Hard to Handle (Caine Cousins #2)(11)

“Tammy gonna be there?” she asked, hating that she sounded jealous.

Lynx frowned. “That’s over, Reagan. She ain’t gonna be around.”

“You gonna have a date?” God, could she seriously just stop?

“Just you, girl.”

“Not a date,” she reminded him.

“Exactly.” He tilted his beer to his lips and grinned.

She hated that even that move was sexy. It had her eyes trailing down to his neck, watching as his Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. Hell, the man’s neck was freaking sexy.

Ugh.

“So?”

“Yeah,” she said on a huff. “I’ll be there.” What else would she be doing? Sitting at home watching Netflix?

“Good. Maybe you can save me a dance.”

Reagan rolled her eyes. She should’ve known there would be a catch.

“Don’t count on it,” she replied, trying to keep her tone dry although she was smiling.

It was hard not to smile at Lynx. There was something about him. He was just so damn likeable.

“See you tomorrow night,” he said softly.

Reagan nodded, moving away from him. She needed to put some space between them. Lynx Caine was dangerous to her sanity. Especially now that she was single and didn’t have an excuse as to why she should ignore his advances. Once his divorce was final, she knew she would have absolutely no reason.

Her eyes darted over to him once more. Her belly fluttered as it always did when she saw him watching her. She liked that he did, even if she didn’t want to admit it to anyone.

“Can I get another beer over here?”

Reagan tore her eyes from Lynx and turned toward her customer.

At least she had something to do to keep her from entertaining the notion of letting this man get under her skin. She knew it would be so easy.

Lynx was right about one thing.

Reagan couldn’t handle what he wanted from her. Even if she thought she was tough enough.

She wasn’t.

That she could admit.





5


__________


“How is it you can get a party together with one announcement in a bar?” Rhys asked Lynx as they stood in front of the bonfire the following night, Dustin Lynch blaring through the speakers.

“It’s a gift,” Lynx told him.

“Your gift,” Rhys chuckled. “My curse.”

“Oh, come on now. You ain’t here as the sheriff tonight. Let loose a little.”

Rhys’s gaze cut over to him, his grin wide. “As long as you don’t let loose too much.”

“Deal.” Lynx tapped his beer bottle to Rhys’s as he peered around, looking for one woman in particular.

“Who’re you lookin’ for?”

Lynx shook his head. “Nobody. Just seein’ who’s here.”

“She’s not here yet,” Rhys said, lifting his beer bottle to his lips and regarding Lynx intensely.

Frowning, Lynx shot a look at the sheriff. “Who?”

“Oh, don’t play dumb. Whose house have you been camped out in front of for the past few weeks?”

“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” Lynx said, amused by Rhys’s accusation.

“I know you got a thing for my sister.”

Most people knew he did, so it wasn’t like Lynx could deny it.

“Don’t you think she needs some space?” Rhys asked.

Lynx met Rhys’s gaze, waiting.

“She was with that dipshit for long enough. She needs to try on single for a while.”

Dropping his gaze, Lynx took a long pull on his beer.

“You don’t think so?”

No way did he want to have this conversation with Reagan’s brother.

“I think we’ll let her make that decision,” he stated.

Thankfully, the sound of more trucks pulling down the dirt road leading to the lake had Lynx turning his attention to the newcomers. He counted five … six … seven. Yep, seven in total, all pulling into the field and parking. He waited, wondering who would emerge.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Lynx chuckled, grinning to himself.

Rhys turned toward the group at the same time Lynx pivoted to face them.

“That Travis?”

“Yep. And his brothers.” It’d been a while since Lynx had seen the whole clan. The last time had been at the family reunion they’d pulled off at Dead Heat Ranch last year. Considering they were only half an hour apart, they didn’t spend all that much time together. Then again, everyone was busy doing their own shit these days.

“What’re you doin’ over here by yourself?”

Lynx turned to see Wolfe approaching Rhys.

“I ain’t alone,” Rhys retorted. “I’m keepin’ your cousin in line.”

Lynx snorted at the same time Wolfe said, “Like that’s even possible.”

“I’ll be back,” Lynx told them, moving toward his Walker cousins.

“What’s up, man?” Zane Walker hollered as he strolled toward him, a pretty brunette on his arm. “You remember my wife?”

“I do,” Lynx said, holding out his hand to Vanessa. “Nice to see you again, V.”