Hard to Handle (Caine Cousins #2)(16)

Reagan snorted, meeting Lynx’s eyes. “Right. An incredible woman who puts up with a lot of bullshit.” With a sigh of defeat, Reagan moved away from his hand and dropped her gaze. “I really should go.”

“You good to drive?” he asked.

She wasn’t sure the last time anyone had worried about what she did. “I’m good. I nursed those two beers.” Reagan smiled up at him. “But thanks for askin’.”

Lynx’s hand curled beneath her chin again and she held her breath. If he kissed her, she wasn’t sure she would be strong enough to resist him.

Not right now.

Thankfully, he didn’t kiss her.

His hand dropped and she instantly missed his touch, but she forced a smile and turned to open the truck door.

Lynx pulled the door open and waited for her to climb inside.

“I’ll see you later?”

She nodded. “Yeah.” Smiling at him, she put the key in the ignition. “Probably at the bar on Friday?”

“You’re not comin’ to the barbecue tomorrow?”

Reagan shook her head. No way could she chance spending that much time with Lynx. It was hard enough to turn away from him now. “I’ve got … things to do.” It was a lie, but hey, self-preservation and all that bullshit.

“If you wanna chat, you know where to find me,” he said.

Reagan frowned.

“Outside your house, sleepin’ in my truck.”

Reagan smiled. “You know you don’t have to do that.”

“I don’t have to,” he began, and she finished it for him, “but you want to.”

“Exactly.”

“Well, I’ll … talk to you later on then. I’ll see you at the bar?”

His smile was warm, and she could see the heat in his eyes.

“For sure on Friday,” he added.

As she drove away, Reagan had to wonder if he took her comment as an invite. Did it sound like an invite?

“Jesus Christ, woman. You’re just a magnet for trouble, aren’t ya?”





7


__________


The only thing that could’ve possibly made the Labor Day barbecue any better would’ve been if Reagan had been there to join him. Lynx had spent the entire day downing ribs and beer while chatting it up with family and friends. At one point, he’d even sent Reagan a text, inviting her to come join him, but he’d gotten a polite no in response.

The woman was nothing if not stubborn.

However, that didn’t mean that Lynx couldn’t go to her.

And that was exactly what he and Copenhagen were doing. The small cooler on the passenger seat held two beers, two brisket sandwiches, and some chips. He figured she couldn’t possibly say no to dinner at her place. He was even willing to eat it out on the front porch if she didn’t want to invite him in.

As he pulled up to the little white farmhouse, Lynx noticed Reagan sitting on the porch. Her eyes swung over to his truck and a frown settled between her eyebrows.

Damn woman.

Plastering a smile on his face, Lynx climbed out of the truck, then walked around to the passenger side and grabbed the cooler, letting Copenhagen out in the process.

The dog trotted directly over to Reagan, who proceeded to pet the animal. Lynx couldn’t help but be slightly jealous of his own damn dog.

“Hey,” he greeted, lifting the cooler for her to see. “Brought dinner.”

A strange look appeared on her face, but Reagan didn’t say anything.

“Have you eaten?” he asked, stopping directly in front of her.

Reagan shook her head.

“Good. Then I came just in time.”

Taking a seat on the top step beside her, Lynx set the cooler between them, then lifted the lid.

“Nothin’ fancy,” he told her. “However, it’s good, if that’s any consolation.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that?” she said, a teasing smirk on her face.

“That’s my goal in life,” he admitted. “Glad to know I’m living my dream.”

Reagan chuckled as he passed her a beer.

“So, how’re things? We missed you at the barbecue today.”

“No you didn’t,” she quipped. “You probably didn’t even notice that I wasn’t there.”

Oh, he’d noticed. Every few minutes, in fact. But he decided not to tell her that, figuring the fastest way to get booted off the porch would be by turning on the charm.

“People asked about you,” he said. And that was the truth.

“Did they now?”

“Yep.” He passed her one of the brisket sandwiches wrapped in foil.

“They did, actually.”

“Like who?”

“Amy, for one.”

Reagan frowned, then turned her attention to the food in her hand. “How’s she doin’?”

“She was smilin’. Does that count?”

“I can’t imagine what she’s goin’ through,” Reagan said softly, taking the bag of chips he handed her.

Lynx moved the cooler out of the way.

“I think she’s doin’ better now.” And he really did think that. After hearing her story, after wanting to strangle the asshole who treated her the way that he had, Lynx had managed to suppress the violent rage. He still didn’t understand how a man could hurt a woman like that. And to find out from Travis that Amy wasn’t his first victim… Lynx hated even thinking about it.