Rebel Soul: (Rebel Series Book 1) ((Rebel Series)) Read Online Free Page A

his lips and whistled. The dog leapt from the open window and growled at Braden. Brock whistled once again. Obediently, the dog walked up and sat down at Brock’s feet, still watching Braden carefully. The dog was huge and beautiful, a German shepherd mix from the looks of it. Absently, Brock’s hand dropped down to pat the dog on the head.
    “I hope you’re going to control that fucking mutt,” Braden seethed, his face red with embarrassment. “I don’t want it barking all night.”
    Brock sent him a single look that had Braden clamping his mouth shut and fetching the rest of the water jugs from the back of the truck. It seemed that Brock had an undeniable power over those around him. Me, Braden, the dog, even Elle watched with wide eyes.
    I grabbed Elle’s arm again, dragging her further away from both Brock and Braden. I felt light headed, and I didn’t like it at all. “Why didn’t you tell me he was going to be here? If my father finds out, he’s going to flip!”
    “Chill out, Tessa. Your father isn’t going to find out…I promise.” Elle’s eyes were filled with sincerity. “And really, there’s nothing wrong with Brock.”
    “Didn’t he just get out of jail for aggravated assault?” I retorted, folding my arms across my chest. I was suddenly cold; the good mood I’d been in earlier had long since evaporated in a puff of smoke, replaced with a swirling number of complicated emotions and reactions that I couldn’t even begin to sift through.
    “Yes, but you don’t know the reason why ,” Elle said, as if this should make all the difference in the world. Elle noticed my unimpressed are you serious stare. She smiled sadly. “Tessa, your world is always so black and white. Sometimes, things fall in the grey area. Trust me when I tell you, this is one of those things. He is one of those things.”
    I wrinkled my nose, resenting my friend for calling me out. “Fine, but don’t expect me to talk to him. I barely tolerate Braden.”
    “I know,” Elle said without humor. She pursed her lips as if she had more to say. Instead, she forced a smile. “Let’s go get a drink.”
     
    * * *
     
    I had been so excited to finally be able to let loose and get drunk without one of my brothers around to put a stop to the fun. Only, I couldn’t. Not at first, anyway. I felt Brock’s eyes on me often, and I couldn’t believe that I’d finally ditched my brothers only to gain a surrogate one.
    I started to get a little chilly. I knew I had a sweater in the cab of my truck, so I told Elle I’d be right back and wandered over to grab it. I yanked the door open, and the hinges creaked loudly. I grabbed my sweater and slammed the door perhaps a little too harshly.
    “Well, aren’t you the life of the party?” The modulated voice startled me, and I strained my eyes through the darkness trying to find the speaker. Brock stepped out of the shadows, followed by his dog. The dog hadn’t left his heels or made a sound since snarling at Braden. When Brock came to a stop at the end of my truck, the dog sat down, watching me with intelligent glowing eyes.
    My heart jumped in my chest and my face felt heated. I didn’t understand what was coming over me. I’d always been attracted to Brock, but it had never taken my breath away like this before. “Yeah, well. I could say the same about you.”
    Brock chuckled, but it wasn’t unkind like the last time I’d heard him laugh. He leaned against my truck, still looking at me, and took a slow sip of the beer in his hand. My eyes were instantly drawn to his broad shoulders, snug in a tan work jacket. “Yeah, I didn’t particularly want to spend my Friday night chaperoning my little brother and his friends. No offence.”
    “None taken.” I frowned. “And for the record, I didn’t want to spend my Friday night being chaperoned by someone’s older brother. I have enough of my own, thank you.”
    Brock’s mouth curved into an attractive smile that made the