That rat bastard.
“What do you want, Chandler? I’m busy.”
“Fucking that cowboy?” he sneered.
Wow, no pretending he was a good guy today, huh?
“Actually, yes,” she told him with glee. “I have been. The same cowboy you tried to scare off. That didn’t work out for you so well, did it? Finally, someone you can’t intimidate.”
She glanced around the room. Where was Butch? She’d figured he was in the bathroom, but the door was open and she couldn’t hear him moving around.
Last night . . . it had been everything.
“So I doubt you need that money now with how wealthy your new boyfriend is. Is that why you chose him? For the money? You know, I really thought he was someone you paid or just found, until he refused to walk away from you. Tell me, is he paying your way now while you pursue that stupid idea of being a singer, or have you not told him how desperate you are for cash?”
God, she hated him.
Her free hand curled into a fist.
“Why are you calling me, Chandler?”
“I’ve sent Lawrence to pick you up.”
Yeah, not happening.
“I am not coming to the house.”
“You are if you want your money,” he replied.
Fuck. Shit.
“Or is your sugar daddy going to pay your way?”
“He is not my sugar daddy.” She had no idea about Butch’s finances. Couldn’t care less what he was worth.
Chandler was making it sound like she was a gold digger. But he’d offered the money to her.
And she’d been one step away from sleeping on the streets.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
“I’ll meet you somewhere.”
Shit. Where was her handbag? She couldn’t remember. Rubbing at her forehead, she realized she’d left it in Butch’s bedroom. Along with the rest of her stuff. She’d just brought her phone and twenty bucks with her, which she’d kept hidden down her bra.
“No. You’ll come here. That’s non-negotiable. Lawrence should be there by now.”
“Where?”
Chandler sighed. “You always were a bit slow on the uptake, weren’t you?”
She bit her lip against snapping back at him. “Not feeling so nice this morning, huh, Chandler?” She’d often dreamed about recording him while he spoke to her like this. Then she’d play it in front of some of the people who adored him. But she knew he’d just turn it around on her.
No one would believe her.
They never did.
Butch does. He listened. He knows what he’s like.
It calmed her, knowing that she had someone who believed her.
“Fine. I’ll come. But you better have the cash for me. A deal is a deal.”
“Of course. I don’t renege on my promises.”
She hoped that was the case. If it wasn’t . . . well, she didn’t know what she’d do. She took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly.
“I’m not at the Crabapple motel, though. I’m at the Beaumont Inn.”
There was a beat of silence. “Guessing the cowboy is footing the bill?”
“Don’t see how that’s any of your business, Chandler.”
“You’re to come alone, Lara. I’m not having him knowing about our personal affairs. You bring him, and you’ll have to come back another day for the money.”
She gritted her teeth together.
“Although, I’m guessing you haven’t told him that you’re so desperate that you demanded money for coming to your sister’s wedding.”
“I didn’t demand it and you know it, Chandler. Send Lawrence here. I’ll be ready in fifteen.” She ended the call, then let out a scream. Chandler knew how to get on her nerves better than anyone. He had an uncanny ability to anger her with just a few choice words.
While the idea of telling him where to stick that money was appealing, she couldn’t afford to do that.
Her entire future rested on getting that cash. Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves, she glanced around for any sign of where Butch had gone.
He wouldn’t have just snuck out, right?
Well, he’d done what he said he would. He’d come with her to the wedding as her date. And then he’d brought her here and made her scream with pleasure. He’d made her beg.
At some stage, he’d woken her up in the middle of the night to fuck her again. Shit. She really needed to have a shower. And she didn’t have a change of clothes. They were all back in Butch’s room on the ranch.
He can’t really have walked out on her if he had all her stuff, right?
Chewing on her lip, she decided to take a shower before texting him.
Rushing into the bathroom, she took the world’s quickest shower. Then she squeezed herself back into her shapewear before pulling on the pumpkin dress.
Disgusting.
After using the hotel-supplied toothbrush, she figured she was somewhat presentable.
But where the heck was Butch? Had he left for good, or was he coming back? He had to be coming back.
Something tickled at the back of her brain, but she couldn’t figure it out. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was just after seven in the morning.