Page 232 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

She jumped at the quiet words. He’d leaned in close to her to speak, and she could feel the heat radiating off him. What would happen if she rested her head on his shoulder?

He frowned. “Reagan? Are you all right?”

Everyone stopped and turned to look at her. “Me? Oh, I’m fine. Tired, I guess.”

His frown deepened. Shit. Why did she say that?

“Really? Even after your long nap?” Kelly asked.

“You had a long nap?” he asked, looking ridiculously pleased with himself. Like he’d had something to do with it. She was just exhausted after all the drama she’d been through lately and the long drive.

“I probably shouldn’t have slept during the day. Now I won’t sleep tonight.”

“I’m sure you will,” he countered.

Colin and Kelly were back to cuddling up against one another, whispering.

Great, she really felt like a third wheel. She had to take charge of her life. Find a job, get out from under their feet. They wanted to start a family, and she was . . . drifting.

“What’s wrong, little one?” A light finger under her chin turned her face toward him.

For some reason, being called ‘little one’ by him made her go all warm. Everything about him spoke to her. Even his arrogance and bossiness.

Maybe she was losing her mind.

“Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t like being lied to, Reagan.”

A shiver went down her spine at the stern note in his voice. The last thing she needed was another man telling her what to do. Lance had beaten her down with his words until she now felt like a shell of herself.

Indecisive and anxious.

“My thoughts are my own. You don’t have access to them.”

“Not yet.”

Well. That wasn’t ominous or anything. She stood suddenly, vertigo hitting her at the quick movement.

Whoops.

“Reagan?” he asked, standing.

Shoot. Was it too much to ask that he didn’t notice everything about her? And also . . . why did it feel good?

Maybe because you’ve never had anyone pay this sort of attention to you.

Sad, but true. Most of the attention she’d had in her life had been negative.

“I’ll clean this all up, guys,” she said, ignoring him. “You go relax.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Kelly protested, glancing up. “You cooked.”

“I also slept most of the day. And I don’t have much else going on. Go. Relax with Colin. I got this.”

“But I think—” Kelly was interrupted by Colin who whispered something to her. Kelly giggled and nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure. We’ll go for a short stroll.”

Uh-huh. Just a walk, huh?

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