Page 25 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“For trusting me and allowing me to be part of your investigation.”

“You mistook what I meant, Sage. It’s your investigation. We’re the ones helping you.”

The smile Sage bestowed on him, took his breath away.

“I better be careful. If you continue to be this nice to me, I might just start liking you.”

“Ah, come now, Babygirl, be honest. You’re already halfway in love with me.”

The blooms of red that adorned her cheeks caused his heart to skip a beat.

“Now that’s what my mom used to say is putting the horse ahead of the cart,” she protested with a husky lilt. “You, in true Daddy fashion of course, placed the mule at least a mile ahead.”

“Nope, I’m just listening to our hearts, and yours Babygirl, is already beating alongside mine.”

Chapter Twelve

The next morning…

“Yesterday, you made a point of telling me that this was still my investigation. Now, I’m being told to stay in the goddamn house!” Sage stomped her foot in frustration as she glared at the three brothers. She was chomping at the bit to follow up on the trail of leads she’d been working on when she had been forced to stop.

“It was just a few hours since you handed over all the information you gathered, Sage. If we are going to move forward together we need time to look at it so we’re all up to speed with you. It would defeat our collective effort if we’re at loggerheads with each other,” Kaden said patiently.

“I can bring you up to date much quicker by verbally summarizing everything.”

“I’m not interested in a summary. Even the minutest detail we’re not aware of could have a negative impact on the outcome. We need to know everything you do. Once we’ve gone through the information, we’ll get together and you’ll have ample opportunity to answer any questions we may have on the case. Deal?”

“Very well.” She plonked down on one of the kitchen chairs and crossed her arms over her chest. “What am I supposed to do with myself in the meantime?”

“It’s the housekeeper’s day off. Why not surprise us with your cooking skills and make us dinner?”

The searing glare she shot back, burned hotter than a branding iron. “I'm not your housekeeper’s substitute, Frazer. Cook your own damn dinner.”

“Suit yourself.” A negligent grin fixed the corners of his mouth. “It was just a thought. You could always stand in the corner instead. Or kneel on a splatter of rice kernels. I’m sure there are a couple of disrespectful actions I overlooked if I cared enough to remember them.”

Her petulant remark was snuffed in its infancy at Kaden’s mocked threat.

Kneeling sounded easier than standing with her nose pushed against a wall… until his words registered. Rice kernels? That’ll feel like steel spikes in no time. No fucking way! The decision to give in was made in a blink of an eye.

“I suppose I could rustle up something simple for dinner,” she said meekly but with no less irritation glowing in her eyes.

“Good girl. Just don’t make it too spicy. I like to taste the different flavors of my food, not pray for salvation from having my mouth excoriated.” Kaden leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek.

“I don’t mean to imply that you don’t know how to cook but if you’re at a loss as to what to prepare, there are some of my mom’s recipe books in the pantry,” Keith interjected from across the breakfast table. “I’m particularly partial to her Mexican Discada.”

Sage laughed when he literally drooled just thinking of it.

“I can do a Discada. It was one of my Dad’s favorites,” she said with a tender smile of remembrance.

“Perfect. There are some freshly picked jalapeño peppers in the pantry. They’re on the lower range of heat, so big brother’s palette will be safe,” Keith said with a wink and then followed Kevin toward the barn.

“Have fun, Sage,” Kaden smiled. “Apparently, this kitchen is every woman’s dream.”

“Pfft, that’s a rather sexist statement. I know quite a few men who would give their left nut to cook here.”

“Also true. I am one of them.”

Sage looked at him in surprise. “You cook?”

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