Her brother’s expression darkened. “He’s not just insulting you with this. He’s insulting me too. And anyone else who knows the truth.”

She nodded at her brother. “Yep. But he’s irrelevant, and he’ll use you, me, whoever, to be relevant. He’s a small, weak man who thinks he’s far stronger and tougher than he is. He’ll get his. But you are relevant. Do you see? You have a future full of options. In the end, you’re worth ten of him. And he knows it. So f**k him. Unless he comes at you, just avoid him and do your thing.”

“I don’t know. Honestly I’m seriously pissed. She’s on my case about seeing you and hanging out with you. Wants to know what we talk about. I’d have told her if she hadn’t been so dictatorial about it. Garrett is at the house with Mindy. He now calls them Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa is mad a lot. I think he and Grandma are fighting. I hate that Garrett comes into my house and is trying to poison them. I don’t like that he’d say that about you when you’re being terrorized.”

“It’s your life and your fists. I get that you’re mad. I do. I’m mad too. I’m just used to triage and to keeping my eye on the big picture. He’s nothing and no one.”

He didn’t make promises and she didn’t make him. He was nearly grown and would do what he wanted anyway.

“You know, it’s the fact that Garrett is irrelevant and nothing that makes me want to punch him most.” Royal had been pretty quiet on the way home but once he’d started to change his clothes, he began speaking.

She put lotion on her hands as she looked up from where she’d been reading something for work.

“See, I told him. I told him nearly two months ago that if he could not slow his tongue and quit bringing you up, he and I would have a problem. Then he started that shit at the Pumphouse and egged Benji on, and now he’s telling everyone that you’re a liar who faked attacks on herself to make it look like her dad was innocent. I have a big problem here, Caro.”

She blew out a breath.

“I told him. And he ran off after the thing at the Pumphouse. I need to make it my mission to bump into him so we can talk this out.”

“If you do that you could get arrested. He’s not worth that.”

“No. Caroline, I am respectful of what you need to do with this. I stand back even when my brain is screaming at me to duct tape you and keep you in bed until this guy is picked up. But I know you need to do it. And I know you make big allowances for how I feel about stuff as it is. I appreciate it. You don’t have to but you do anyway.”

“Because I love you.”

He smiled, bending down to kiss her. “Good. Another thing I appreciate. I love you too.”

“But you’re going to punch him anyway.”

He nodded. “Yes. More than once. I’m sorry my choices are hurting your feelings. But yes.”

“My feelings aren’t hurt. To be totally honest, I’m flattered and it makes me feel all giggly and tingly when you want to punch someone to protect or avenge me. But I hate it anyway because while I am absolutely sure you’re capable of winning with one arm tied behind your back, I don’t like anyone trying to hurt you. I don’t like a big fuss being made and everyone looking at me. More than they already do. You push and it opens you up to negative attention.” It mattered to him because he was deeply woven into Petal. Far more than she was, and she didn’t want him estranging himself from everything he’d ever known to avenge her.

But when she said that he just turned and sighed. “Caroline, do you think I’d want people in my life who’d think it was okay for a grown man to run over town and tell stories out of school about my woman? I have friends who are worthy of that friendship. I don’t care about anyone else other than you. Got me?”

She nodded, giving a wobbly smile. “I’ve cried a lot in the last few months. I’m a wimp.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh yes, you’re such a wimp for crying three times in the midst of someone trying to kill you to shut you up, of being on the outs with your mom’s people, all this change in your life.”

“Are you mocking me?”

He took the files from her hands. “I’d rather f**k you. Carefully of course so we don’t pull your stitches.”

“Other than onion rings, this is the best offer I’ve had all night.”

He knelt on the floor between her thighs as he reached out to cup the back of her neck and pull her closer.

“Am I helping you work through some of your aggression?” she murmured into his mouth during their kiss.

He gripped her neck a little tighter. “You up for that?”

She pulled back. “I’m not going to break.”

He must have understood because he grabbed her pajama shirt and spread it wide, a button flying off to the side.

Whoa.

“Yeah, I liked that too.” He kissed her again as he brushed his thumbs back and forth over her ni**les before sliding down to push her pajama pants and her underwear from her legs.

“Perfect access.” He licked the back of her knee and then put her calf on his shoulder. “Scoot down a little, make sure you’re okay when you lean back.” He stroked up her thighs, and she moved quickly to find an angle that wouldn’t put pressure on her stitches.

And once she had, his mouth was on her, his tongue licking and swirling, fingers pressing up and inside. Sensation slowly filled her. Starting at her toes, it seemed to build and build until it engulfed her when she came way faster and far harder than she’d been expecting.