Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys 1)

“We need another female opinion on whether it’s a pointless discussion.” Celia whirled around on the bar stool, giving Abe her back. “Lainie, help me out. Since Abe’s whiny ex-wife left, there’ve been no female views here but mine, which, naturally, they think is totally wrong. Isn’t it a double standard? They can have overnight houseguests of the opposite sex and I can’t?”

“I really don’t think I should—”

“Go ahead. I’m dyin’ to hear your opinion,” Abe encouraged.

Lainie examined Celia from bare toes to ponytail. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, what?” Celia demanded.

“You’re an adult. It seems the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ rule is in effect for you. I don’t see why you can’t have an overnight male guest if you want.”

Abe studied her coolly. “How long you sticking around, Lainie?”

“I’m hoping forever,” Celia retorted. “Of course, this is all hypothetical, because few cowboys around here arouse my interest. Or if they do, they’re my brother’s buddies and treat me like a pig-tailed third grader.”

Abe leaned over and playfully yanked on her ponytail. “If the hairdo fits, baby sis . . .”

“So, you teaching Celia to rebel?” Hank said behind her, right before his arms circled her waist and his chin grazed the top of her head.

Lainie wasn’t used to the demonstrative side of Hank in public, but it gave her a little thrill . . . which lasted until she saw the smiles his siblings beamed at them.

They’re happy for him. They think this is real.

“At least someone has taken Celia’s hell-raising education to task.”

All heads turned to Kyle leaning in the doorway.

“You’d know all about that, Gilly,” Celia said.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Why don’t you share a few hell-raising pointers with me?”

“Because I don’t have a death wish, girlie. Your brothers would kill me. And I need Hank to keep me alive in the ring, not let a bull trample me into a bag of meat.”

“I am not a girl,” Celia sniped.

Kyle purposely avoided meeting Lainie’s eyes. He’d forgotten her father had become a bag of meat at the horns and hooves of a bull.

Lainie wanted to reassure Kyle that offhand comments like that didn’t bother her. She’d gotten used to them in the last two years. But he wouldn’t look at her at all now.

“I’m outta here,” Celia announced, and hopped off the bar stool. She whistled and the dog followed.

“Maybe you can work on her surly attitude while you’re at it,” Abe said to Lainie.

“I heard that,” Celia shouted just before the door slammed.

“I’ll talk to her,” Lainie said, trying to free herself from Hank’s embrace and Kyle’s too obvious indifference.

“She’s fine. Just hotheaded. It’ll blow over.” Hank kissed her crown. “Stay put, since I’ve got you right where I want you.”

Stay put, since I’ve got you right where I want you.

Kyle gritted his teeth. It ticked him off that Hank was acting so possessive with Lainie the first chance he got.

If you were standing in your mother’s kitchen, wouldn’t your arms be around Lainie? Wouldn’t you bury your nose in the sweet scent of her hair?

Hell, yeah.

So it pissed him off that he couldn’t fault Hank for his behavior, because Kyle would do the same damn thing.

Regardless, it’d be a long damn night if he had to watch the two of them playing grab-ass.

Kyle pushed off the doorjamb. “I’ll see if wannabe wild child is out loading her pistols, gunning for me, since I’m the one who set her off.”

“Thanks, man,” Hank said as Kyle passed by him.

He paused on the porch steps. Well, looky there.

Celia had already bent the ear of the first non-family member of the male persuasion who’d crossed her warpath. She stood on the running board of Bran Turner’s rig. And Bran was getting a huge chuckle out of whatever tale of woe Celia spun.

The instant Celia noticed Kyle, she scowled. She whistled for the grungy dog, which was never more than ten feet away from her, and sauntered off to the horse barn.

Bran’s head whipped around as he shamelessly watched her walk away.

“Fuckin’ perv,” Kyle said.

“And proud of it.” Bran craned his neck for one last look. “Jesus. That woman has the finest ass. Sometimes I wonder if she rides as good between the sheets as she does on a horse.”

“Probably. Wouldn’t be bad if you could keep a bit in her mouth. Or take a crop to her if she got too bossy.”

“Who’s the f**kin’ perv now?”

Kyle grinned. “And proud of it.”

“So, you ain’t all busted up, which is a good sign. The bull ridin’ biz went well?”

“Placed first in Lamar.”

“Gotta feel good to put a little jingle in your pocket after the run of bad luck you’ve had the last couple months.”

“That it does.”

Bran adjusted his hat, attempting to keep the sun out of his eyes. “Rumor is you and Hank are hitting the road as traveling partners.”

“Yep.”

“How long’s Hank planning on bein’ gone this time?”