Hard to Handle (Caine Cousins #2)(85)

While the rest of the crowd stood patiently waiting for the doors to open, Wolfe wound his way around the horde to the spot where Rhys and Amy were standing beside Rhys’s truck.

“You’re seriously workin’ tonight?” Wolfe grumbled.

“Someone’s gotta keep you crazy-ass Caines in line.”

True.

Rhys tugged Amy close and kissed the top of her head. “You don’t let our boy get in any trouble tonight.”

Wolfe laughed.

Amy chuckled. “I’ll try. But I can’t make any promises.”

Not caring who was standing around watching, Wolfe closed the distance between him and Rhys. He stood there, toe-to-toe with the man he loved, while the woman they loved smiled up at them.

“So, sheriff,” Wolfe said, keeping his voice low. “You gonna kiss me or what?”

The blush that stole over Rhys’s face had Wolfe’s dick twitching. God, he fucking loved this man.

Wolfe glanced down at Amy. “That was the agreement, right?”

“Technically,” Rhys said, clearing his throat. “I agreed to kiss you in public when Lynx announced—”

Wolfe interrupted him. “Wait for it.”

“Oh!” Lynx’s booming voice sounded from behind them. “And one more thing! We’ve got some celebratin’ to do tonight.”

Wolfe cocked an eyebrow, never looking away from Rhys.

“My girl said yes, y’all! Reagan’s gonna be my wife!”

And the cheers shot to a deafening level.

Wolfe merely grinned, waiting.

Rhys shook his head and Amy laughed.

“Come on,” Wolfe goaded. “What’ve you got to lose?”

Surprising him, Rhys leaned forward. Wolfe’s breath halted in his lungs when the sexy sheriff grabbed his shirt and jerked him closer, crushing his mouth to Wolfe’s.

Hot damn.

He fought the urge to take the kiss further, but it wasn’t easy.

More cheers sounded.

Amy giggled and Rhys pulled back, both of them glancing down at her.

“I think they’re happy for you,” she said sweetly.

“For us,” Wolfe clarified, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her off her feet. He pressed his lips to hers and grinned against her mouth when she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Yeah. It was safe to say, they were holding things together just fine.



Lynx shook some hands as people passed by him into the bar. He kept one arm wrapped around Reagan, not wanting to let her get too far. They had been counting down to this night for so long it was almost hard to believe that it was finally here.

Granted, three months wasn’t a terribly long time, but when it came to getting the bar opened up, it seemed like an eternity.

“Congratulations!” Darrell Jameson said, smacking Lynx on the arm.

“Thanks, man. Go on in, grab a beer. You and your lady’re drinkin’ free tonight. This place wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

Darrell nodded, then took his wife’s hand as they slipped inside.

A couple more people passed by, congratulating them both before heading inside to see the new place.

Lynx tried not to look obvious as he glanced around, scanning the area for one specific person. He wasn’t sure how well he was doing, especially when he caught Reagan watching him.

“What’re you up to?” she asked, pinching his side.

Lynx laughed, trying to pull back but still refusing to let her go. “What makes you think I’m up to—”

“Congratulations.” The deep, raspy voice had them both turning.

And though he had known this was going to happen, Lynx felt the emotion slam through him. He couldn’t help it. His eyes teared up and his lungs stopped working momentarily.

“Oh, my God,” Reagan choked out. “Oh, my God!”

Lynx met his father’s eyes, trying to remain steady on his feet as the man he loved more than life stood there in front of them. It was the first time Cooter had ventured out of the house since…

“You think I’d miss this, honey?” Cooter asked, smiling at Reagan. “Not a chance.”

Reagan threw her arms around Cooter, and Lynx’s old man held on to her for a minute, probably giving her a little privacy to cry. Hell, Lynx was still hovering on the edge of tears himself.

“Thanks, Dad,” he mouthed.

Cooter nodded, then released Reagan when she pulled back. He leaned down and looked into her eyes. “You good, honey?”

Reagan laughed. It was a watery sound, but it was a laugh nonetheless. “I’m good. I’m so glad you’re here.”

She squeezed Cooter’s hand, then stepped back.

Lynx wrapped one arm around her shoulders and tugged her into his side. “Go on in,” he told his father. “Have a beer. Calvin’s in there somewhere.”

Cooter nodded and their gazes held for a second longer. Lynx was so proud of his father. So fucking proud.

Being in love with Reagan, Lynx knew the kind of love his father had felt for his mother. He didn’t want to ever imagine the pain Cooter had gone through, but he understood exactly what had driven the man to lock himself up in his house all this time. That sort of loss… It was unbearable.

Reagan turned her face into his chest when Cooter headed inside. Lynx hugged her tightly.