Hard to Handle (Caine Cousins #2)(15)

He still wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t get back with him, but he was holding on to hope this time. After all, it really was all he had left when it came to Reagan Trevino.



Reagan had no idea why she was sharing such personal details with Lynx. But he’d asked and she had no one else to talk to these days, so it had come rushing out of her. It felt good, too. Getting it off her chest, sharing some of the shit she had to deal with.

Truth was, she didn’t have any close friends. Partly because she’d always been that way, not getting close to anyone who she wasn’t related to. And partly because her relationship with Billy had caused her to alienate most people. Not many people liked Billy. He had some good buddies, but he treated most people as though they were beneath him.

Which left Reagan without anyone to bounce things off of.

And no, she couldn’t talk to her mother. She had tried plenty of times, but her mother insisted that she had committed to Billy, therefore she had to take the good with the bad. Didn’t matter that Reagan continuously reminded her mother that she hadn’t married Billy and had no intention of ever doing so. According to her mother, that didn’t even matter. She was old-fashioned like that. Which was probably the reason she had stuck by Reagan’s father until the day the man died.

“Well, don’t you two look all cozy.”

Reagan’s head snapped around to find Billy walking toward them. She chanced a quick glance at Lynx, realizing the man had hopped down off the truck already.

She followed suit, getting to her feet. “What’re you doin’ here?” she asked.

“It’s a party, right? Everyone’s invited?” Billy peered over at Lynx, as though he expected him to confirm that.

“Not everyone,” Lynx said, his tone deep, raspy.

“But my girl’s here. Figured maybe I’d come check on her.”

When Billy moved closer, Reagan took a step back, inadvertently moving closer to Lynx. She didn’t mean to, but she did not want to do this here. Not tonight. She was so tired of the fighting. And truthfully, she just wanted to be as far from Billy as she could be.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Billy moved another step closer.

“Don’t,” she hissed when he reached for her.

“Don’t what?” Billy grinned. “Don’t touch what belongs to me?”

“I don’t belong to you,” she retorted. It was then that she realized Billy was drunk.

“The hell you don’t,” he snarled. “I’ve put up with your shit for ten years. That makes you mine.”

When he reached for her again, Lynx growled beside her. It was a dangerous sound, something most people would’ve been backing away from.

Not Billy. The guy wasn’t only drunk, he was also an idiot.

Reagan put her hand on Lynx’s arm. “It’s fine. We’re not gonna do this tonight.”

Of course, neither man listened to her. Billy moved closer, practically toe to toe with Lynx. For a second, Reagan wanted to laugh. Seeing the two men square off was a sight. For one, Lynx had a good four or five inches on Billy. His biceps alone were probably bigger than Billy’s thighs.

“You been after my girl for years now, Caine. You can’t have her though.” Billy’s lip curled. “For one, she thinks you’re a dog. Fuckin’ every skank that blows through town.”

Lynx didn’t move, but Reagan hadn’t expected him to. Billy should’ve learned a long time ago that needling Lynx wouldn’t work. The man didn’t care what anyone said or thought about him.

However…

Billy reached for her and Reagan managed to jerk her arm back at the last second, avoiding his touch.

“Let’s go,” Reagan said to Lynx, turning and taking his hand, pulling him away from Billy.

Her brother had perfect timing, too. He stepped up, glancing between the three of them.

“Problem here?”

“Nope,” Reagan told him, pulling Lynx’s arm. “No problem. We were just goin’ somewhere else.” She glared at Billy. “And you’re leavin’.”

“Hell no,” he said, spitting on the ground beside his foot. “Just got here. I’m ready to get my drink on.”

Ignoring Billy, Reagan turned, still pulling on Lynx until he started to follow. She realized then that they’d drawn a crowd. A couple dozen eyes were on them, and just like always, Reagan felt shame ignite in her chest. She hated that Billy could so easily embarrass her with his actions. Even if she wasn’t with him anymore, it still bothered her. She couldn’t even blame these people for thinking she was as much of an idiot as Billy.

“I’m sorry about that,” Reagan told Lynx when she managed to get closer to her own truck. “I didn’t know he’d show up.”

Lynx frowned, coming to stand in front of her, crowding her between him and the driver’s door. “What’re you apologizin’ for?”

“He’s an asshole,” she said, as though that would excuse his actions.

“But he’s not your problem anymore.”

“Maybe not, but I know what these people think.” She shook her head and stared at the ground.

She saw his hand before she felt the warmth of his finger beneath her chin. “These people think you’re an incredible woman.”