The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [100]
After Jordan stowed her suitcase in the back seat, he reached for Misty and pulled her into a fierce hug. To Morgan, seething at the sight of Misty snuggled up against Jordan’s bare chest, the embrace didn’t look at all familial. He was just about to tear them apart when Jordan leaned back the tiniest bit to look at her.
“Where will you be staying?” Jordan asked. “Is there a number where we can call you?”
Misty appeared stumped for just a moment, which made Morgan very suspicious, then she brightened. “I’m sort of moving around at the moment. But I’ll let you know when I get settled, okay?”
Morgan continued to study her. It was amazing, even to him, but he could read her like a book, and he knew without a doubt she didn’t have any place to stay. He wanted to throttle her, and he wanted to hold her tight.
Gabe stepped up next for his own hug, and he even dared to kiss her on the cheek, lingering for what Morgan considered an inappropriate amount of time. Morgan gave serious thought to throwing Gabe back into the basement. “If you change your mind,” Gabe said, “promise you’ll come back.”
“I promise. And thank you.”
Casey shook his head. “My death will be on your hands, because Dad is still going to kill me.”
Morgan silently applauded Casey’s forlorn expression, but Misty didn’t buy it. She actually grinned. “Your father wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head, and you know it! Now give me a hug.” With a crooked smile, Casey obeyed.
And even that made Morgan grind his teeth. Casey was a good head taller than Misty with shoulders much wider. Morgan didn’t like it at all. Hell, so far they’d all touched her more than he had!
Misty didn’t even bother looking at Morgan. He crossed his arms and waited until she’d gotten behind the wheel and pulled her door shut, then he leaned back against a tall oak tree. He considered himself patience personified.
Jordan stepped up to him with an intent frown. It was unlike Jordan to be so disgruntled, and Morgan raised a taunting brow. “Sorry to see her go?”
Jordan didn’t rile easily. “You got me out of bed just to tell her goodbye? I figured you’d stop her somehow. Honey’s going to be damn upset when she finds out we let her leave.”
Morgan eyed his brother a moment longer, decided he didn’t see any signs of lovesickness, and turned to stare at Misty. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Misty gave one final cheery wave to them all and turned the key. The engine ground roughly, whined, but didn’t quite turn over. Frowning, she tried again. The car still wouldn’t start.
Satisfied, Morgan watched Gabe saunter over to him, Casey at his side. “You tinkered with her car?” He sounded faintly approving. Gabe was the mechanic and handyman in the family. If he’d thought of it or had had time, he likely would have done the same.
Morgan gave him a wounded look. “Now, would I do a thing like that? I’m the law around here, Gabe, you know that. Tampering with a car is illegal.” He looked at Misty with a smile. “I’m sure of it.”
Grinning, Gabe went to the driver’s window and tapped on it. When Misty rolled down her window, he said, “Doesn’t sound like she’s going to start, hon.”
Misty dropped her head onto the steering wheel and ignored Gabe, ruthlessly twisting the key once again. She looked so forlorn that Morgan almost couldn’t stand it. He wanted to lift her out of the car, hold her, tell her everything would be okay. He wanted, damn it, to take care of her. To protect her.
Because she was family.
Because she was a woman in need.
Because it was the right thing to do.
Not because he cared for her personally. Wanting a woman and caring for her were two different things, and he was never one to confuse the issues. Yes, he wanted her, more so now than ever, which seemed odd in the extreme. But he could deal with that. What he couldn’t deal with was the idea of