by Tamsin Baker
Tyler opened his mouth, then shut it quickly.
It could have been a lot worse.
I continued. “Yep, I know. Pretty big coincidence, but at least I didn’t fuck her.”
Tyler frowned and looked down at the address again. What else could be said, really? I’d potentially ruined our chance to be with Laura.
Tyler surprised me when he glanced up and said, “Yeah, and really... it was probably a good thing last night happened, or we would never had met Laura. She doesn’t look like the sort of woman who hangs around bars looking for a date.”
The weight I’d been carrying since last night lifted. “Thanks, Ty.”
His observation was a good way of looking at it, and one I hadn’t assessed.
Tyler picked up his fork and started eating. “Maybe I should get one of mom’s pets and schedule a visit at her clinic?”
I nodded at my brother. “Great idea. Then casually drop into the conversation something about how we both want to mate her for life.”
I froze, and blinked in shock.
Well, that sounds heavy.
Tyler gave me a dirty look then dug into the food in front of him.
I gave the look straight back before putting my now-empty plate in the sink. I was restless and edgy, and the food hadn’t helped.
I had to get out of here for a bit. “I’m gonna head to the gym.”
“You’re kidding?” Tyler sputtered behind him.
I let my head drop as I thought about what to say. How did Tyler not understand the need for a major workout?
I wasn’t sure if being honest was the right thing to do, but I didn’t know any other way. When the words came, I turned and threw them at Tyler.
“Ty, I know you’ve been waiting for this chick forever, but I haven’t. You know that. If she really is ‘the one’ and I have to be mated with her, then so be it. But I’m not going to put my whole life on hold in the meantime.”
Tyler pushed himself to his feet, his eyes burning lion-brown. Shit, where had this temper of Ty’s come from?
“We need to pursue her... together.”
I shook my head and headed towards the bedroom. I didn’t want this crap, any of it. How hard was that for my brother to understand?
“Tyler, if you can get her to come over for dinner, I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”
I changed into my gym clothes and left the house without a backward glance.
I had a great job, good friends, my fitness, and of course, my family. If I had some pre-destined perfect female coming my way, I wasn’t going to turn her away, but I certainly wasn’t going to go out of my way to get her, either.
Wasn’t that Fate’s job?
TYLER
I stepped up to the front doorstep of Hinton Veterinary Clinic with an injured dog in my arms. Unfortunate for the dog but very fortunate for me that when I’d called my mom an hour ago to ask about her animals, she’d been on her way to the vet’s office. Poor Cotton had been in a fight with a coyote and had come off second best.
I opened the door and stepped into the clinic, the overly sterile smell of surgery assailing my sensitive nose. Yuck!
“Can I help you?” a cute woman with freckles and red hair asked me from behind the desk.
“Ah, yes.” I walked forward, holding Cotton in my arms.
“She got into it with a coyote this morning and has a cut on her front leg, hind leg teeth punctures, and a ripped ear.”
Cotton struggled a little and I held the dog firmly against my chest, soothing the warm lump with a soft pat.
“Oh, poor little thing. Please have a seat and I’ll have a tech get a room ready for you..”
“No! Ah, I’d like to see the vet, Laura, if that’s not too much trouble.”
The woman stared at me for a moment, then smiled. “Doctor Laura’s schedule is packed this morning, but she’ll be in to examine Cotton as quickly as possible. We welcome walk-ins but sometimes it takes a bit longer to be seen..”
I put as much warmth into my eyes as I could. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
I sat down on one of the uncomfortable, white plastic chairs. My ass was almost numb by the time I was called into a small examination room thirty minutes later.
The back door to the room opened and Laura walked in, her long hair tied up into a bun and wearing a pristine, white lab coat.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet... Oh, it’s you.”
Her green eyes went wide and her pupils dilated as she stared at me.
She’s attracted to me. Thank God for that.
“I brought Cotton in to see you. She got in a fight this morning.”
I placed the injured pup down on the stainless-steel table, patting her soft fur when she whimpered.
“It’s okay, pretty girl.”
I could feel Laura’s eyes boring into me as I concentrated on the dog.
Laura hmmphed and stepped forward, running her hands over the dog and connecting with my hand accidentally.
“Oh my God, what is that?” Laura jumped backward. She was shaking her hands out in front of her frantically as though they were burning, which I could relate to. My skin was tingling and I could feel her touch like a permanent tattoo.
“What was what?” I asked, not wanting to assume she felt the same tingles running through my body.
Every part of me was awake and alive. I wanted to grab her, hold her close, kiss those beautiful lips. But instead of following those primitive urges, I withdrew my hands from the dog’s fur and clenched them into fists behind my back.
“When...when I touch your skin. I...I can’t explain it.” Laura was shaking and I hated seeing her like that.
“It’s okay, I promise. Would you consider going somewhere with me this afternoon so I can explain?”
Laura stared at me for a moment, then looked down at the dog.
“Step aside for a moment and let me do my job, then I’ll give you an answer.”
I moved back as Laura stepped forward, running her hands expertly over the shaking dog, examining her from head to tail.
“She needs a shot for the pain and one to prevent a possible infection in her hind leg. I’ll put some glue over her leg and ear, the injuries aren’t deep enough to need stitches, but she’s going to have to wear a cone for a few days to prevent her from re-opening the wounds.”
“Thanks.” I watched Laura with a sense of pride as she moved about the room. She was efficient, intelligent and capable—everything I’d ever wanted in a mate.
She was also very beautiful, with amazingly clear skin and luscious lips. The realization that Fate had designed this woman for me and my brother made me look closer at her, as though she were a piece of art.
I looked at her the way I’d never looked at another woman, allowing myself to see the lovely curve of her cheek, her elegant neck and, of course, the incredibly voluptuous body that was meant to be adored from head to toe.
Laura doctored up the small white dog until Cotton was relaxed and gently snoring on the table.
“Thanks for that,” I said as I moved forward and scooped up the small dog and the dreaded cone of shame.
Laura shuffled forward and lifted her head slowly. “So, what were you saying about going somewhere today?”
I grinned, unable to stop the flood of pleasure her interest created.
“My parents are having a massive late afternoon barbeque. Really, we eat from three until midnight so giving it a title is hard.”
Laura’s eyebrows rose high in shock, her mouth turning down in displeasure. “And why would I go to a family function with you, Tyler?”
The fact that she remembered my name so easily made me grin again, and she looked away.
“It’s probably the best way I have of explaining the sizzle hand thing. Did you experience it with my brother as well?”
Laura’s head snapped around, her mouth dropping open. “Ah...how...” She took a step back as though she were feeling overwhelmed.
; I headed for the door to give her some space. The pieces were falling into place. I could feel them as an amazing amount of cool calm settled over my body.
There wasn’t much to question about my Fated mate anymore, not for me, anyway. Laura was it.
However, my stubborn brother might be a different story. “I know it must seem weird, but I promise it’ll all be explained this afternoon.”
Laura frowned and seemed to get taller as her back straightened up even more.
Ah, crap. What did I say?
She lifted her chin and stared down her nose at me. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable meeting your parents, or anyone else in your family, for that matter. I don’t know anything about you, and for goodness sake... your brother had my sister half in his bed last night!”
Her respiration had increased and her eyes were darting around. It was obvious she was upset, and considering what had happened with Brandon and Belle, I didn’t blame her.
How best to defuse the situation?
“How is Belle this morning?”
Laura rolled her. “Hung over as all get-out, but I managed to get her up, showered, and to university orientation today.”
“Oh, that’s great. Which school?”
Laura glared at me. “Why?”
I chuckled. “You don’t need to worry about me, Laura. Belle is not my type. Not at all... I was just trying to show an interest in your family. You seem close.”
She relaxed a little and the temperature in the room seemed defrost a bit. “Oh, well... we are. Our parents died a while ago, and Belle is a bit... lost. I want to make sure she gets all the opportunities my parents wanted for her. And that includes university.”
I smiled at her. “That’s really wonderful. I loved school. Some of the most fun years of my life.”
Laura nodded and I heard a knock on the door from the other side.
Laura glanced towards it. “I have to go. That’s my signal. I’m running late.”
Shit!
“Okay... Well, look. Assuming you don’t have to pick up Belle, or do anything else for lunch...”
Laura shook her head. “No, she’ll be there all day, then she’s going home with a friend to go out tonight.”
“Great. Then, please join us. Brandon and I have lunch at Sienna’s Café on Saturdays. Do you want to join us for an hour, then you can decide whether you want to come meet the rest of Cotton’s family?”
I held up the dog and gave her a bright smile.
Laura cocked her head to the side and studied me for a moment. I held my breath and met her gaze. If this didn’t work, then I’d be back on Monday.
I was never letting this woman go.
She seemed to make a decision as she flicked her wrist around and stared at the wristwatch there.
“Okay, what time?”
I swallowed the lump that had risen in my throat, and held Cotton closer to my chest. “What time do you finish? We’re usually there around twelve o’clock.”
Laura picked up a clipboard, a weird, professional persona settling over her features. “I’ll see you guys there at twelve.”
Laura began to smile, then it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.
She nodded briskly and left the room through the back door.
I paid and left the office.
Once outside, I inhaled deeply through my nose and caught the scent of the sweet summer wind and blooming flowers.
The seasons had changed and my life had finally turned onto the path that I’d been waiting for.
Brandon
I groaned with impatience and tapped the café table with my fingers, the sound both satisfying and annoying. “Why are we meeting her here? You know we won’t be able to touch her how we need to in public.”
I couldn’t think of anything worse than sitting around a table, sober, with a stranger.
My brother glared at me and in response, I crossed my arms over my chest. I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and walk out. What was Tyler playing at? Seriously? If Laura was “the one,” why weren’t we taking her home straightaway to find out for sure?
Tyler let out a warning growl as the door to the café opened with an annoying tinkle of the wind chime the owners had hanging over the doorframe.
Laura walked in and my heart leapt against my ribs.
Fuck, that’s intense.
I huffed out a breath, trying to release the squeeze on my chest. Tyler, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine as he stood up and motioned to our potential mate to join us.
I rubbed at the painful spot on my chest. That better not happen every time I saw her.
It was freaking embarrassing. I could barely breathe.
Laura walked over to us and sat down in the chair opposite me, a pleasant smile on her pretty face.
A pleasurable feeling of surprise rippled through my chest. She was even better looking than I remembered.
“Hi again.” She nodded at me in greeting, her green eyes showing a strong confidence I didn’t usually see in a woman.
I nodded back. “Hey.”
What else was there to say?
Tyler sat forward in his chair. “How was the rest of your shift?”
Laura picked up her menu and flicked her eyes over the list. “Pretty relaxed, thanks. Saturday’s are a short day for us. What’s good here?”
She glanced up and my heart did another massive thump against my chest and my belly rolled with the feeling.
Damn... Calm down.
I reached for my glass of water and chugged some down, trying to chill out. This reaction I was having was just plain strange.
Tyler answered, “Anything, really. Their bison burgers are fantastic.”
I turned towards Tyler and frowned at the sound of my brother’s high-pitched tone. What the hell was wrong with his voice?
Probably the same thing that’s wrong with my heart.
The waitress came to our table and I cleared my throat loudly, lounging back against the leather seat.
“What can I get you guys?”
Laura murmured and pointed to something on the menu. The woman smiled and nodded at her then she took our orders.
“Yeah, just the burger for me.”
Tyler nodded and ordered the same.
Wonder what she asked for?
Then, out of nowhere, Laura fixed me with a dark look.
“What?”
Her eyebrows lifted from their downward arch and her mouth pulled into an even grimmer line. “Aren’t you going to ask about Belle? Or did you call her already to check on how she was?”
I coughed, and covered my mouth to hide my smile. She was kidding, right? “No, I haven’t. How was she this morning?”
Like I cared.
Pain spread through my foot as Tyler stomped down on my boot. I tried not to grimace and pulled my leg hard, Tyler’s foot and the subsequent pain disappearing.
“She’s hungover... but at the university orientation I’ve been pushing her toward all year.”
I hummed and shrugged, winking at the waitress as she set our food on the table.
Something in that sentence didn’t add up. “You’ve been pushing her? Why? Isn’t that your parent’s job?”
I squirted some ketchup on my fries and crunched down on one.
Laura shrugged and picked up her fork, skewering the stupid salad she’d ordered, and eating some greenery. “Our parents died a few years ago, so I’ve gotten her through school. She has a stubborn streak a mile wide and I’m hoping some more education will help.”
I reached for my water again and swallowed the weird feeling that had risen. I shouldn’t care what sort of sister she was, but my mother’s lessons about family had been drummed into me since the cradle and Laura’s maternal instincts were strong.
“That was really good of you, Laura,” Tyler said and I nodded my head, unable to remain impassive to such a thing.
That took guts, and heart—something missing in most of the women I’d known.<
br />
She sat forward and shook her head as she changed the subject. “So, tell me about this family... dinner... thing. Do you get together like that often?”
Her eyes flicked between Tyler and me, and I noticed how much longer her gaze linger over Tyler, rather than me.
Understandable really, considering last night I’d been ten minutes away from having my way with her sister, but still... The negative comparison to Tyler sat like a lead weight in my gut.
She’d never be able to guess what this lunch was about. What we both wanted from her. No human would.
Tyler answered her. “Yeah, Mom and Dad put on a family barbeque at least once a month. They like entertaining, and now they’re mostly retired and we’ve moved out, I think they get lonely for company.”
I grunted and ate my lunch, a burger with onion rings on the side. Our parents lonely? I doubted it.
“You disagree?”
I raised my head to find Laura staring at me, her green eyes far too keen and observant.
I swallowed down a bite of food and wiped at my mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, I do. They’ve always liked having people around. Our whole childhood was filled with our cousins dropping by. Nothing’s changed. They just have more money and time now.”
Laura stared at me for a moment, then looked back at Tyler with a smile.
“It sounds like you guys had a fun upbringing. Much more social than I did. Do you have any other brothers or sisters?”
I grimaced. “Yeah, unfortunately.”
Tyler laughed. “Her name is Renee and you’ll meet her today if you decide to come.”
Yeah, enormous pain in the ass that she is.
My phone buzzed with a text. I picked it up and read the message from my father and cut Tyler off mid-sentence. “Dad wants us at to come over and help set up..”
Our dad didn’t request so much as command.
Tyler frowned and looked at Laura apologetically. “Ah, should I send Brandon alone and stay with you?”
Laura shook her head and pushed her salad away. “No, I completely understand.”
The waitress left the bill on the table and I pulled out my wallet, flinging a couple of bills beside my plate.
Laura frowned. “No. I’ll pay for my...”