Hard to Handle (Caine Cousins #2)(58)

Lynx chuckled. “Oh, girl. You’re gonna get that and more. Every fuckin’ day for the rest of my life.”

Reagan’s eyes widened at his words. She wasn’t even sure he knew what he’d just said, but it sounded a hell of a lot like commitment.

“Yeah,” he said softly, leaning down and pressing his lips gently against hers. “And I mean that exactly as it sounds.”

She felt him press the keys into her hand, but Reagan had a difficult time moving from where she stood, still leaning against him. She searched his eyes, trying to figure out what the hell was really going on here.

But in her heart, she already knew.

The question was whether or not she was strong enough to handle him.

For some reason, she seriously doubted she was.





24


__________


The following morning, Lynx woke at his normal time.

Normal being whenever his eyes opened.

Just so happened that he was always awake in time to meet Wolfe at the diner. That was a tradition engrained in him, something he wasn’t willing to let go of.

So, after dropping Copenhagen at the store, he headed over to meet his cousin.

“Where’s Amy?” he asked when he joined Wolfe at the table.

“She stayed with Rhys this mornin’,” he said, a smirk on his face.

“She takin’ the day off?” Not that Lynx cared what Amy did, but it hadn’t been the norm thus far. Then again, his entire life was far from normal, despite his daily breakfast.

“Nah. Said she wanted to spend some time with him and she’d be in after breakfast.”

“Rhys finally moved in?”

Wolfe grinned. “Mostly, yeah. But baby steps.”

Lynx waved his hand behind him. “Seems everyone’s takin’ it well.”

He hadn’t heard anything negative regarding Wolfe’s relationship with Amy and Rhys. Then again, he’d been wrapped up in his own shit these days.

“Most,” Wolfe said, his eyes dropping to the table.

“Who the fuck has a problem with it?” Lynx growled, his automatic instinct to protect his family kicking in, his body coiling tight, gearing up for a fight.

Wolfe rolled his eyes. “Not everyone gets it, Lynx. No big deal.”

Leaning back, Lynx rested one hand on the table and fiddled with his spoon. “That what Rhys’s worried about? People not likin’ that the sheriff’s in a relationship?”

Wolfe chuckled, but there wasn’t much humor in it. “A relationship with a man and a woman, Lynx. That’s not natural.”

Lynx frowned. “For who? And who gives a fuck? It’s natural for you or you wouldn’t be in it, am I right?”

Wolfe simply stared at him.

“I’m so fuckin’ tired of everyone bein’ up in everyone else’s business,” Lynx grumbled. “If it doesn’t affect them, they should keep their fuckin’ noses out of it.”

Wolfe grinned. “Always the protective one, aren’t ya?”

It was the way he was. Lynx couldn’t change that about himself and he wouldn’t anyway. He liked who he was. And he honestly did not give a single fuck who liked it or not.

“Here you boys go,” Donna said, delivering their food. “Oh, and in case you haven’t heard, Jimmy Don’s wife went into labor this mornin’.”

“Hot damn,” Lynx said with a grin. “Gonna have to go grab us some cigars.”

Donna smiled, then shook her head and walked away.

“What’s goin’ on with Reagan’s? Couple people stopped by yesterday after you left. They wanna help out.”

“She didn’t hit me when I showed her the sketch,” he admitted, reaching for his fork and leaning closer to his plate.

“Well, that’s a damn good sign.”

Yeah, it was. With Reagan, her reaction was anyone’s guess. She was stubborn and hardheaded, and truth be told, he loved that about her. She was spunky and sassy and so fucking hot, just thinking about her made his mouth water.

“I was thinkin’ that maybe I could design and build the new bar for the place,” Wolfe noted.

“Yeah?”

“If she’d be cool with that.”

“Prob’ly have to ask her, but shit, I’d say go for it. The girl can use all the help she can get right now.”

Even if she didn’t necessarily want it.

Taking a bite of eggs, Lynx chewed as he pointed his fork at Wolfe. “She’ll be over at the shop in a bit. Ed’s stoppin’ by to see what’s what. And DJ … you know, Darrell Jameson.” He chewed some more.

“The general contractor?”

Lynx nodded. “Yep. He’s gonna take a look at the plans, help out in that regard. Work on permits.”

“And Reagan’s cool with this?”

Lynx shrugged. “Until she tells me to stop, I ain’t gonna. She needs that bar open. It’s her livelihood, but you know Reagan. She ain’t gonna ask for help.”

Thinking back to their argument last night, Lynx smiled to himself. The woman was nothing if not independent, and she made sure everyone knew it. One day, she’d learn that some people weren’t looking for something in return. They simply do for others because they could.