Page 5 of Wrangling a Wild Texan

“Okay, I get it,” she said. “You’re upset that Sophie could have been hurt and you want to make me pay for being so irresponsible. But I’m not a fifteen-year-old kid that Corbin is going to discipline. He’ll yell a little, but he’ll be more upset and worried than angry. And I hate to worry my brother. So let’s just keep what happened between us, shall we? We can just say I had car trouble and you came to my rescue. That will earn you much more brownie points with my brother than telling him the truth.” She hesitated, biting down on her plump bottom lip, then releasing it in a slow, slick slide. “And as far as paying for my actions goes, I’ll be happy to take whatever discipline you want to dish out.”

There was no denying the sexual innuendo. Or the reaction his body had to it. Desire slammed into him and his cock hardened so quickly he felt lightheaded. But he had spent his entire life ignoring his body’s fickle desires. He refused to be his father. Or his sister.

He was stronger than that.

“I don’t think you’d like the way I dish out discipline, Ms. Whitlock.”

He expected the amused twinkle to leave her eyes. He did not expect it to be replaced with heat. So much heat that those eyes looked like two steamy cups of strong coffee. Before he could get over her unexpected reaction to his words, Corbin came out the front door with a tiger-striped kitten tucked in his arm and a huge fuzzy dog bouncing around his heels.

“Sunny?”

She sent Reid a pleading look before she pinned on a smile and turned to her brother. “Surprise!”

The dog raced down the steps and jumped on her, knocking her back into Reid. She giggled as the hairy beast licked her face, completely unaware of the sexual turmoil the brush of her lithe body caused. He steadied her and quickly stepped away as she greeted the dog.

“Hey, Gilley, you big ol’ ball of fur.” She gave him a good ear scratch before she pushed him down and headed up the porch steps. “And how’s my sweet Tay-Tay?” She stroked the kitten’s head. “As spoiled as always, I see.”

“Speaking of spoiled.” Corbin shifted the kitten to his other arm and pulled Sunny in for a tight hug. “I thought I told you to stay in Houston until after the storm. You’re soaking wet.” He glanced at Reid. “Why is Reid bringing you home?”

Reid started to explain, but Sunny cut him off.

“I had car trouble.” When Corbin’s eyebrows lowered, she held up a hand. “I know I should have heeded your warning and waited until tomorrow to drive here.” She flashed him a wide-eyed, innocent look. “But I just missed you and Jesse and my new sisters so much that I couldn’t stay away a second longer.”

“You wouldn’t miss us if you moved here like we all want you to.”

She swatted his arm. “Now you know it wouldn’t be any fun to live in the same town as my overprotective big brothers, Cory.”

Corbin glanced up at the gray skies that were still spitting rain and scowled. “You need to be protected. I’m surprised you didn’t get in an accident in this weather.”

“Here safe and sound.” She shot Reid a bright smile. “Thanks to Reid coming to my rescue. You should give the man a raise for being such a sweet hero.”

Corbin laughed. “If he had to put up with your chatter all the way here, he probably deserves one.” He smiled at Reid. “Thank you for coming to her rescue, Reid. I’ll call a tow truck and have them pick up her car.”

“I already did,” Sunny said. “Now if you’re through being the overprotective brother, I need to change out of these wet clothes.” Her gaze returned to Reid. “And you need to get out of your wet clothes too, Reid.” Her eyes ran over him like a steam iron set on high before they lifted. “I wouldn’t want you to catch a nasty cold all because of little ol’ me.” With one more sultry look that heated him from the inside out, she turned and headed into the house.

Once she was gone, Corbin shook his head. “She’s a handful that one. I hope she didn’t talk your ear off on the drive over.”

This was where Reid should tell the truth. But it was too late for that. Now, in order to tell the truth, he’d have to call Sunny a liar. Somehow he didn’t think that would ingratiate him to Corbin.

“No, sir. She was fine.” He walked back to the truck to get her suitcase. It was expensive leather and covered in the designer’s logo. Reid’s luggage was Glad trash bags. Just another reminder of how different he and Sunny were and why he needed to stay far away from her.

“Everything okay with your new home?” Corbin asked as Reid set the luggage down on the porch.

“Yes, sir. I sure appreciate you getting it all set up for us. Making sure we have water and electricity couldn’t have been cheap. I’d be happy to repay you for any costs.”

“We had to run lines for the house as well so it wasn’t a big deal.”

Reid glanced at the two-story home with its wraparound porch and brand-new everything. It was huge, but similar to the Holidays’ big farmhouse, still homey.

“It turned out real nice, Mr. Whitlock.”

“It was all Belle. She knew exactly what she wanted and I just kept my mouth shut and signed the checks.” His gaze moved to Gilley who was jumping up on Reid’s truck. “Gilley! Get down from—” He cut off when the window rolled down and Sophie stuck her head out to greet the dog. “Hey, Sophie! I didn’t realize you were with your uncle. Get down, Gilley. I’m sure Sophie doesn’t want dog slobbers.”

Sophie scratched the dog’s floppy ears. “It’s okay. I love dogs.” Reid was surprised. He hadn’t thought his niece liked much of anything.

“So how’s school?” Corbin asked.

“Okay.”

---