Page 17 of Hard to Handle
“Where’s your ol’ lady?”I asked Brendon.
“She’s on the road,” he said with a frown.The man happened to be married to one of the hottest country music singers out right now.“She said to tell you hello.”
I grinned.“What about Jessie?”I asked, glancing over at Braydon.
“She’s back at the house.She’s not feelin’ all that well.”
Brendon leaned in.“Mornin’ sickness.”
Braydon flipped off his brother.“She ain’t pregnant again.”He smiled widely.“Yet.”
Uncle Curtis’s seven boys had all settled down as of late.Some of them even had popped out a baby or two in recent years.
“Hey, man,” Travis greeted.“Kylie, you remember Lynx.”
“I do,” Travis’s wife said with a grin.“The troublemaker, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The rest of the clan moved in, and I greeted Ethan and his husband, Beau, along with Kaleb and his wife, Zoey.
“We left the munchkins with the grandparents,” Kaleb informed me.“Thought maybe we’d get some adult time.”
“Glad y’all could make it on such short notice.”
Another truck headed down the drive, and I followed the headlights until I could make out the truck.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I told the others.“My date just arrived.”
All heads seemed to turn toward the newcomer, but Reagan was still in her truck.
“Wolfe’s over by the fire,” I told them.“And there’s beer on ice, so help yourself.”
Travis smacked me on the shoulder as he passed, the rest of them falling into step with their brother.
I strolled over as Reagan was hopping down from her truck.
“Hey,” I greeted, moving right up to her as she shut her door.
“Hey,” she answered, slowly turning toward me.“What?Were you waitin’ for me?”
I chuckled.“Of course not.”
“How did I know you were gonna say that?”
I grinned.“Come on, girl.Let’s get you a beer.”
Reagan’s eyes lingered on my face for a few seconds, and I saw the moment she decided not to fight me.Whether or not she was going to give in was still to be seen, but at least I wasn’t going up against a brick wall first thing.
I considered that progress.
“Holy shit,” Reagan said with a whistle.“You invite the whole town?”
“Yep.”
“Looks like most of ’em showed up.”
“Good turnout,” I agreed.
