Malone's Fate (Haven, Texas Book 14), page 1
MALONE’S FATE
LAYLAH ROBERTS
Laylah Roberts
Malone’s Fate
© 2024, Laylah Roberts
Laylah.roberts@gmail.com
https://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.
Editing: Woncas Creative
Photographer: Golden Czermak; FuriousFotog
Cover Model: Andrew James
Cover Design by: Allycat’s Creations
Created with Vellum
CONTENTS
Let’s keep in touch!
Books by Laylah Roberts
Trigger Warning
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
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Epilogue
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 (crossover with MC Daddies)
Sheriff Daddy
Her Daddies’ Saving Grace
Rogue Daddy
A Little Winter Wonderland
Daddy’s Sassy Sweetheart
Daddy Dominic
Daddy Unleashed
MC Daddies
Motorcycle Daddy
Hero Daddy
Protector Daddy
Untamed Daddy
Her Daddy’s Jewel
Fierce Daddy
A Little Christmas Cheer (crossover with Montana Daddies)
Savage Daddy
Boss Daddy
Daddy Fox
A Snowy Little Christmas
Saving Daddy
Daddies’ Captive
A Foxy Little Christmas
A Little Easter Delight
Harem of Daddies
Ruled by her Daddies
Claimed by her Daddies
Stolen by her Daddies
Captured by her Daddies
Kept by her Daddies
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
Mending a Malone
Malone’s Heart
Malone’s Pride
Malone’s Fate
New Orleans Malones
Damaged Princess
Vengeful Commander
Wicked Prince
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
Crime Boss Daddies
Daddy’s Obsession
Papi’s Protection
Papi’s Savior
Bad Boys of Wildeside
Wilde
Sinclair
Luke
Rawhide Ranch Holiday
A Cozy Little Christmas
A Little Easter Escapade
Standalones
Their Christmas Baby
Haley Chronicles
Ally and Jake
TRIGGER WARNING
This book contains mentions of physical and emotional abuse and some violence. The heroine has some issues with food.
1
Six months ago . . .
The dart flew through the air, hitting just to the right of the bull’s eye.
“Ooh, nice shot. Wait, do they call it a shot in darts? Probably not, right? Nice throw, I guess.”
Turning, Tanner looked down to see a short, curvy redhead standing beside him. She smiled, her blue eyes dancing with humor.
Well, hello, gorgeous girl.
She was wearing a white top with the bar’s logo on it. The top was stretched tight across a pair of magnificent breasts. A short apron was tied loosely around her waist. A pair of well-worn jeans finished off the outfit.
Nothing remarkable, but she wore it well.
“Well, thanks, darlin’. Yeah, I think you’d call it an excellent throw.”
“Excellent, huh?” she said dryly.
“Stupendous? Wonderful? Absolutely mind-blowing. I’ll take any of those.”
Her grin widened. “That’s good of you.”
He shrugged. “I’m just that sort of guy. Always willing to take on feedback.”
“As long as it’s good feedback?” she asked.
“Exactly.”
“Can I have a go?”
“You don’t have to work?” he asked.
She shrugged, looking around. “Things are quiet right now and I’m owed a break. Give me a second to tell Harry.”
Tanner watched her stride over to the bar, where an older bartender nodded as she said something. Damn, she filled out those jeans well. When she returned, she smiled up at him.
“You ever played darts before?” he asked her.
“Doesn’t seem too hard. You just throw the pointy end at the round board and hit the middle, right?”
Oh, she was cute.
Tanner grinned. “Right.”
She took the dart and threw it. It landed against the wall about a foot to the right of the dartboard and fell to the floor.
“Huh. That looked easier when you did it.” She frowned, looking puzzled. As though she’d immediately expected to be an expert.
“Would you like some pointers?”
“Sure! That would be awesome.” She ran over to pick up the dart and brought it back.
She seemed out-of-place in this seedy bar—like a ray of sunshine and sweetness.
It made him feel . . . protective.
He took the dart from her. “Okay, watch me.”
Tanner showed her how to throw it as she watched with deep concentration, biting her lower lip.
After he threw it, he reached out without thought and freed her lip. “Careful, darlin’, you don’t want to hurt yourself.”
Another big smile.
Damn. He wasn’t looking for a hookup tonight. He’d just come here for a drink and to decompress.
But, hey, he wasn’t going to turn her away.
“All right, I’ll try.” She retrieved the dart. Another throw. Again, it hit the wall and fell to the floor.
“Well, hell. This is way harder than it looks.” She bounced her way over to the dart on the floor again.
And, yeah, he looked at her ass again.
It would be hard not to. Round and pert and when she bent over. . . okay, now he was feeling like a dick. He raised his gaze back up, looking over to see his b
Asshole.
“Here. Can you show me again? Please?”
She smelled so good.
Shit.
He needed to clear his head a bit. But with the way she was looking at him . . . yeah, he was pretty sure that she liked what she saw.
Well, who could blame her?
As the youngest Malone brother, he really had gotten all the good looks, charm, and intelligence.
Moving in behind her, he held her hand, his other hand on her hip to keep her in place. She tensed and he immediately stepped back.
“Everything okay, darlin’?” Shit. Had he overstepped? Scared her?
She took a deep breath, then shook it off. “All good. Sorry. Where were we?”
Hmm. Tanner wasn’t so sure that she was all good, but he moved in behind her when she smiled encouragingly back at him.
Then he helped guide her arm back. Fuck, her ass felt so good against him.
Don’t get hard.
Don’t be a dick.
As she let go, the dart flew and actually hit the dartboard this time.
“Yay!” she cried out, jumping up and hitting the top of her head against his chin.
Tanner let out a grunt of pain.
“Oh my God!” she cried, turning to stare up at him in shock. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you all right?”
He smiled. “All good.”
“You’re bleeding. Oh shit. Oh hell. I’m such a dumb klutz.” Tears filled her eyes.
Tanner frowned at her, not liking the way she just spoke about herself. “You are not dumb or a klutz.”
She drew a tissue out of her pocket and dabbed at his lips. “Where is the blood coming from?”
“My tongue. I think I bit it when —”
“When I whacked your chin,” she moaned. “Dumb. So dumb.”
“Stop,” he said sternly. “You are not dumb. Do not speak about yourself like that.”
The girl nodded, still looking miserable. “Ooh, what about ice? Ice can help.” She reached for a glass on the table beside them and scooped out some ice.
That wasn’t even her drink, was it?
“Is that your drink?” he asked.
“What? Uh, no. Ice?”
“No, thanks.”
She stared down at her hand, then groaned. “I didn’t even think about cleaning my hand first. What is wrong with me?” She put the ice cubes back. “I’ll go get some clean ice. Wait here.”
Clean ice?
Tanner watched as she moved through the crowd of people to the bar, flagging down the bartender.
Raid shot him a questioning look, but he just smiled back at him. He was good.
He thought.
When she returned, she held a glass of ice. “I am so sorry.”
He shook his head, then popped some ice into his mouth. “It’s all good, darlin’. Just an accident. They happen.”
She sighed. “With me more than anyone else. Can I get you anything else?”
“How about you tell me your name?”
“Oh, it’s Lilac.”
“Hey, Lilac, I’m Tanner.” He held out his hand to her.
“Nice to meet you, Tanner. Are you here in Hopesville for the rodeo?” she asked.
“Yep.”
“Are you entering?” she asked.
“Yeah. Tomorrow afternoon.”
“I have to get back to work. Will you come back tomorrow night?” she asked, looking hopeful.
“You working?”
“Yep.”
“Then I’ll be here, darlin’.”
2
Two nights later . . .
“Hey, there, cowboy. What’re you doing in a joint like this?”
Happiness filled Tanner as Lilac slid into the chair next to him. “Well, I heard it has this really gorgeous, amazing, sweet . . . beer.”
“Beer! What?”
“Why? Were you expecting me to say something else?” he teased.
“Yeah. I thought you might’ve been talking about Harry.”
Tanner glanced over at the bartender, who had a huge beard that finished halfway down his chest and not a single hair on his head. He had that look of a man that had seen a lot, done a lot, and could only remember half of it. “Hmm, strangely, facial hair doesn’t do it for me.”
“No?” she said in surprise. “Darn. And here I was going to let mine grow out. I’m sick of shaving it every morning.” She touched her chin, giggling.
“For you, I’d make an exception.”
“Yeah?” She looked excited but also nervous. Slightly tense.
He felt like he was getting mixed signals. She seemed into him, but skittish.
Yeah, that was the word he’d use.
“Yep.” They’d spent all of last night chatting and flirting while she worked. She was easy to talk to. Tanner wished she had tonight off as he wanted to spend the entire night with her.
“What time are you working to tonight, darlin’?” he asked.
She wrinkled her nose, which might be the most adorable thing he’d ever seen. “Midnight.”
Fuck.
“When’s your next night off?”
“I finish early this Saturday and then I have Sunday off.”
“Yeah?” It was only Thursday, but it was something. “Well, save your Saturday night for me.”
“Your wish is my command, cowboy,” she teased.
“I’ll remember that.”
One of the waitresses walked past and shot her a dirty look. Lilac jumped to her feet. “What can I get you?”
“Nothing, darlin’. I have to go soon. I’m in the rodeo tomorrow.”
“I wish I could come watch.”
“Why don’t you? You’re not working in the morning, are you?”
“Oh no. Just . . . other things going on.” She moved off before he could question her.
Hmm. Something going on with her, but it wasn’t like he had the right to question her.
Someone else slid into her seat and he glanced over at Raid, who grinned at him.
He groaned. Fucking wonderful. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to look for my baby brother, of course. Three nights in a row, huh?”
“Maybe I just like the beer and atmosphere.”
“Right. The atmosphere. Yeah, the atmosphere is really, really nice.” Raid glanced over at Lilac.
“Don’t look at her.” Tanner scowled at him.
Raid held up his hands. “Whoa. Sorry. I didn’t mean anything bad.”
“I know . . . just . . . don’t.” He didn’t want anyone looking at her. Including his brother.
“Remember that you just met her,” Raid cautioned. “You don’t really know her.”
No. But he wanted to know her better. To spend time with her.
“We’re spending Saturday night and Sunday together.”
“We leave Sunday afternoon,” Raid pointed out.
“We can go on Monday. Right?”
“Sure,” Raid said slowly. “I mean, Alec is gonna want to know why and I don’t think you falling for the waitress is going to make him happy.”
“Her name is Lilac and she’s more than just the waitress. She’s the girl I’m going to marry.”
Partly, he said it to rile Raid up. But also . . . yeah, it didn’t feel wrong.
Raid groaned. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. She’s the one.”
Raid started muttering under his breath. “This is just fucking great. You’re not supposed to find ‘the one’ yet. I haven’t found mine! Butch hasn’t even found his.”
“It doesn’t have to go from oldest to youngest,” Tanner told him.
