his brothers needed him. She got it.
She got him .
Which made him all the more determined to make the most of the time they had.
He’d almost fucked it up. God, she deserved better than the crap he’d dealt at her apartment, all but accusing her of being just like his ex. Total dick move he wished he could erase.
Being with Reese again made him feel lighter than he had in years. He knew the risks of letting her in. As though he’d had a choice. Had he ever where Reese was concerned? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, he was willing to try.
Pax searched the group for her. There.
Goddamn, she was gorgeous.
She wore a pretty dress. One of those light, summer things that left her arms and a good portion of her chest exposed. Her hair was pulled up, exposing the delicate lines of her jaw and neck.
Thank fuck, she wasn’t one of those rail-thin girls he’d seen in way too many of Jade’s magazines. Oh no, his Reese had a woman’s curves that drove him to distraction every time she moved.
Reese caught him staring and raised a hand. Soft lips curved as though she had a secret she wasn’t quite ready to share. An unmistakable feeling of possession tightened his chest as she broke eye contact and passed his smile around to every stupid guy in her vicinity.
Interesting, how Reese sparked something inside him no other woman, not even his ex, had been capable of.
“Oh,” a delicate voice said beside him. “I know that look.”
Mrs. Sinclair was a tiny woman; the top of her head barely reached his chest. A classic beauty with wheat-colored hair and gentle blue eyes, she spoke with a cultured tone he wasn’t used to. Almost as though she belonged in a castle instead of on a stretch of Galveston beach.
She wore no makeup that he could see, but she didn’t need it. She didn’t look a day over thirty, yet he knew from Reese the woman was scaring the shit out of fifty.
And Paxton had liked her immediately.
Pax smiled down at her. “Ma’am?”
She waved her hand in the air as if swatting at a fly. “None of that ma’am stuff. Marjorie, please.”
Pax nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He flinched as she swatted at him and laughed. “Marjorie it is, then.”
She settled in beside him. He’d been around enough women to know when one had something on her mind. He also knew it was best to wait it out.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” she finally asked.
The warm up.
“You picked the perfect time for this little shindig.” He glanced back at the sky. “Doesn’t look to hold long.”
“Reese mentioned you’re a rancher. The rain would be welcome, would it not?
At the mention of her name, his gaze sought her again. The wind blew her dress until he could see the contours of her body. Hair escaped and blew around her face. She talked with her hands. He’d forgotten that.
“A long, slow rain would be helpful. The forecast promises anything but.”
“Should I be worried?” Marjorie cast a look at the house, its wall of windows gleaming in the sun. “I’d hoped to stay tonight. Oh, dear. Should I have the house boarded up?”
Pax’s protective instincts kicked in. Surrounded by her friends, Marjorie turned to him, someone she’d known for an afternoon. Sweet fire, didn’t she have anyone who’d step up for her? Pax had no doubt of her capabilities, or her grit. Her husband had passed and they hadn’t had kids, but that shouldn’t mean she should have to shoulder everything alone.
“No,” he said, the decision a no-brainer. “You don’t need to worry about a thing. It might get noisy, which tends to shake up our herd, but you’ll be safe here. If it makes you feel better, I’ll be keeping an eye on things. If there’s any danger of the storm turning serious, either Reese or I will let you know. I’ll come out and take care of the house. I’m sure you have plenty of help, but I’d be glad to do it. With your permission, of course.” That last bit was for the pride shining in her eyes.
“Yes,
She got him .
Which made him all the more determined to make the most of the time they had.
He’d almost fucked it up. God, she deserved better than the crap he’d dealt at her apartment, all but accusing her of being just like his ex. Total dick move he wished he could erase.
Being with Reese again made him feel lighter than he had in years. He knew the risks of letting her in. As though he’d had a choice. Had he ever where Reese was concerned? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, he was willing to try.
Pax searched the group for her. There.
Goddamn, she was gorgeous.
She wore a pretty dress. One of those light, summer things that left her arms and a good portion of her chest exposed. Her hair was pulled up, exposing the delicate lines of her jaw and neck.
Thank fuck, she wasn’t one of those rail-thin girls he’d seen in way too many of Jade’s magazines. Oh no, his Reese had a woman’s curves that drove him to distraction every time she moved.
Reese caught him staring and raised a hand. Soft lips curved as though she had a secret she wasn’t quite ready to share. An unmistakable feeling of possession tightened his chest as she broke eye contact and passed his smile around to every stupid guy in her vicinity.
Interesting, how Reese sparked something inside him no other woman, not even his ex, had been capable of.
“Oh,” a delicate voice said beside him. “I know that look.”
Mrs. Sinclair was a tiny woman; the top of her head barely reached his chest. A classic beauty with wheat-colored hair and gentle blue eyes, she spoke with a cultured tone he wasn’t used to. Almost as though she belonged in a castle instead of on a stretch of Galveston beach.
She wore no makeup that he could see, but she didn’t need it. She didn’t look a day over thirty, yet he knew from Reese the woman was scaring the shit out of fifty.
And Paxton had liked her immediately.
Pax smiled down at her. “Ma’am?”
She waved her hand in the air as if swatting at a fly. “None of that ma’am stuff. Marjorie, please.”
Pax nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He flinched as she swatted at him and laughed. “Marjorie it is, then.”
She settled in beside him. He’d been around enough women to know when one had something on her mind. He also knew it was best to wait it out.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” she finally asked.
The warm up.
“You picked the perfect time for this little shindig.” He glanced back at the sky. “Doesn’t look to hold long.”
“Reese mentioned you’re a rancher. The rain would be welcome, would it not?
At the mention of her name, his gaze sought her again. The wind blew her dress until he could see the contours of her body. Hair escaped and blew around her face. She talked with her hands. He’d forgotten that.
“A long, slow rain would be helpful. The forecast promises anything but.”
“Should I be worried?” Marjorie cast a look at the house, its wall of windows gleaming in the sun. “I’d hoped to stay tonight. Oh, dear. Should I have the house boarded up?”
Pax’s protective instincts kicked in. Surrounded by her friends, Marjorie turned to him, someone she’d known for an afternoon. Sweet fire, didn’t she have anyone who’d step up for her? Pax had no doubt of her capabilities, or her grit. Her husband had passed and they hadn’t had kids, but that shouldn’t mean she should have to shoulder everything alone.
“No,” he said, the decision a no-brainer. “You don’t need to worry about a thing. It might get noisy, which tends to shake up our herd, but you’ll be safe here. If it makes you feel better, I’ll be keeping an eye on things. If there’s any danger of the storm turning serious, either Reese or I will let you know. I’ll come out and take care of the house. I’m sure you have plenty of help, but I’d be glad to do it. With your permission, of course.” That last bit was for the pride shining in her eyes.
“Yes,
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