Page 1 of Sins of a Rebel

Chapter One

Kyla

“Goddamn, Kyla.”

I shoot upright, dropping the fistful of cotton in my hand back into the cardboard box on the floor. The husky voice turns into a low growl, coming from somewhere in the shop. I’d recognize the deep timbre anywhere. Not for reasons one might think after his comment, but Lord knows I wish it were.

“You sure know how to greet a man, baby.” He groans from behind me, this time closer than before.

My heart hammers so hard it could pound right out of my chest.

I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t in love with Tysin Briggs. I’ve loved him for as long as he’s been best friends with my brother, Madden.

My head slowly turns over my shoulder, and I’m met with piercing dark brown eyes. I could get lost in the creamy chocolate morsels framed by his beautiful feather-like eyelashes. Women pay a lot of money for lashes like his.

Those eyes with his sharp jaw, almost appearing as if it were crafted from a chisel, and his full lips are a total package.

Tysin wreaks havoc on my heart.

My heart skips a beat when the edge of his lip curls, showing a hint of a smile.

If I hadn’t grown up around Tysin, seeing the lighthearted jokester who loved to mess with his friends, I’d wonder if he had a sense of humor at all. Since his grandmother passed away, he’s grown more closed off, detached, and, to anyone who doesn’t know him, seemingly uncaring.

The distant and mysterious vibe created a thick allure hanging over me like a fog whenever he was around. For years, I’ve wanted to chip away at the hard exterior he works so hard to keep in place with everyone around him.

I turn to face him, finding him leaning against the counter on one elbow. His eyes slowly trail down my body, smoldering like a fire into every inch and every curve. I can’t be certain, but I swear I hear him release a low, shuddered breath.

“What’d you do that for?”

Raising my brow, I follow his eyes to glance down behind me, then back up to him again.

“Do what?”

“I happened to enjoy the view I was getting a moment ago. It was…nice.” He grins. “Very nice.”

“Nice? Just nice?”

“I’m not at liberty to say any more than that, Ky. I happen to know a lumberjack twice my size stomping around this town like Paul fuckin' Bunyan. He’d have my ass drowning in the ocean if he knew the thoughts circling my mind about his sweet little sister.”

I suck in a sharp breath.

He’s right. Madden made it clear to Tysin and Brix years ago that one thing was off-limits.

Me.

Except his warning was issued a long time ago. I’m an adult, fully capable of making my own decisions, and dammit, if I don’t want to know what he thinks when he sees me.

“He doesn’t have to know,” I suggest, the words out of my mouth before I have a chance to stop them. I bite down on my lower lip to keep from saying anything more.

I peer up at Tysin from beneath my lashes, my eyes burning into his. Somehow, I don’t even know how it’s possible, but his stare darkens, heating my skin.

I wanted to take a step closer to Tysin, eliminate the space between us and beg him to drag me out of here. I don’t know what came over me or what spell he had me under, but the look in his gaze had me yearning for him in ways that would make even the guiltiest sinner blush.

As if a snap of two fingers jerked him out of a trance, he takes a step away from me, pulling us out of the passion-fueled haze.

“Is Garrett here?” he asks, changing the subject entirely.

I force a heavy breath into my lungs and grip the edge of the counter, shaking my head feverishly.

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