesting. One grand says my mustang kicks your’s arse come September.”

“Does it make you feel like a big man being able to flash your cash around like that?” Mack leaned in. “Makes it a little obvious you’re overcompensating. But hey, we can’t all be born st

allions. I wouldn’t worry, though.” He clapped Liam on the shoulder. “I’m sure your bank account is enough to blind most women to whatever you may be…” He glanced down toward Liam’s belt. “Otherwise lacking.”

Liam’s jaw went rigid and Mack let the edge of his lip curl up.

“I don’t mind being a thousand bucks richer. You’ve got a deal.” He reached out for a shake and Liam gripped his hand with a bone-crushing force.

Mack kept grinning and squeezed back just as hard. Liam thought he could intimidate him? He’d eaten little shits like this for dinner back in lock-up. He was an enforcer for one of the nastiest bastards on the inside. You didn’t get that far up the food-chain without being one ruthless motherfucker.

Couldn’t deny who he was even if he didn’t like to think about that period in his life—he hadn’t been sure for a while he still had a soul after all the shit he’d done. Wasn’t till he started working with the horses at Xavier’s that he actually found a ray of hope he might still be more man than monster.

Then he shut that shit down.

He needed the monster for the plans he had.

But this rich Mick wouldn’t know a thing about making the hard choices in life or what kind of man it took to come out the other side. Mack had known people like Liam before.

When Mack had gotten a full ride scholarship to Harvard, he’d dated a couple rich kids who’d never known a hard day’s work in their life. Blaire was old money on her mom’s side and her dad was a famous hot-shot lawyer. When she paid attention to Mack, he thought it proved he wasn’t just white trash from Jersey. That he could move up in the world. Be more than the nothing he’d been born. He didn’t see it for what it was even after Blaire pulled him into those fucked up games with her boyfriend.

Wasn’t until shit hit the fan and he got arrested that he realized the only reason they’d ever looked his way was because they got a thrill out of fucking who they considered to be ‘the help.’

The same way Liam looked at Calla.

Mack’s jaw hardened. “While we’re on the topic of shit you oughta know better than to step in,” Mack continued, voice hard, “back off Calla. She doesn’t need some worthless user like you fucking her over.”

“Worthl—?” Liam’s nostril’s flared. “She certainly deserves better than you. You were born trash and you’ll die trash. How long till you end back up in prison? They got a bed still nice and warm with your name on it?”

“You wanna say that ag—?”

“What’s going on here?” Xavier’s booming voice made Mack’s head jerk to the right.

Shit, the boss was heading toward them and he didn’t look happy. Mack stepped back from where he’d been in Liam’s face.

“Kitchen duty for a month still not enough to teach you two to play nice?” Xavier stopped between them, glaring at one and then the other. “I’m not going to be embarrassed by two of my men acting like jackasses, am I?”

“No, boss,” Liam said, looking at the floor. Mack liked that. Cowed was a good look on him.

“Mackenzie?” Xavier growled and Mack shifted his gaze away from Liam.

“Sorry.” Mack respected Xavier. The man had given him a job even knowing he’d done hard time. It was a rare second chance in a world that didn’t often give them. “No problems here.”

“Good,” Xavier bit out. “Better not be.” With one more glare in both their directions, he turned and kept on his way.

As soon as he was out of ear shot, Liam just had to open his mouth again. “How about we let Calla decide who’s the better man?”