“You decided to get involved with a cat.” Rory dropped a pile of wood by the fireplace. “What exactly did you expect?”

Ricky Lee took off his heavy winter jacket and carelessly tossed it onto a chair.

“Don’t you leave that coat lying around, Ricky Lee,” his mother yelled from the kitchen.

“How does she do that?” he demanded while snatching the coat back up and taking it to the hall closet.

Ronnie opened her mouth to reply and Rory cut her off without even looking at her, “And don’t say Satan, Rhonda Lee. It wasn’t funny twenty years ago, it’s less so now.”

“Are you guys staying with Smitty’s Pack?” Brendon asked as he walked around the room, taking everything in. Enjoying this side of family life he’d never experienced before, but might now that he had both Marissa and Mitch admitting blood connections.

“Yup. Already talked to Daddy. He knows it’s for the best.”

“Besides,” Reece added, his big fingers affectionately scratching Ronnie’s head as he passed her to help himself to the entire plate of sweet rolls, “he likes the idea of us keeping an eye out for this little monster.”

“I don’t need y’all watching out for me.”

“Is that right?” The big grin on Rory’s face had Brendon’s eyes narrowing. Crouching by the fireplace, Ronnie’s brother looked back at Brendon. “Rhonda Lee ever tell you how she and Sissy Mae made money while traveling the world?”

“No. How did she—”

“Hookin’,” Ronnie Lee tossed in desperately. “I was a prostitute. A damn good one too.”

“Stop lyin’, Rhonda Lee,” her mother called from the kitchen. “I doubt you were good at all.”

Brendon grabbed hold of Ronnie before she could go after her mother.

“She was not a prostitute,” Ricky Lee said, scooting by Ronnie but not before flicking her forehead with his middle finger.

“Try illegal racing,” Rory said, and his grin grew.

Brendon blinked. “What?”

“You heard me, hoss.”

“Her and Sissy Mae,” Ricky Lee added.

“Sissy Mae would set ’em up and Ronnie Lee would knock ’em down.” Reece laughed. “They still sell her T-shirts in Japan and Korea.”

Her face red with embarrassment, Ronnie Lee walked away from them all and threw herself into one of the plush recliners.

“What was their motto again, Ricky Lee?” Rory asked, his hands held in front of a now-roaring fire in the fireplace.

“A rich boy and his money will soon be parted.”

“That’s right. Sissy Mae would find some rich boy with no sense and a hot car. Challenge him to a race, and the brain surgeon over there would race him. By the time they weredone with him, they’d have the winnings, the poor sap’s car, and sometimes real estate.”

“Which they’d sell and invest. Sissy Mae can turn a dime into ten thousand dollars in an hour.”

“That She-wolf does have a gift.”

“I don’t want to discuss this anymore,” Ronnie snarled.

Nodding, Rory stood up. “She’s right. Might as well save the really good info for tonight’s dinner.”

The three brothers headed for the hallway, but Rory stopped and asked, “How did you two get here so fast anyway?”

“Took his daddy’s jet.”

“Hey!” Ricky cheered. “Did you hear that, boys? We’re taking a jet back to New York City.”

“Who the hell invited you?” Ronnie practically yelled.

“Ronnie Lee, you can’t expect us to go coach now that you’ve snagged yourself a rich boyfriend.”

Ronnie flashed her fangs at Ricky and Rory stepped between them. Staring down at his sister, he said, “Be nice, Rhonda Lee, or I’ll have to tell Momma how the barn burned down that time.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You swore you’d never tell.”

Her brother snorted and winked at Brendon. “Rory Lee Reed in a jet. Has a nice ring to it, don’t it?”

Laughing, the three brothers walked out, and by the time Brendon turned back to Ronnie, she already had one of the windows open and was halfway out of it.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her, dragging her back into the house.

She struggled in his arms. “I won’t stay!”

Brendon spun her around and kissed her. Within seconds, they were practically tearing each other’s clothes off.

“Rhonda Lee!” her mother bellowed from the kitchen. “Get that ass in here right now, little miss!”

Startled, the couple jumped apart.

Ronnie pulled her shirt back down while Brendon adjusted the front of his jeans.

“What is it, Momma?” Ronnie Lee called out, somehow keeping her panting under control.

“Y’all come into this kitchen and keep me company while your daddy and the boys hunt down that boar for dinner.”

Like a teenager, Ronnie rolled her eyes. “But—”

“Now, Ronnie Lee.”

“Fine!”

Stamping her foot, Ronnie started to storm off, but Brendon grabbed her arm, pulling her back a bit.

“Don’t start a fight, Ronnie.”

“Me? She started it—”

“Ronnie.”

“Fine. You wanna side with her, go ahead. Hope you enjoy sleeping alone tonight, hoss.”

She turned and started to storm off again when Brendon said to her retreating form, “I packed the skirt.”