Page 99 of Burn the Wild

Charlie glances up from the paper. “Honey?”

“For Reese’s coffee.”

Ruby perks up. “Reese?”

Charlie looks doubtful. “Honey in coffee?”

Their interrogation grates on my nerves, but I keep my mouth closed. The sooner I’m out of here, the better. I have a naked girl in my bed, sleeping the day away like she damn well should. I want to get back to my place, brew a pot of coffee, and make Reese breakfast before she wakes up.

Christ. The things I’m doing these days. Cursing as I trip over her high heels. Mouse preferring her more than me.

For some reason, it brings a smile to my lips.

Charlie arches a brow. “Friends sleep over?”

Flower arranging forgotten, Ruby stares with rapt attention.

“None of your business,” I remind him. Spying the honey bear in the spice cabinet, I grab it up and make a mental note to pick up three or four of them on my next grocery run.

“My ranch, my business,” Charlie grunts.

He has a point. Everyone knows about us now. Especially after kissing Reese in the lodge last week. The grapevine works fast.

“Heard you had words with Reese’s manager,” Charlie says.

I lean back against the counter, cross my arms. “I hate that guy.”

He was worse than I expected. And I expected a lot based on what she had told me. Warning signs went off in my head the second I saw him. How can I let her go back now that I know what she’s up against? It’s clear there’s no one in her corner who cares. Well, I fucking care.

I wanted to hit the guy. So damn bad.

He made her cry, and he put his fucking hands on her. He’s lucky he walked away in one piece. Reese was good though, lying through her teeth to give herself time. Until then, I want to keep her close. And if close means she stays at my place every night, so be it.

“You want some flowers?” Ruby asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “For Reese?”

“If you got time,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual.

“Friends get flowers?”

I round on my mouthy brother. “Is there an echo in here?”

“Hush,” Ruby scolds Charlie. To me, she says, “What are her favorites?”

I scratch my head. I don’t have the slightest idea.

Helping me out, Ruby says, “I’ll give you one of each. For research purposes.” She giggles.

I wag a finger at her. “None of fucking that.”

“You swearing at my wife, asshole?” Charlie growls before slugging down his coffee and pushing back from the counter.

“She started it.”

Hustling around the kitchen, Charlie sets his cup in the sink. “We’re closing off the chalets.”

“What, when?”

“End of summer. One of them has snakes. The other bad pipes. We’ll either refinish or demolish.”

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