by Avery Gale
Waking her was easy; she’d only slept fitfully when she’d slept at all. Setting her on her feet, Kip watched her eyes narrow when she realized where they were. “Before you say anything, Cal, put yourself in my shoes.” He waited, watching as her expression shifted from annoyed to considering and finally to resigned. “Your well-being is far more important to me than dealing with a few minutes of your annoyance.” Damn, she looked vulnerable and sad. Regrettably, it was an expression Kip feared he’d see more often than not for a while.
“If I do this,”—she winced when she nodded toward the hospital—“will you take me home as soon as I’m finished?” Her father wasn’t on his ranch, and Kip damned well wasn’t letting her go home alone. Kip might have agreed to anything to get her inside, but she’d created a loophole without realizing it. No doubt their definition of home was different, but he was going to run with it. There would be hell to pay later, but he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
Taking her hand, he led her into the walk-in clinic Ryan had recently opened. Kip was proud of the improvements his cousin had made to the local medical center. Preventive care was being emphasized and the local “Get Out and Move” campaign Ryan spearheaded was a resounding success.
Ryan met them by the door and gave Caila an assessing look. “I’m glad I came out to meet you, sweetness. It appeared to me you were ready to bolt, and I can tell you are in pain. Follow me.” Kip watched Caila blink in surprise. She’d known Ryan most of her life since he’d spent summers in Montana, but she’d obviously never seen this side of the reckless young man she’d once spent time with. Ordinarily, Dr. Ryan Morgan wasn’t a stickler for BDSM protocol, but he’d likely seen something in Caila’s body language that set him off. Her response to his authority was so automatic Kip knew the reaction had taken a shortcut around her rebellious mind. He couldn’t wait to talk to Ryan and find out what he’d noticed, because he’d have to capitalize on every possible advantage if he was going to make Caila his.
Ryan’s long strides ate up the long hallway. Kip didn’t have any trouble keeping up, but Caila was falling farther and farther behind. “Hey, you two, my legs aren’t as long as yours, and I’m not going to run to keep up. Leave a trail of M&M’s, and I’ll catch up eventually.” Kip grinned—, he’d forgotten how much she loved the little bites of candy covered chocolate.
Retracing his steps, he leaned down, scooped her up into his arms, and returned to Ryan’s side. “We can’t have you eating all that sugar in front of the man who is singlehandedly shaping up the entire town. We’d both get a lecture, and you’ve already got several coming your way—no need to add another.” He saw her eyes light with a hint of amusement, but the dancing hint of mischief he was used to seeing in her pretty blue eyes was still clouded by pain. Dammit to hell, he wished he’d been able to reach her in time to prevent her injury.
Ryan’s examination seemed to take forever, but Kip appreciated his cousin’s attention to detail. He’d asked them to wait while he reviewed the test results. Two hours later, Ryan stepped into the small room and smiled when he saw Caila curled up on Kip’s lap. She’d been asleep for the last hour, and Kip didn’t care that his legs were screaming at the lack of movement. She’d finally fallen into a deep sleep, and he hadn’t been willing to risk disturbing her. Knowing she still trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms filled him with hope.
“Her concussion was more serious than it first appeared. The only reason I’m not hospitalizing her is because I trust you to watch her carefully. She needs someone with her twenty-four seven for the next few days. Brandt said her dad left town last night, so I’d suggest you take her to the ranch. The more eyes on her the better.”
Kip nodded. “Above everything else, I want her safe, and that includes healthy. She’s going to want to go over to her dad’s clinic—what do you think?”
“Make her rest a day or two. After that, she should to limit her time there to a couple of hours. Rest is what’s going to help her bounce back the quickest. She may have vision problems and dizziness intermittently, so no driving for a couple of weeks. You mentioned a sensitivity to Tylenol, so I’ve prescribed something that will ease the pain without knocking her out, but it can make some people act out of character. Call me if she has trouble tolerating it or if you have trouble dealing with her.” Great, just what she needs, pharmaceutically induced battiness on top of her own. “If she isn’t feeling significantly better in a couple of days, I want to you to call.” Before he stepped out the door, Ryan turned and grinned. “I know your brothers are ragging on you about taking care of her, but I can see how important she is to you. Not everybody gets this many second chances, Kip. Make this one count.”
I’m giving it everything I’ve got, cousin.
Chapter Eleven
Caila was pissed. When Kip drove through the gates leading to his family’s home, she’d known he’d never intended to take her home. “You said you’d take me home, Kip.”
“You’re right—I did say I’d take you home, and—this is my home.”
“You’re a rat bas…ket.” Caila still wasn’t convinced she’d actually agreed to give him a month, but there wasn’t any reason to push her luck…just in case. Calling a Dom a rat bastard probably wasn’t terribly smart.
Kip laughed out loud. “Good save, baby. Your ass and my mama thank you for your quick thinking.” Kip’s mom didn’t like it when her sons cursed, but she’d come completely apart at the seams the first time she heard Caila let loose with a string of foul language better suited for the barn than the kitchen. It was one of the few times he could remember Caila crying. She’d been mortified because she’d disappointed Mama Morgan.
“I want to go to my home, Kip. I left my dad a message that I was coming. He’s expecting me.”
“No, baby, he isn’t. He’s out of town with Charlotte. She found out he was planning to drive down to Denver to talk to the banker, so she rode along.” Caila could tell there was more to the story than he was saying, but she wasn’t going to be derailed by asking what he wasn’t telling her. “The only reason Ryan didn’t admit you was because I promised to bring you here, where you would have someone watching you around the clock. Take a look at this. It’s his release instructions.” He slid a paper across the seat. “You aren’t supposed to drive, either. And before you argue, stop and think about the fact you could endanger not only your own life but someone else’s life as well.”
She scanned the paper, crinkling the edges as her fingers tightened in frustration. “This is unreasonable. Tally didn’t say any of this.”
“Tally told you very clearly if you weren’t better then you needed further examination. You and I both know she would have rather taken you in that night, but it wasn’t in your best interest. Now, what’s it going to be? Stay here and let us all fuss over you, or should I turn around and take you back to the hospital?” She would have screamed in frustration if she hadn’t been sure it would have split her head in two like a ripe melon. The medicine Ryan had given her dulled the pain, but it hadn’t completely eliminated it.
“But I’ve been thinking about this for days…planning what I was going to say to Dad, rehashing all my questions.” She hated getting all psyched up for something and then having it delayed. Cheese and crackers, she’d lose her momentum, and then nothing would go according to plan.
Kip parked his truck and turned so his back was to his door. He studied her for several seconds, not saying a word. He finally sighed and reached for her hand. Drawing circles in her palm, he didn’t speak for so long she felt the inside of the truck begin to chill. “I understand how frustrating it is to have your plans decimated by someone else, believe me. As the youngest, things rarely went the way I’d envisioned them going. And I’m sure it seems like I’m tossing your wishes aside because it serves my purpose.”
She started to speak, but the quick shake of his head silenced her. “I’m not going to say I’m sorry you’re here, because I won’t lie to
you. Hell, if you’ll stop and think back, you’ll realize I’ve never lied to you. I’ve been an ass and completely selfish, but I’ve always been honest with you.”
Caila sucked in a breath at the realization he was right. His honesty had been brutal at times, hurting her more often than she wanted to remember. Heaven knew there were probably another hundred incidents where he could have been more tactful, but he’d never lied to her.
“You know I’d never want to hurt someone else, but I’m afraid I won’t have the strength to face everything if I don’t do it right away. Your family will coddle me, and I’ll let them. It would be easy to let you all handle it, but I need to figure some of this out on my own.” Taking a deep breath, she looked up into his eyes and was startled to see compassion rather than pity.
“I know I’m in over my head. I don’t have any experience dealing with bankers, and I’m terrified it’s too late. I have no idea what I’ll do if I lose the only home I’ve ever known.” She could feel herself slipping over the edge. Controlling her emotions seemed harder now for some reason. Probably the damned concussion, Grace. Shaking her head, she let her chin drop to her chest and pulled in big gulps of air. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dumped all of that on you. It isn’t your…”
“Don’t finish that sentence, baby. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stop right there.” Jerking her gaze up to his, Caila was surprised to see his formidable expression. But even more shocking was the line of men standing on the steps behind him. All four of Kip’s brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, arms crossed over their chests with expressions varying from concern to frustration.
The last time she’d had to face all five of the Morgan brothers in a showdown was when she’d accepted Billie Tucker’s invitation to prom. She’d been all too aware of his reputation, but she hadn’t had any intention of sleeping with him. Caila had only accepted because she’d known it would annoy Kip. What she hadn’t expected was Kip calling in reinforcements. That confrontation had lasted two hours and led to the most boring prom in the history of mankind. She’d gone to her senior prom with two of her girlfriends and been home in bed before midnight. Caila had only danced twice…TWICE! The only classmate brave enough to ask her had been one with the stamp of approval from Colt, who’d stood in the shadows and watched over her all evening. She still hadn’t figured out how he’d managed to be appointed one of the chaperons for the annual event.
Scanning the line of formidable men, she pinched the bridge of her nose and rolled her shoulders. Dammit to dusty doorknobs, this isn’t going to help my headache…not even a little.
Sage watched Caila steel herself before she reached for the truck’s door handle. He wasn’t sure whether he should be impressed by her moxie or pissed she was once again planning to fly straight into the storm. Anyone else would have taken one look at the four of them and at least hesitated, but not Caila. She’d always charged in where angels feared to tread—usually to her detriment.
“She’s going to go down fighting, isn’t she?” Phoenix’s question almost made him laugh out loud.
“No doubt. She’s all about the best defense is a good offense. But it isn’t going to work this time.” Sage agreed with Colt’s observation. Sage understood why his brothers expected him to take her in hand, but he wondered if Kip was ready for that. He saw her scan them as if she were trying to determine the weak link—which one could she shoulder past.
Sage saw the corners of Brandt’s mouth twitch when her gaze landed on him. She’d decided he would be her best bet because he was in uniform. News flash, sweet cheeks, that uniform isn’t going to protect you in the way you’re thinking. “Excuse me, Brandt. I’m tired and I’m going to find a quiet space and rest.” Her baffle ’em with bull shit routine wasn’t going to fly with his brother, and Sage shook his head at her lame attempt to steamroll her way past them.
Without even blinking, Brandt shackled her upper arm with his hand. Sage wondered why his brother’s expression turned thunderous and didn’t have to wait long to find out. “Don’t think for a minute that’s going to fly, Cal. You think you can get away with waltzing past me, putting some horse hockey excuse out there, and I’ll let you because I’m the sheriff, but it’s not going to work that way. First, we’re marching your ass into the kitchen. As soon as we’re all satisfied you’ve eaten a proper meal, we’re going to have a chat in Sage’s office.”
The little hellcat spun on him and stomped her foot. Sage managed—barely—to tamp down his amusement, and he heard Colt cough to cover his own laughter. Oh, little girl, you just made a huge tactical error; former SEALs don’t tolerate hissy fits. “Brandt Morgan, you may think you are the king of all you survey, but I’m going to enlighten you…it isn’t so. Now, you can let go of my arm or I’ll…”
“You’ll what, Cal? Go on, sweetness, spit it out. Because I have to tell you I’m just itching to paddle your ass for all the dumb stunts you’ve pulled. I saw the pictures of your tires.” The look she shot Kip would have melted paint off the walls if they’d been inside. “And before you get your pretty panties—if Kip let you wear any—in a twist, he isn’t the one who sent me the pictures. Taz was furious when he watched the mechanics load your Jeep on a rollback. Hell, the guys from the shop wouldn’t even drive it across town; the damned thing is in such a state of disrepair. And I haven’t even started on the fact you were sleeping in an unsecured area during what soon became a full-blown ice storm.”
Caila’s eyes went wide, and she sucked in a breath, clearly surprised at the vehemence in Brandt’s tone. But it didn’t take her long to rally. Sage saw Kip lean back against the rock retaining wall, grinning as he crossed his arms over his chest. Obviously little brother was enjoying watching someone else deal with the little trouble maker. “You’re not the boss of me, Brandt. I didn’t have the money for new tires…end of story.”
“Real mature, Cal. And just FYI, every Dom at Mountain Mastery became the boss of you the minute you stepped through the door of the club as a member. Don’t think for a minute we don’t take our responsibilities as Doms very seriously. None of us knew you had an interest in kink until that night at the club, but now the gloves are off, and we’ll act accordingly.”
When she started to speak, Phoenix stepped up beside Brandt and shook his head. “Brandt didn’t ask you a question, Cal.”
“That’s right. You have the right to remain silent, and I suggest you exercise it.” Brandt’s expression was tight, but Sage was sure he wasn’t as angry with her as it seemed. His brother felt responsible because he hadn’t talked to Caila about her dad when she first returned home. As the sheriff, he’d hoped she’d see for herself how serious the situation had become, but things hadn’t worked out that way.
Colt stepped forward and cupped her chin with his hand and gently turned her face so she was looking at him rather than Brandt. “Before you get in any deeper, sweetie, stop and think. Is this a battle you’re prepared to lose? Because, let’s face it, there are five of us and one of you.”
Phoenix nodded in agreement, “And you know there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for you.”
“Including paddle your lovely backside if that’s what it takes to get your attention.” Sage’s words made her gasp, her head turning so quickly he saw her flinch from the pain. “God dammit, Caila, this isn’t a battle of wills. This is about us worrying about a woman we care about. Come on. Let’s get you something to eat. We’ll make this as painless as possible if you’ll do your part.” Sage wasn’t sure Brandt was going to be able to keep from giving her the spanking she deserved, but gaining her cooperation needed to be their priority.
The five Morgan brothers might have different approaches to the lifestyle, but they were all Doms, and there wasn’t a chance in hell she was going to dissuade them. Sage’s sweet wife had once likened them to different colors in a painting—all parts of the big picture, each one an individual, but together, they could create magic. He’d enjoyed watching his wife b
lossom since they’d married, and he knew his brothers had done a lot to contribute to her understanding of their D/s lifestyle. The only one of them who hadn’t disciplined her was Kip, and that was because the youngest of them had always been able to charm women into doing whatever he wanted. Lucky bastard.
Caila rolled her eyes, a habit he would encourage Kip to break—quickly. He saw her resignation, but he also saw a flicker of satisfaction. She’d craved the grounding their no-nonsense approach had given her. Caila’s life was spinning out of her control, and she needed to know they had her back. It would be better if Kip could fill the role of anchor in the storm, but it was going to take him a while to rebuild Caila’s trust. Not everyone believed it was possible, but Sage didn’t doubt his youngest brother’s commitment to the task. In his view, it wasn’t a matter of if; it was simply a matter of when.
Once again, Caila turned too quickly; this time she faltered enough Sage reached out, grasping her arm to steady her. He wanted to growl when he realized how thin she was—Christ, was there any meat on her arms at all? “Thanks. I keep forgetting the world likes to spin around me if I turn too fast.” Sage simply nodded and released her when he felt she was steady on her feet.
Kip walked her up the stairs, the rest of them following behind. Coral, Josie, Joelle, and Aspen were sitting in the kitchen, sipping various drinks. Coral was holding a margarita, but he noticed the other three women were drinking fruit juice. He hadn’t made any secret of the fact he was anxious to become an uncle, but so far, none of his brothers had made the expected announcement.
All four women squealed in excitement when Caila stepped into the room, switching to softer tones when they noted her flinch. Joelle was the first to pull her into a crushing hug. “Boy, oh boy, you scared the cra…b apples out of me.”