Page 34 of His Texas Claim

I choked on whatever I was going to say next.

Didn’t want to tell her she was right.

So instead, I reached out and I hauled her over my shoulder.

She huffed, her fists hammering against my back. Jesus, she had some fuckin’ force behind those hits.

“Stetson Holt,” she scolded. “Put me down! I’m not done⁠—”

“You want me to take you home, I’ll take you home,” I growled, moving toward the truck. I opened the passenger seat, Buck jumped in—then I put Bryn in after him. She made to slide right out like she was going to fist fight me right here in the driveway, but I stretched my arms out to fill the space and lean in.

“Can’t drive if you’re standing there,” she challenged.

I leaned in, narrowing my eyes. “If I need to take this belt off and tie your hands with it, I will.”

“Don’t tempt me with a good time.”

I groaned. “It’s so you’ll stop slappin’ the hell out of me, woman.”

She lifted her chin in pure, unfiltered defiance. “You bringing me into town? Bus station? Airport?”

“No, damn it. I’m bringin’ you home with me.”

She opened her mouth for another insult, I was sure…but then she closed it again, crossing her arms and settling back into the seat.

“Fine,” she said. “But I’m not done talking.”

I grunted. “We’ll see,” I muttered.

Then I closed her door and went around to the driver’s seat…knowing I had ways of avoiding this conversation that would be much more fun than sending her away.

TWELVE

Bryn

This man was not getting a second of peace.

Not for the rest of his life, as far as I was concerned.

“You know,” I said. “You seemed very confident about this whole thing on the walk…and now you’re so broody. Is this how you always are?”

He grunted.

I grunted back. Louder.

He looked at me.

“Two can play this game,” I said. “You want to communicate nonverbally? We can do that.”

I reached over and flicked him in the arm.

He looked at me again, his brow furrowed. “Jesus, woman.”

“Acting like I’m some innocent ingenue when you first met me…you’re in for it now, Stetson Holt. I have demands.”

“I’m startin’ to see that.”

We’d driven a little way into the woods, and there was an entirely dark cabin up ahead. Stetson cut the engine and just sat there for a second, hands still on the wheel.