She wore a threadbare T-shirt and ratty jeans. He needed to buy her clothes.Stat.
Jana raised a pitiful gaze to him. “The boys like me. What did I do to Rebel?”
“Nothing, sweetheart.” Feeling as if he was going to his execution, Diesel decided to tell her the truth. He sat next to her and drew her close. “Rebel fancies herself in love with me.” As forced as his chuckle sounded to his own ears, he wondered what Jana thought. “Insane, I know, babe. She’s acting out because she’s a spoiled little brat.”
“Can I talk to her? Please?”
That was the worst possible idea. Rebel would never cooperate and Jana would end up even more hurt. Besides, Diesel didn’t want to see all of Rebel’s emotions that, when narrowed, would focus on her anger toward him.
“Just for a few minutes. Girl-to-girl.”
“I-I’m late for work. I wanted to stop in and introduce you to Aunt Meggie.” Diesel also needed to talk to her about his parents. Theresa’s fate weighed heavily on him. Maybe Aunt Meggie would have words to console him. “You and Rebel will have plenty of opportunities to talk. Besides, she can’t know about your drug use. No one can. I don’t want them to pass judgment on you,” he added quickly, so he wouldn’t hurt her feelings. “Or decide you shouldn’t be here.”
“I won’t take long with Rebel,” she pressed, not addressing anything else. “I promise. I’ve always wanted to be a big sister. What I have to say might help her.”
Diesel gritted his teeth. Why the fuck couldn’t he say no to Jana? Rebel was the last person Jana needed to interact with.His little sister would rip his fiancé to shreds. Then, hewouldspank that little bitch.
At the images bouncing in his head, he quickly nixed that idea.
Standing, he held out his hand. “Come on.
Sitting on the sofa in her room, Rebel tried to focus on the computer screen and her math lesson, but she kept seeing Diesel’s unkempt hair and lidded eyes. When he’d answered his door, he’d hidden his lower half. She’d suspected it was because he was naked.
Her lips trembled. She owed him an apology for cursing him. Hearing Jana’s voice shocked her, though. As her brother, it shouldn’t have mattered what woman he had in his bed. And it didn’t. Not really.
They werefamily, brother and sister, so close they both had some of Daddy’s traits. She wanted Diesel happy. If Jana made him happy, Rebel had to accept that.
Kaia certainly madeherhappy. When she could overlook her suspicions.
The knock on the door surprised her. Momma usually texted her when she was on her way to Rebel’s room. Daddy rarely visited. The boys were at school. Kaia and Bishop were working. That left Diesel.
The knock came again.
“It’s open,” she said miserably.
Diesel guided Jana in, immediately raising Rebel’s hackles and she opened her mouth to ask him if he’d lost his fucking mind. So, what if she was wrong? She’d intended to apologize but she wouldn’t allow him to force Jana on her.
“Get out,” she ordered.
“Jana wants a sisterly visit with you,” Diesel said coldly, pulling Jana to one of her chairs and then nodding for her to sit. “You’re going to listen to her and behave. Or else.”
She glowered at him. “When I smother you in your sleep, don’t be shocked.”
Not answering, Diesel bent, tipped Jana’s chin up and brushed his lips over hers. “I’ll call you when I get to the office.”
“Okay.”
“Rebel will walk you back to the treehouse.”
“In your fucking dreams,” Rebel bit out.
Straightening, Diesel bared his teeth. “The alternative is her in my bed for the rest of the day.”
She made a face at him.
“I thought not,” he said, kissed Jana again, and sauntered out.
He left Jana with Rebel too fucking easy. If she knew anything about him, she knew he wouldn’t go far in case Jana needed him. Fuckhead.
