“You were so hot!”

With one arm under Sissy’s ass, Mitch used the other to pull off his helmet. “Kiss me, baby.”

She did, and all his aches and pains and exhaustion from the last few hours faded away. Her hands dug into his hair, and she pushed her body against his.

“Could you two do that later?” someone complained, but Mitch didn’t know who or care.

Still, Sissy pulled back a bit and smiled at him. “I need to get you to a bed.”

“Who needs a bed?”

“I’m gonna be sick.” Smitty pushed past them. “And I’m tellin’ Daddy!”

Before Mitch could torture Smitty a little more, he spotted Dez on her cell phone, and she was running her hands through her hair. She seemed frustrated and worried. When her gaze rose to his and then quickly looked away, Mitch knew they wanted him back to testify.

He knew Sissy understood that, too, when she whispered against his ear, “It’s time, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, baby.”

She took a deep breath, her arms and legs tightening around him. “But we have tonight. And all day tomorrow.”

“We have tonight. And tomorrow.”

Resting her forehead against his, she sighed out, “All day tomorrow…”

Chapter 29

“Get up!”

Mitch tried to wake up, decided not to, and turned over.

“Get. Up!”

“What?”

“You need to move…now!”

Clothes hit him in the face. “Get dressed and get out.”

“Is this how you treat all your men, Sissy?”

Ronnie appeared in the doorway. “Why is he still here?”

“’Cause he won’t move!”

Mitch sat up. “What the hell is going on?”

“Daddy.”

He frowned. “Don’t start calling me that, Sissy. I’m not one of those guys who finds that hot.”

“Not you, you idiot. My daddy.”

“What about him?”

“They’re coming home.” Ronnie picked up the clothes Sissy had thrown at him and threw them at his head. “Our parents will be home in an hour. So get your ass up.”

“Brendon and you will clean Ronnie’s house. We’ll clean this one.”

“Ladies…aren’t you a little too old for this?”

The two She-wolves rounded on him, and he held his hands up before they could start swinging. “Fine. Fine. I’m going.”

All furniture was put back in its proper place and anything damaged during the fight between the lioness and Dee fixed or hidden. Sheets were changed, nearly every available surface had been scrubbed, and any signs of feline DNA had been removed. Sissy was just flipping over the couch cushionsto hide the claw tears when she heard the truck pulling up.

“They’re here!” Ronnie flew down the stairs, Dee behind her. “They’re here!”

“I know! I know!” Sissy pushed the cushions in and adjusted them until they looked perfect.

Car doors closed, and she could hear her daddy’s low voice complaining about something and her momma’s responding laugh. As their footsteps made it up onto the porch, Sissy scrambled back, her eyes searching the entire room, looking for anything that could tip her momma off.

The family room door opened, and Ronnie and Dee lined up next to her. Her momma stepped in and stopped when she saw her daughter standing there. Her eyes narrowed, and immediately, her accusing gaze swept the room.

“Move, woman. I’m exhausted.” Bubba Smith stepped into the room, but he stopped when he saw his daughter. “Sissy Mae?”

“Hi, Daddy.” She quickly moved over to him and threw her arms around his shoulders. “Did y’all have a good time?”

Bubba grunted. “I’d rather have stayed home.”

“You can stop saying that now that we are home.” Her mother dropped her purse on the table. “Ronnie Lee, your parents are back at their house…where you should be.”

“Uh…well…”

Janie blinked. “Good Lord…Dee-Ann?”

“Hi, Auntie Janie.”

“Lord, girl! Come over here!” Dee went into her aunt’s arms. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Me, too.”

Janie pulled back. “What happened to your face? And why are you limping?” Her lips pursed. “What did Sissy drag you into now?”

“That’s it. I’m leaving.”

Bubba took hold of his daughter’s arm before she could storm off. “Y’all stop it right now.” He pulled Sissy in front of him and chucked her under the chin, his eyes warm. “So why don’t you tell me what’s going on, Shug?”

Mitch took the sweet tea Ronnie’s mother handed him. He gave her a smile that she didn’t return. She picked up her own glass and sat down on the opposite couch from him and Bren.

“So where is she?”

“Over at Sissy’s.”

The woman let out a long sigh. “Typical. Over there with Sissy, but not over here to see me. Or to see her daddy.”

Mitch opened his mouth to defend Ronnie, but Bren lightly banged his knee against his brother’s.

“You two hungry?” Bren nodded, and Miss Tala let out another sigh. “Fine. I guess that means I have to cook y’all somethin’ since that daughter of mine ain’t here to take care of her man.”