Page 72 of His Loyal Rebel

"No, it isn't. I had no idea he was seeing you, and I know that things with Tarkio are hairy right now. I was actually pissed at him for getting involved with you." Tracy rolled her eyes. "The other women—fine. But, you—he knew better."

"I-I don't understand." She grabbed a coaster off the coffee table and set her cup down.

"Well, it's unfair to you for him to come and go, leading you on when he doesn't have the time to spend with you. I didn't know you were the reason why he's been gone, and he's making sure you're protected." Tracy raised her brows. "He told me that he loves you."

"He did?"

As if in a dream, all she could do was stare at Whip's sister as she led the conversation. She hadn't talked to Whip about Tracy or knew how much he had told her about their relationship.

"You have no idea how thrilled it makes me that he found someone." She lowered her voice. "My brother deserves to be happy."

She relaxed at the onslaught of warmth flowing through her. That was one thing she and Tracy could agree on. Whip deserved so much to make up for a horrible past.

"I will do whatever I can to make sure he's always happy," she said quietly. "I never expected to meet someone like him. I wasn't looking to meet someone or thinking about a relationship, and he came into my life and turned it upside down—in the greatest way possible after a lot of up and downs. I can't even explain to you how he makes me feel."

Tracy wiped at her cheeks, set her cup down, and stood. "Can I hug you?"

She barely nodded, and Whip's sister threw her arms around her neck and squeezed her tightly. "Thank you."

"I didn't do anything."

Tracy pulled back and sniffed. "You have. Someday, you'll realize how much."

Her vision blurred, lost on what had happened, but feeling the impact of their conversation. She hadn't wanted to come inside, and now she was glad that she and Tracy had found a common connection. They both loved Whip.

Tracy plopped back down on the chair. "Lord, I'm tired and hormonal."

Reminded of her children, Twyla glanced toward the hallway. "Are your kids asleep?"

"Yes." She laughed softly. "Thank goodness. Bethy is cutting her first molars, and Rocky had one of those days where all he wanted to do was destroy the house and pull out every toy."

She smiled, amazed that one small woman could handle two rambunctious kids all day by herself, and still make the effort to stay up to midnight to talk with her—apologize even.

"Whip never mentioned where you work," said Tracy.

"Mama Jean's Pie Shoppe."

"No way." Tracy perked up. "We were talking about that place the other day. The other ladies at Tarkio, I mean. We're thinking of places to go, without the kids, and enjoy ourselves while the men are in meetings."

"You should come. The pie is good." Earlier excitement over her raise and change in position filled her now that the nerves over meeting Tracy were gone.

"Definitely."

Tracy went on to tell her about the others who belonged to Tarkio members. While she'd seen some of the women, she knew their husbands better by seeing them all the time at the clubhouse.

In a small way, she felt like Tracy offered her membership into a private clique the way she openly shared information on her friends.

An hour had gone by in a flash. Whip walked in with Rick and looked at her with his brows raised. She smiled, letting him know she was okay.

Better than okay, she felt like she belonged.