Page 78 of His Loyal Rebel

He motioned for her to stay. She followed him out of the room instead. It could be anyone. It could be Big.

"You don't listen." He put his hand on his lower back, gripping the handle of his pistol.

Most of the time, she forgot that he carried a weapon. Seeing his, she was reminded that now that Whip would no longer be guarding her while she worked, she could take Big's pistol out of her purse.

There obviously wasn't a need for it anymore. Whatever had happened on Friday that drew Whip away from her had stopped his worry about Big coming to the restaurant.

Whip looked out the window. "It's my sister."

He opened the door. Tracy came in, lugging one child and leading the other.

"The thing you wanted is in the back of the truck." Tracy fought a smile. "I'm not helping you unload it, though."

"Thanks." He walked outside, putting a cigarette in his mouth.

Curious to know what Tracy brought with her, Twyla looked out the window and laughed. Rocky bumped into her leg. Brought back from the arousal Whip was always creating inside of her, she smiled at Tracy's son as he ran in circles in the bare room.

"We're neighbors." Tracy set Bethy on her feet and blocked the door, making sure none of the kids escaped. "This is the best possible situation. I always felt bad about Whip coming home from prison and not staying at the house with us. It's no life for anyone, living in a clubhouse."

Understanding passed through her, knowing Whip's stay in the federal prison had changed many things for him.

"It's not so bad being at the clubhouse," she said.

Tracy groaned. "I imagine you don't get much sleep."

Whip picked that moment to carry the mattress into the house. "Twyla can sleep anywhere. She's out like a rock once her head hits the pillow."

She rolled her eyes. "That's not true."

He grunted. She couldn't help smiling. That was his way of arguing with her.

"I still say you should go out and buy a new mattress set." Tracy looked at Twyla. "That's his old one. It's been set up in Rocky's room, going unused, except for my son using it to spread all his toys out on."

"Is it comfortable?" she asked.

From the bedroom, Whip said, "The best."

She shrugged. "It's fine for me."

Whip had little when he got out of prison. He would probably enjoy sleeping in a familiar bed again. Maybe in some way, he'd find comfort having something his parents probably bought him years ago.

Tracy caught Bethy before she tumbled. "I'm going to get out of here and let you two enjoy your new home. If you need anything else, let me or Rick know, and we can bring it over."

"Hey, Tracy? We need a couch." Whip walked into the living room. "Why don't you go with Twyla this week and help her pick something out?"

"Are you sure?" Twyla walked outside with everyone. "I mean, we can wait to buy furniture. There's no hurry."

"We need a couch." He stopped at the back of the pickup and pulled the box spring out of the back.

She hurried around to grab the end, helping him carry it into the house. Tracy loaded the kids in the cab of the truck. By the time they hefted the bed to the door, she could only lift her chin as Tracy waved.

"I like your sister," she blurted.

"Why wouldn't you?"

It was hard to explain. She never had any problems making friends, but when relationships had labels like mom, dad, sister, she was usually not deemed good enough or smart enough.

"I expected her not to like me." She almost dropped the box spring in the hallway. "Like Angie."