by Jane Jamison
“Yeah, about that.”
He stared at Braden. “About what?”
“She’s put on some weight.”
Braden wasn’t the joking type. At least not usually. “How much weight?”
Not that it mattered. She was their mate. Fat, skinny, ugly, bald, whatever. The connection had brought them together because they were meant for each other. He’d love her in any shape or size.
“I’d say about a hundred pounds.”
He narrowed his eyes, letting his tiger come out enough to check. If Braden was lying, his beast would know. He sniffed, drawing in his brother’s scent.
He’s lying, all right.
“Fuck you, man. She’s just as hot as she was that night. Not that it would’ve matter if she had gotten bigger.”
Braden grinned. “Yeah. But admit it. I had you going for a minute.”
“Like I said. Fuck you.” He motioned toward the pedals. “And go faster.”
Heath couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as Braden stopped the pickup, he was out the door and striding into Roar.
“Hang on. You don’t want to scare her.”
“I’m not going to scare her, damn it.” He came to a stop.
Holy shit. She’s more beautiful than I remember.
Kylie’s smile hit him in the gut. If only it had been directed at him. Instead, she was smiling at Roy Richardson, an older weretiger who liked flirting with young women. The old man was harmless, barely having any of his human teeth or his tiger fangs left, but it still tore at him to see her showing attention to another man.
“Sit.” Braden tugged him to a side table.
No weretiger liked to be told to sit, but he did anyway. “Let’s get her over here.”
“I plan to.” Braden lifted his hand, catching her eye.
Another lust-filled hit landed squarely in the middle of Heath’s gut. As soon as she saw his brother, the plastered-on smile she’d bestowed on Roy was replaced by a genuine one. One that had the warmth of the sun and the promise of sex-filled nights in it. He shouldn’t be jealous of his brother, and wouldn’t be once she became their mate, but until he’d had time with her, he couldn’t help but be envious.
Her smile faded a little as she walked over to their table. “What’ll it be? Pitcher, draft or bottle?”
“Neither. All we want is for you to sit with us.” Braden crooked his head toward the chair closest to him. “Besides, don’t you want to say hi to my brother? His name’s Heath. You remember him from Austin, don’t you?”
She took a quick look over her shoulder at Curtis, then turned back. “I’m working.” Her blue eyes settled on Heath, giving his heart a quick thump-thump. “But, yes. I remember.”
Was it a good thing? At least she wasn’t running off.
“Curtis won’t mind.” Heath closed his hand around her wrist, took the tray from her, then tugged her into the chair next to him.
“I told you. I’m working.” And yet, she didn’t try to get up.
“Don’t worry about it.” He leaned closer and picked up her wonderful scent. She smelled like roses and a heady mix of female pheromones. His head swam with the aroma. What would her pussy smell like? Pungent yet sweet? He’d soon find out.
“Aren’t you happy to see me?” He heard Braden’s low growl, warning him to take it easy. Yet taking it easy so far hadn’t gotten him anywhere. He sniffed, knowing she’d hear him. “Your body says you are.”
“My body?” Her cheeks colored a pretty shade of pink.
“How are you doing over at Lena’s, sweet one?” interjected Braden.
Heath followed her own surprised gaze at his brother. Sweet one? He’d be damned if he’d get left out. He leaned even closer, drawing her attention away from his brother. “Never mind him. Listen, Kylie, I’m going to come straight to the point.”
“Damn it, Heath. Slow the hell down.”
He ignored Braden again. “I know you and Braden have a connection and I know you and I do, too.”
Her wide blue eyes jumped to Braden. “I’m not sure—”
“Yeah, you are. Don’t try and deny it. Just accept it.”
He wasn’t getting it out straight. At least, not the way he’d hoped. But how was he supposed to tell her how much he already cared about her? How could he tell her he’d die a lonely death if she refused to believe? The heart was strong and love made it even stronger, but sometimes a woman’s mind got in the way of listening to her heart.
“Heath, I really don’t know what you’re getting at.”
He took her hand, enclosing it in his. “Don’t think. Close your eyes and feel.”
She swallowed, started to speak, then remained silent. Instead, she closed her eyes.
He put everything he had into his touch, letting his weretiger emerge enough to make his message come through loud and clear. The connection surged between them, rolling from him to her, then back again like waves crashing on a beach. His fingers touched over the pulse in her wrist, picking up her heartbeat. Fast and furious, it told him what he needed to know.
She’s got the connection.
“You’re ours, Kylie. Braden’s and mine. You sensed it in Austin and you sense it now. We’ll give you some time to get used to it and to us, but we’re not going anywhere. And neither are you.”
Her eyes shot open then as she yanked her hand away. “Don’t touch me again.”
All eyes shifted toward them as she shoved her chair back and stood up. His tiger growled, leaping to the surface. If he hadn’t caught it in time, he would’ve shifted into his animal body. “Kylie, let me explain.”
“No. Stay away from me.” She backed up until she ran into the table behind her. Her face was tense with fear as she turned and ran toward the back offices.
“Way to go, Heath.”
He snarled, his tiger too close to restrain any longer. With a growl, he lunged for the front door as his beast broke free and his clothes ripped off him.
Chapter Seven
Kylie still didn’t understand what had happened at Roar last night. She was attracted to Heath as much as she was to Braden. Yet when he’d taken her hand and the vibration had hit her, fear had mixed with passion, confusing her until all she could think to do was to run. Nothing made any sense. Even after thinking about the men all night, she was still torn. The feelings, the emotions, the absolute gut-level reaction to them were beyond anything she’d ever heard of, much less experienced. She wanted them, ached to have them touch her, and yet another part of her was afraid.
They were more than mere men. She didn’t know why she thought that way, but she couldn’t shake the impression of a dangerous something lying below the surface of their sexy physiques. Even the way they moved was different. They walked with a quiet confidence and power as though they knew their place in the world. And as though they were kings.
She should leave. Hadn’t being with Frank taught her anything? And yet, every time she started to ask Lena about bus routes or rental cars, she’d abruptly change her mind. But why? What was holding her there? Was she too curious to walk away from them? Or was it fear of what would happen if she were truly on her own?
Damn it. What’s wrong with me?
She kept walking down the sidewalk, knowing damn well why she wasn’t on the next bus, hitching a ride with the next rancher, or, hell, stealing a horse to get out of town. Although she could tell herself she was still hiding out from Frank—and it was true—she knew the real reason she stayed. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Braden and Heath. Every time she let her mind wander, her thoughts were of them.
Whatever she felt for them overpowered her common sense. Her body ached for them. Her heart pounded for them. Her very soul burned for them.
Was it true what Heath had said? Was there a special connection bringing them together? Holding her to them? Winding up in the same town they lived in couldn’t be a mere coincidence. She could’ve easily gotten off the bus and gone in the other direction. Or gone on into
Lubbock and met Lena’s nephew. Instead, she’d braved the night and gotten blisters on her feet to walk to Twisted.
The name fit the town. Not only had she come to it in a kind of twisted way, but the people were on the strange side. She’d met quite a few of the locals before the Asher men had come into Roar. All of them were friendly, in a standoffish kind of way. Yet each one of them was a bit…different.
A few like Tyler Hodgens had half-lidded eyes, giving them the appearance of being sleepy, and yet they seemed to be all too aware of what was happening around them. Others like Tammy Stouffer were curious, constantly asking questions or watching those around them. Still others, like the Asher men, seemed alert, ready to jump up and take action. They reminded her of two cougars sitting on the edge of a boulder, ready to launch their bodies onto an unsuspecting prey.
Was she the prey? If she was, she wouldn’t mind the Asher men jumping on her one damn bit.
She glanced around her at the others on the street. Many of them had larger than average teeth. A lot of them had a fascination with cats. And yet, she hadn’t seen one pet cat anywhere. Not even at Lena’s.
But their eyes held the biggest mystery. Like people everywhere else, their eyes ranged in color from black to the lightest shade of blue-silver. The strange thing was that many of them, just like Braden’s and then Heath’s eyes last night, held amber flecks.
Except the flecks weren’t always present. She’d studied both Purdy’s and Curtis’s eyes last night and had seen the flecks come and go.
The sound of sobbing broke her out of her deep thoughts and back to the here and now. A small boy around five or six with blond hair sat on a street corner. He had his head in his hands and had pulled his legs to his chest.
After checking to see if an adult was with him, she hurried over, then sat down next to him. “Hey, are you all right?”
His captivating blue eyes, so much like Heath’s, were clouded with tears. Streaks tracked along his cheeks and his mouth was pushed out into a pout. “My mom died.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t been prepared for him to say something so terrible. “I’m sorry.” She leaned a little closer, but didn’t touch him. “Did she die recently?”
He sniffed, rubbing his fingers under his nose. “I don’t know.”
Her heart broke for him. His mother may have died last year or even farther in the past, but to the child, the loss was fresh and painful. “I’m Kylie. What’s your name?”
“Davey.”
She’d always liked the name. Had even put it on a list of boy names she might give her own son one day. If she was lucky enough to have a son.
“Are you in town by yourself? Where’s your father? Or maybe your grandmother?”
He blinked, a longing glint in his eyes. Did he have a family? A father? What if his father was dead, too?
“Uh-uh.” He shook his head and dropped his attention to the ground.
She wasn’t sure which question he’d answered, but she didn’t want to push him. “Is someone taking care of you? An adult?”
His nod was barely there. But at least it was an answer she understood.
“A man or a woman?”
“My father.”
Okay. Good. His father’s around.
She glanced around, searching the people for any signs of recognition. If he had a father, he wasn’t a good one. What kind of father left their child alone on the street? And why weren’t any of the others helping out? Several people passed by them without giving the boy another look. Anger for him flared.
“How about we look for him?” She’d find his father, all right. Once the boy was out of earshot, but safe, she’d give the so-called father a piece of her mind.
Davey lifted his hand and pointed. She followed his direction to find Heath striding across the street toward them.
“Is he your father?” Neither Heath nor Braden had mentioned having a little boy.
“Uh-huh.”
Well, hell.
Taking the boy by the hand, she stood and waited until Heath got close enough. When he was only a few feet away, she felt it. The undeniable tug of need pulling her toward him. She shook it off, determined not to get distracted. “Are you Davey’s father?”
He stopped, then took a step back. “Yeah. I am. Why?”
“Why? Are you serious?”
Heath frowned at her, amber flecks decorating the blue of his eyes. He changed his expression and looked down at his son. “Davey, go on inside the pharmacy, okay? You can pick out a couple of pieces of candy. But no eating them until I come inside and pay for them.”
“Yay. This many?” He lifted two fingers.
“Right. A couple means two.”
The boy’s smile lightened her heart, but not enough for her to keep her thoughts to herself. She waited until he’d pushed his way into the pharmacy, then turned to confront Heath.
“What kind of father leaves his son alone on a city street?” Her voice was raised, but she didn’t care who heard her.
“First of all, Twisted isn’t a city. It’s a very small town.”
He was trying to throw her with technicalities. “Whatever. It’s still the same thing. Leaving a little boy alone is just plain irresponsible.”
Heath’s jaw twitched. “Second of all, he wasn’t alone.”
“How can you say that? He was sitting here all by himself and crying when I found him.”
His hard expression softened. “He was crying about his mother?”
“Yes.”
“Damn. Poor kid.” His gaze slid to the pharmacy then back to her. “He’s having a tough time with her death. It’s only been a few months.”
Did that mean he’d had a wife? That he’d suffered, too? “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Yeah. She was a good woman.” He took her arm and led her toward the front of the building. “Look, I appreciate you trying to help Davey and all, but you don’t understand how things work in Twisted.”
“What’s to understand? He’s a child left alone to deal with his mom’s death.”
“He was never really alone.” Heath pointed to the other side of the street. Two elderly men sat at a table playing checkers. One of them lifted his hand to Heath. “We watch out for each other around here. You know the old saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’?”
“Sure.” Now that he’d mentioned it, she suddenly felt like everyone was watching them. But had they been watching Davey?
“Twisted is like a village. We all pitch in, especially with the youngsters. Davey might have felt like he was on his own, but he really wasn’t. Sometimes it’s good to let a child work through his problems without interfering. If they’d felt like he was in trouble or needed me, they would’ve stepped in, taken care of him, and called me.”
Maybe he was right. Davey hadn’t been afraid, just sad. And he’d never once been in any real danger. “Okay. I get it. I’m sorry I made a big deal out of it. It’s just that—”
“That he’s got killer eyes like his dad and a face no one can resist?” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
The bond or whatever it was drawing her to him came on even stronger. Growing wet between her legs, she struggled to keep from sliding her palm along the stubble of his jaw. Or over his crotch.
Holy hell. If there weren’t so many people around, I’d shove him to the ground and ride him.
Eyes. He’d said something about his eyes.
“Why does everyone get bits of amber color in their eyes?”
He blinked, much like Davey had done. “Where’d that come from?”
“I’ve noticed others with the same thing. One minute their eyes are one color and, in the next, I see their eyes change with amber flecks in them.”
“Maybe it’s the sunlight.”
He was trying to dodge the question. “No, it’s not. I saw the same thing last night at Roar.”
He shrugged. “Beats me. Hey, kiddo.”
Davey rushed out of the store, holding a
lollipop and a small bag of candy. “Daddy, can we go home now?”
“I thought I said to wait in the store until I paid for your candy.”
She stepped away, giving Heath room to scoop his son into his arms. It was easy to see they belonged together.
“Dr. Effers said I could go ahead and take them. He said he’d put them on your tub.”
“On my tab, kiddo.” Heath shifted his son to his other side. “That means he’ll let me owe him. I don’t like owing anyone for anything, but it’s okay this time. Next time, you tell Dr. Effers thanks, but no thanks, and wait for me. Got it?”
“Uh-huh. Can I have some candy now?”
“Just a little. It’ll be dinnertime soon.” The love in Heath’s gaze radiated from Davey to her. “In fact, why don’t you join us for dinner?”
She wanted to say yes, but hesitated. What was she doing anyway? She had no illusions about living in the small town for the rest of her life. Twisted was a great place to hide out and maybe even to live, but to stay safe from Frank, she’d have to go someplace farther away. “I don’t think it would be a good idea.”
“Why? I promise you’re not the main course.” He chuckled. “Maybe the dessert.”
“Funny. Thank you, but—”
“Pulease?” Crystal blue eyes, devoid of any amber, latched onto hers. “Pulease?”
Heath took Davey’s chin. “Look at this face. How can you turn him down?” He put on a similar pout to his son’s. “Pulease?”
How could she resist? Heath was delectable and everything she could ever want in a man. And his son was beyond adorable. Plus, she’d get to see Braden again. “All right. What time should I be there?”
“Around six. I know it’s kind of early, but it’s the best time for Davey.”
“I’ll be there. Should I bring anything? Wine? Bread?”
“Nothing but yourself. We can come pick you up.”
She’d already agreed to go to their house. Relying on them for transportation was too much. “No, thanks. Lena told me I could borrow her car any time I needed.”
“Okay, then. See you at six.” Heath hefted Davey higher in his arms. “Come on, kiddo, let’s get home and start thinking about what we want for dinner.”