Hard to Handle (Caine Cousins #2)(65)

A small hand on his arm had Lynx glancing to the side. To his surprise, Reagan’s hand moved down to his, her fingers linking with his. “Come on. We’ve got things to do.”

Lynx met Billy’s gaze once more, then nodded.

“Tammy’s better’n bed, anyhow,” Billy called from behind him.

Reagan tugged on Lynx’s hand, keeping him moving forward. That was the only thing saving Billy from a beatdown right here in the DQ.

“I told you already,” Reagan said, “he ain’t worth it.”

That was the truth. However, Reagan was worth it. And that was the point Lynx was trying to make.

“Now, I think I recall you promisin’ to do some dirty things to me,” Reagan teased, smiling at him over her shoulder as they stepped out into the sunshine.

His dick twitched behind his zipper.

“So, what d’ya say we get to that part?”

In less than a minute, he had her back in the truck. He was about to ask her where they were headed as he pulled out of the parking lot, but she beat him to the punch.

“Let’s go back to my house,” she blurted.

He glanced over at her. “You sure?”

Reagan nodded, not looking quite as sure as she was pretending to be.

Lynx nodded. “I’m good with that. I’m up for christenin’ that place, too.”

The blush that stole up her cheeks made his dick even harder.

Not to mention, it had his foot heavier on the gas pedal.

No sense wasting time at this point.



Reagan was pretty sure she’d played that one off casually. At least she’d tried to.

Part of her had wanted to yell at Billy, to ask him how it was possible that they’d spent all that time together and he didn’t even give a shit that her bar had burned to the ground. Why she’d wondered more about that and not about the fact that Billy had been screwing Lynx’s ex-wife, she didn’t know. Nor did she care.

However, it did have her curious as to how she could’ve been so stupid for so long.

Granted, Billy didn’t matter to her anymore. She didn’t care what he did or who he did it with. Sure, it pissed her off to find out that he’d been fucking Tammy, but it didn’t surprise her at all. It was just a wonder that she hadn’t known.

Glancing over at Lynx, Reagan frowned. “Did you know Billy and Tammy were fuckin’?”

Okay, so maybe she hadn’t meant for that to come out quite so bluntly.

His head snapped toward her. “What?”

She cocked an eyebrow. No way was she repeating that.

Lynx shook his head and turned his attention toward the road.

Reagan waited for a response.

“No,” he finally said. “Had no idea.”

“Does it bother you?”

“Fuck, Reagan,” he grumbled. “Nothin’ they do bothers me. I don’t give a shit.”

She stared out the window.

“Does it bother you?” he asked.

“Not that they did it, no,” she told him truthfully. “The fact that I stuck around knowin’ he was steppin’ out is what bothers me.”

“Why did you stick around?”

Reagan could hear the sincere curiosity in his tone. She laughed without mirth. “Because I’m an idiot?”

Lynx grumbled. “You’re not an idiot.”

“Then what do you call it?” Reagan shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t even care.”

Lynx pulled the truck to a stop in front of her house. He didn’t say a word as he climbed out. Before she could get the passenger door open, he came around to her side, opening it for her.

When Reagan turned to hop down, Lynx put his hands on her hips and stilled her.

“I don’t care, either,” he said, his eyes locking on hers. “Just so we’re completely clear on that.” Lynx’s finger curled beneath her chin, forcing her head back slightly. “They’re the past. And that’s where they need to stay.”

She offered a slight nod.

“I’m serious, Reagan,” he said, his tone firm. “The only thing that matters to me is you. That’s it.”

“Why?” she asked, hating that she sounded so vulnerable.

“Why what?” Lynx frowned.

“Why do I matter?”

He leaned his head down, his forehead touching hers. “Because you do,” he said softly. “You always have.”

Reagan had no idea how that could possibly be true. However, she didn’t know how to argue that point, either.

“You matter, too,” she finally admitted.

His smile was both sexy and sweet. It was the sweet side of Lynx that she hadn’t yet gotten to know all that well. Aside from their conversations ten years ago, she hadn’t spent much time with him. And the bad boy was the only side he tended to show the world. It was interesting to see that beneath all that tough guy exterior, the man had a heart the size of Texas.

“Now, what d’ya say I take you inside and get to work on those dirty things I intend to do to you?”

Reagan’s body instantly heated at the thought. It had been a really long time since she’d felt this sort of desire. Hell, maybe she’d never felt it. Not for anyone other than Lynx, that was.