Page 240 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

She didn’t have the energy to worry about that right now. Instead, she concentrated on giving her thanks to the doctor.

“Nice to meet you, Doctor Harper. Will you send the bill to the ranch? I’m afraid I don’t have my wallet on me.” She watched as the doctor gave Alex an indecipherable look before he nodded, smiling.

“Of course, dear. Take care.”

Before she could rise, Alex had her in his arms and was carrying her towards his truck. She should have argued, would have argued, but she simply didn’t have the energy.

Reggie woke to find Alex carrying her once more, only this time it was into his house. They’d stopped once on the trip back to the ranch to fill her prescriptions.

“This is getting to be a habit,” she murmured tiredly.

“I certainly don’t mind carrying you, darlin’,” he replied. “But I’d rather it wasn’t because you were too exhausted to walk.”

Sleepily, she wiped her eyes clear as she looked around in interest. She’d seen his house a few times, but had never been inside the impressive building. It was large, with two levels and a wrap-around porch covering three sides.

“Alex?” she yawned.

“Yes, little one?”

“Why are we at your house?”

“So I can keep an eye on you.” He moved up the stairs easily, showing no sign of strain.

Reggie frowned. “Why would you need to keep an eye on me? I don’t have a concussion, and even if I did, Kelly’s at home.”

“Kelly may be at home, but she obviously has no control over you.” He walked into a beautiful room with a four-poster bed dominating one wall, and a large bay window looking out over the rolling hills of the ranch.

“Control over me?” she repeated as he laid her on the bed, and moved into what she assumed was a bathroom. The sound of running water accompanied him as he returned.

“You need someone to look after you, Reagan. I brought you here because you’re not going to get that at Kelly’s. She lets you away with whatever you want.”

Reggie looked up at him in disbelief. “I’m not a child, and Kelly is not my mother! I can take care of myself.”

He pierced her with a stern glare before coming to lean over her. Reggie found herself shrinking backward in fear as his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“Reagan?” His voice was casual, conversational. “You know I would never hit you, don’t you?”

Reggie nodded a little hesitantly.

“Hmm,” he said thoughtfully. “Let’s get you into the bath and then you’re going to bed.”

“But it’s five at night, and I don’t live here!” She attempted to sit up, only to have him lightly push her back down before he untied her sneakers.

“You will go to bed. You need rest. And you are staying here. You need a keeper. Therefore, you will stay here where I can monitor your behavior.”

“You are so arrogant!” she snarled.

“You can call me what you like. But I need to know you’re well, Reagan.”

She stared up at him, shocked by the fear in his voice. “Alex?”

“You scared me. When I saw you faint . . . I thought you might have stopped breathing. I was terrified.”

Oh. She hadn’t realized . . . no one had ever worried over her this much.

“Stay here. Please. For my sake as well as yours?”

“A-all right,” she agreed.

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