Page 231 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

Shaking her head, she moved into the kitchen to grab the salt and pepper. She’d told Kelly she’d prepare dinner. It was the least she could do for them. After all, it wasn’t as though she had any money to help pay her way. The fact that she was basically living off their charity felt like acid in her stomach.

Reggie needed to get herself sorted out, and the first order of business was getting a job. Although she’d have to get rid of her cough and get her car fixed first.

“Dinner’s ready,” she called out, going back to grab the casserole. She set it on the table.

“Yum, Reg. It all looks great.” Kelly gave her a hug from behind before sitting at the table.

“It’s the least I can do, seeing as how I’m an uninvited guest and all,” Reggie half joked.

Colin’s voice was serious. “You can stay as long as you want, Reggie, you know that. In fact, I’m glad that Kelly has the company, it’s coming up to our busiest time of the year and I don’t like leaving her alone for long amounts of time.”

A knock at the door sounded before Reggie could answer. Colin went to answer the door.

“I’m glad you’re here too, Reg. That asshole wasn’t good enough for you.”

Reggie’s eyes filled with tears. “Thanks, Kel.”

“What are you doing up?” The dark voice sounded from behind her, frightening her into dropping her fork onto the floor.

“Shit,” she swore softly, before turning around to glare at him. Bending down, he picked up the fork and handed it to her.

“Can’t you wear a bell or something?” she asked.

His sudden grin was so wickedly sexy that her breath caught on a hitch. “I’ll see what I can do. You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing up?”

“Eating dinner.”

“I can see that.” His voice remained calm, but she could hear the warning. “But you could eat in bed while you rest.”

Yeah, that wasn’t happening. She wasn’t an invalid. “No, I couldn’t.”

“Would you like to stay for dinner, Alex? Reggie makes a great beef casserole,” Kelly said.

Her face went red as she realized she’d forgotten that Kelly and Colin were right there. Yikes. Alex made her forget everything around her.

Please don’t say yes. Please don’t say yes.

“Thanks, Kelly. That’s very nice of you to offer.”

Kelly set up another place for him. But instead of serving himself, he picked up her plate and piled it up with the casserole.

“What are you doing?” she asked as he placed the plate back in front of her.

“Making certain that you eat. How is your foot?”

“It’s fine . . . I can’t eat all this.”

He leaned in as Kelly and Colin started helping themselves. “Try, little one. For me?”

Whoa. Okay, he was nearly impossible to resist when being bossy, but when he tried to cajole her . . . yeah, she could fall for this guy.

Bad, Reggie. Bad.

Luckily, Colin pulled him into a conversation about the ranch, and it gave her a chance to breathe. Her mind started wandering to her life.

What was she going to do? She had to find a job. Quickly.

“You’re not eating, little one.”

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