by Jane Jamison
Michael’s phone vibrated. He glanced down at the text message and warmth filled him. Trying to do so without his brothers noticing, he texted back.
Hey. How u doin’?
A sad face emoji was the answer.
Michael glanced up to check on his brothers. They were still deep in conversation and not paying attention to him. I miss u
Me 2 Our place?
His thumbs hovered over the phone, trying to decide which answer to give. Could he meet his future mate tonight without his brothers noticing? Or should he stick around and help them sort things out? He knew what he wanted to do, but that wasn’t what he felt he should do. With a heavy sigh, he answered.
Gotta help the bros
Then followed it with a sad face emoji, followed by a kissing emoji.
His stomach tightened when the response didn’t come fast enough. Surely, Robin understood. His soon-to-be mate understood how important it was to Michael that his brothers find their mate, too. Their happiness was as important as his.
K
Michael stared at the one-letter answer. Robin was pissed. Understandably so since Michael had been “busy” all week. He tried again.
I’m sorry. Forgive me?
Yes
Michael breathed a sigh of relief.
TY was followed with a beating heart sending out little hearts of love.
U owe me
Michael snorted, then when his brothers glanced his way, he turned and put his back to them. Hurrying, he texted one last time.
Anything u want, anytime u want
“Hey, man, do you have any ideas or what?” called Rick.
Michael pocketed his phone. “I thought I was supposed to stay out of it.”
“You know that’s bullshit. You’re already in it,” added Davis. “So what do you think? Do we tell her what we are straight out? Or ease into it?”
“Well, Rick’s allure should keep her from skipping town.” His brothers’ frowns told him he was going over ground they’d already covered. “But I don’t see telling her what we are right away. Give her a little more time to get to know you.” He couldn’t resist razzing them. “After all, even a full dose of The Allure can’t make a woman fall in love with jokers like you three.”
“Fuck off.” Yet Henry smiled as he flipped Michael the bird.
“So we ease into it. Get to know her.” Davis lifted his eyebrows in question. “How do we do that without being too obvious?”
“I’m not sure that being obvious wouldn’t be a good thing. Tell her what we want. Shit, we’ve already kissed her, and judging from the reaction she gave me, she was all for it.” Rick added, “Of course, if you two didn’t get a good reaction…”
“Now you fuck off,” said Henry. “Her reaction to me was fine. Great.”
“Same here,” added Davis.
“So she’s attracted to all three of us.” Rick nodded, obviously thinking hard. “We should do both. Get to know her better whenever we get the chance to be around her, and when we’re around her, we make it clear that we want her.”
“Yeah. I agree. The real question is how do we get the chance to be around her?” Henry looked to his brothers then to Michael. “Anyone have any ideas?”
The idea hit Michael just as his phone vibrated yet again. One look and he knew he didn’t want to put Robin off again. “I think I might have an idea.” He held up the phone. “But I’m going to take this call first. I’ll get back with you guys.”
He took off for the front door and heard his brothers’ rumblings of irritation. But, like them, he wasn’t ready to come out with the truth. As far as he knew, they didn’t have a clue about his relationship with Robin, and as far as he was concerned, he wanted to keep it that way for a while longer.
He smiled and answered the call. “Hey, sweet thang. How’s it hanging?”
Chapter Five
Mira squirmed in her chair at the Likable Treats Bakery. She’d seen Kit Blair only a couple of times since they’d both left the Hartley ranch. Had Kit truly gotten past loving Mason Hartley? Or was she only faking it to save face?
Kit rushed into the bakery and slid into the chair opposite Mira’s. She grinned then scooped up the chocolate doughnut Mira had ordered for her and took a huge bite. Delight spread over her face. “Damn, but that’s good,” she said between chews. “Thanks for getting it for me.”
Mira’s own apple cinnamon muffin remained untouched. Ever since the night of the dance, she’d been too confused, excited, and every other emotion in the world to think about eating. “You’re welcome, and yes, they are good. Very good.” There was no time for chitchat. “I have to tell you what happened.”
Instantly, Kit’s blue eyes widened. Her blonde hair fell forward over her shoulders as she leaned on her forearms. “Ooh, this sounds good. Tell me everything and don’t leave any of the details out.”
“I think I might be interested in someone.” She’d ease into the fact that it was really three someones.
“Really? That’s terrific. And so soon.”
Was it too soon? “You think so? I don’t. I mean, I never really loved Carl, and it’s already been over a month.”
“Hey, whatever you think. And I’m right with you on never really having loved Mason.” Kit sat back. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right. It’s not too soon to move on. So tell who this man is? Is he local because I heard a rumor that you might be leaving Lonesome.”
Although Mira knew the gossip train was very active in Lonesome, she hadn’t expected word to get around that fast. No doubt, she had Miss Kitty to thank. “Yes, he’s local. But, no, I haven’t decided to go or to stay yet.” Or had she? Since the dance, she hadn’t given the idea of leaving any thought at all.
“Well, you know my vote. You should definitely stay.”
“Says the woman who found a rental home.”
“For now. But it’s only a temporary thing.” Kit glanced down at the table. When she looked up again, a strange gleam showed in her eyes. “But I’m working on something else. Kind of a housesitting thing.”
“Really? Whose house?”
“It’s too soon for details.”
“Sounds interesting. Meanwhile, I’m still at Miss Kitty’s. If she wasn’t giving me a monthly rate, there’s no way I could afford to stay.”
“You know that’s why she’s giving you such a good rate. To keep you from leaving.”
Mira hadn’t come straight out and asked Miss Kitty, but she’d figured as much. “I know.”
“Okay, let’s get back to the real topic. Who’s the guy? Do I know him?”
“His name is Rick Fairland.”
Kit thought for a moment, and then her face brightened. “Oh, yeah. I do know him. I met him and his brothers at the bar one night. He seemed very…intense.”
“That’s Rick. But once you get to know him, he’s a lot easier going.” But did she know him? She’d just met him, yet she felt as though she’d known him for a long time. In fact, the way she felt toward him, drawn to him, was different. That had to be a good thing. She was certain of it.
“He and his brothers are definitely hot even by Lonesome’s high standards. Have you noticed that? All the men here are beyond sexy.”
She had noticed, but since she’d met the Fairland brothers, the others had begun to pale in comparison. “They are very hot.” Hotter than she was willing to tell Kit. Or should she?
“So how long have you and Rick been seeing each other?” Kit frowned. “And why didn’t you tell me about it before now?”
“Not long.” One night and one kiss long. How was that enough to know anything? Yet, she did. “And I’m telling you about it now.”
Kit shot her a “yeah, right” look. “Are things getting serious?”
Were they? They couldn’t be serious yet, could they? Her heart, however, claimed it was by quickening every time she thought about Rick. About Davis and Henry, too. So why didn’t Michael make her heart beat fast? She’d tried and tried to com
e up with a reason, but couldn’t.
The heart wants what the heart wants. And my heart doesn’t want Michael.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m afraid of making another mistake like I did with Carl.”
“Sure. I get that.” Kit popped another large bite into her mouth then took a drink from her glass of water. “Does that mean the other brothers are up for grabs?”
“What?” She hadn’t thought that Kit might be interested in Davis or Henry. What if there were other women lusting after them? How would that make me feel? Jealousy filled her. “I don’t think so. I mean…”
Kit caught on quickly. “You want all of them, don’t you?”
No. Maybe. Hell, yes. “I don’t know,” she lied.
“Bullshit. I saw your face when I asked if the other brothers were free for the taking. You looked like you wanted to snatch me bald.”
She couldn’t deny it to herself and not to Kit, either. “Okay, yes. You’re right. I want all of them.” Except Michael. But why not him, too?
“I don’t blame you. After all, multiple men for one woman is a thing around here, and I, for one, sure don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I already have my eye on some brothers of my own.” She chuckled. “Eew, brothers. Like they’re my brothers.”
“I know what you meant.”
“This is great. You’ve found your men, and I’ve got my eye on my own men. Now all we have to do is land them. So, what’s your action plan? Are you going to tell them that you’re interested? Or are you going to play it cool?”
“I was hoping you could help me figure that out.”
“Well, right now, I’m kind of playing it cool. I’m like you. I don’t want to make another mistake.”
“Which means you think I should do the same?” Disappointment chilled her. Had she hoped that Kit would tell her to go for it?
“Not necessarily. I mean, has anything sexual happened between any of you?”
A flash of memory struck Mira. Davis’s lips on hers. Henry tearing her panties off her. Rick’s breath against her face. “You could say so.”
Kit bounced up and down in her seat. “I knew it!” she shouted, turning the other customers’ attention.
“Keep it down, please.” Mira kept her voice low and tried to ignore the questioning looks.
Kit leaned toward her even farther than before. “What happened? Did you have sex with any of them?” She sucked in a breath. “With all of them?”
I wish. Instead, she said, “I kissed them. All of them.”
“And?”
It was wonderful. Life-changing. “I’m very attracted to them.”
“Oh, come on, Mira. This is me you’re talking to you. You banged their balls off, didn’t you?”
Mira motioned her palms in a downward manner, once more trying to get Kit to keep her voice softer. “No. I didn’t.”
“But you wanted to, didn’t you?” She pointed at Mira. “You did. It’s written all over your face.”
“I don’t know what I think anymore.”
“Then, girl, you need to find out. Have you seen them since you kissed them?”
“No.” Why hadn’t she? Why hadn’t they called her? It would be easy enough to get her number from Miss Kitty or Doc. So what were they waiting for? Had she only imagined that their interest was more than a one-night stand?
“Well, hell, that’s not good.”
Alarm chilled her. “Do you think that maybe they’re not interested? That it was just a fling at a dance?”
Kit’s eyes darkened, anger flitting across her face in a flash and then was gone. She brightened. “Ooh, so that’s where it happened? And, damn it, I wasn’t there to see it.”
“Kit, answer me. What do you think?”
Kit sat back and crossed her arms. “I don’t know, but if it were me, I’d damn sure find out. You know how it goes around here. Men find a woman and things get serious really fast. So, yeah, forget what I said about playing it cool. You’d better get after them before some other woman gets her claws in them.”
Could she lose them? But did she still have a chance with them, or had they moved on?
“Okay. I will. I don’t know how yet, but I will.” Mira put a ten-dollar bill on the table. “But what about you? Shouldn’t you take your own advice?”
“Maybe I will.” Kit ate the last of her doughnut as she stood, her gaze darting away.
“Good. Keep in touch, okay?” Mira hugged Kit, feeling as though they’d grown even closer. “I need to get back to work.”
* * * *
Davis pushed his hat back on his head and squinted at the ATV headed his way. He didn’t need to see the driver’s face to know who it was. Michael always preferred transportation with an engine over transportation that ate hay. Sometimes Davis wondered if Michael had either been adopted or dropped on his head as a baby. Who wanted to drive an ATV when he could ride a horse?
Michael skidded the ATV to a stop. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
So much for a greeting, but that was the way it was in Texas. Short and to the point.
“What’s going on?” asked Michael as he got off.
“Michael, you’re here for a reason, so quit wasting my time beating around the bush. What’s on your mind?”
“An idea.”
“Yeah?” What did he have to do? Hook the idea and drag it out of Michael? “Well? Spit it out.”
“It’s been a couple of days since the dance, and no one’s gone to see Mira.”
“It’s been three. But we’re supposed to be taking it slow, remember?”
“Slow, sure. But not come to a damn standstill. You guys need to figure out ways to see her.”
Davis pulled off his work gloves. “Something tells me you’ve come up with an idea.”
“I have.” Michael moved to stand beside his brother. He picked up the hammer and passed it back and forth between his hands.
“Okay. Good. Are you going to share it with me, or let us know what it is when we read it in your will?”
“First, I want you to make me a promise.”
Davis studied his brother. He was definitely up to something. “What kind of a promise?”
“You have to promise me that you won’t tear my head off.”
Davis tilted his head. His werelion roared, telling him to take care. But this was his brother. “I might tear your head off if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”
“Come on, Davis. I need your word that you’ll keep your lion under control.”
Michael was serious. Too serious. “Why am I getting the impression that you’re up to something?”
“Davis, are you going to promise or not?” Michael passed the hammer from his left hand to his right. But he held it the wrong way. The claw part of it faced outward as though Michael was about to pull nails out of a board.
“Fine. I’ll make sure my animal doesn’t tear your head off. Now tell me why I have to make the stupid promise.”
Michael nodded, satisfied with Davis’s promise. “Good deal. And once this is over, just remember that I did this for you and your mate. Okay?”
“Michael, I swear. If you don’t—shit!”
Michael’s arm shot up and came down. Normally, Davis’s inner lion would’ve had responses fast enough to stop the arch of his brother’s arm. But Davis hadn’t expected to be attacked by Michael.
The claw part of the hammer sliced through Davis’s denim shirt and cut into his flesh. Davis let out a howl of pain and stumbled back. Blood ran down his arm to his hand and dripped to the dry ground at his feet.
“What the fuck, Michael?” The pain was terrible, but the confusion whirling in his mind was worse. Way worse. Suddenly, the world around him colored with amber as his lion bellowed its anger and rose to the surface.
Michael jumped away, holding the bloodied hammer in front of him, ready to use it as a weapon again. “Push it down, man. Don’t let your lion take control.”
Davis tore the lower pa
rt of his torn sleeve away then began wrapping it around his wound. “Why the fuck not? You just attacked me. Why’d the hell did you attack me?” Fangs cut into his bottom lip. Fur spread across his hand, and he felt the tingle of its movement along his jawline.
“Remember. You promised not to come at me.” Michael’s eyes had their own bits of amber as his werelion went on the defensive.
“I promised not to tear your head off. I didn’t say anything about tearing your guts out. Brother, you’d better start talking.” Still, he fought to control his lion and, thankfully, was winning.
“You need a doctor.”
Davis studied his blood-soaked arm. It still hurt like hell, but for a werelion, it wasn’t a deadly injury. “It’s going to smart for a while, but I’m not going to die. My lion will heal it soon.” Like most shifters, his inner animal gave him incredible healing powers. Killing a werelion was extremely difficult to do. Which, at that moment, was a very good thing for Michael. “But that doesn’t explain what the shit you’re doing.”
“You’re not listening to me, Davis.” Michael took a few steps forward, recognizing that Davis was holding down his lion. “You need a doctor. Or, better yet, a nurse. Especially a very pretty brunette nurse.”
At last, he understood. “Aw, hell. You slashed a hammer through my arm so that I’d have a reason to visit Mira? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Yep. And from the looks of that arm, you’d better get going into town. I just happen to know that she’s at the office right now.”
“And Doc? Is he there, too?”
Michael grinned. “Nope. He got a call for an emergency way out of town. I don’t think he’ll be back in the office for hours.”
Davis looked at his arm then back at his brother. “Brother, you are one crazy dude. You know that?”
“Or one brilliant one. Now get going. You can take the ATV.”
Davis shook his head in wonderment. “Nah. I’ll ride.” Doc had a hitching post for those folks who liked taking their horses into town.
“Suit yourself, but you’d better make it quick. Henry’s already in the truck and headed her way.”
Davis gaped at his brother. “You’re nuts. Certifiably nuts. Did you do the same thing to Henry?”
