by Tamsin Baker
Laura humphed and stepped forward, running her hands over the dog and connecting with Tyler’s.
“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 Tyler could identify with. His skin was tingling and he could feel her touch like a permanent tattoo.
“What is what?” Tyler asker her, not wanting to assume she felt the same tingles he felt running through his body.
Every part of him was awake and alive. He wanted to grab her, hold her close, and kiss those beautiful lips. But he withdrew his hands from the dog’s bloodstained coat and clenched his hands into fists behind his back.
“When…when I touch your skin. I…I can’t explain it.” Laura was shaking a little and Tyler hated seeing her like that.
“It’s okay, I promise. Would you consider going somewhere with me this afternoon?”
Laura stared at him for a moment, then looked down at the dog.
“Step aside for a moment.”
Tyler moved back as Laura stepped forward, running her hands expertly over the whimpering dog, examining her from head to tail.
“She needs a shot for the pain and the possible infection in her hind leg. I’ll put some glue over her leg and ear, they aren’t deep.”
Tyler nodded, happy to sit back and watch with a sense of pride as she moved about the room. She was so efficient, so intelligent and capable—everything he wanted in a mate.
She was also very beautiful, with amazingly clear skin and such luscious lips. To think that fate had designed this woman for him and his brother made him look closer, allowing him to see the lovely curve of her cheek, the elegant neck, the incredibly voluptuous body that was meant to be adored from head to toe.
Laura doctored up the small white dog until she was relaxed and gently snoring on the table.
“Thanks for that,” he said as he moved forward and scooped up the small dog, now mended and wrapped in white gauze and tape.
“So, what were you saying about today?”
Tyler grinned, unable to stop the flood of pleasure her interest in him created.
“My parents are having a massive afternoon lunch, dinner thing. Really, we just eat from three until midnight.”
Laura’s eyebrows rose high in shock, her mouth turning down in displeasure.
“And why would I go to your family function with you, Tyler?”
The fact that she remembered his name made him 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 again, her mouth dropping open.
“Ah…how…” She took a step back and Tyler headed for the door to give her some space. The pieces were falling into place. There wasn’t much to question about it anymore, not for him anyway. His stubborn brother might be a different story.
“I know it must seem weird, but it’ll all be explained this afternoon.”
Laura frowned and seemed to get taller as her back straightened up even more.
Ah, crap. Have I said the wrong thing?
“I’m not sure I’d really be comfortable meeting your parents, or anyone else yet. I don’t know anything about you, and for goodness sake, your brother had my sister half in his bed last night!”
Her breathing had increased now and her eyes were darting around a little. It was obvious she was upset and considering what had happened with Brandon and Bella, and Tyler didn’t blame her.
How best to defuse the situation?
“Well, Brandon and I generally have lunch at Sienna’s Café on a Saturday. Do you want to join us for an hour, then you can decide what you want to do?”
He gave her a bright smile as he imagined telling Brandon what they were doing. It would give his brother a chance to explain about his bed-hopping ways and actually talk to Laura before he jumped her.
Laura cocked her head to the side and studied him for a moment. Tyler held his breath and held her stare. If this didn’t work then he’d be back on Monday. He was never letting this woman go. She seemed to make a decision as she flicked her wrist and stared at the dial there.
“Okay, what time?”
He swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat, and held Cotton closer to his chest.
“What time do you finish? We’re usually there around twelve o’clock.”
Laura picked up a clipboard and looked directly at him, a weird, professional persona settling over her features. “Sound great. I’ll see you guys there at twelve.”
Laura began to smile, then quickly hid it. She nodded and he moved out of her surgery and into the waiting room once again. He paid and thanked the friendly woman and strode out into cold air. He inhaled deeply through his nose and smelled the sweet scent of summer wind and open flowers. The season had changed and his life had finally turned onto the path that he wanted.
****
Brandon groaned and tapped on the café table with his fingertips, the sound both satisfying and a bit annoying.
“Why are we meeting her here? You know we won’t be able to touch her in public.”
His brother glared at him and Brandon crossed his arms over his chest. He felt like throwing his hands up in the air and walking out. What was Tyler playing at? Seriously? If she was the one, then why weren’t they taking her home straightaway to find out for sure?
Tyler let out a warning growl and 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 Brandon’s heart leapt against his ribs. He huffed out his breath as Tyler stood up and motioned for their possible mate to join them. That better not happen every time he saw her. It was bloody embarrassing. How old was he anyway?
Laura walked over to them and sat down opposite, a pleasant smile on her pretty face.
“Hi again.” She nodded at him, her green eyes showing a confidence he didn’t usually see in a woman.
He nodded back. “Hey.”
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. What’s good here?”
She looked up and Brandon’s heart did another massive thump against his chest. His belly roiled with the feeling. He reached for his glass of water and chugged some down. This reaction he had to her was just plain strange.
“Anything, really. Their chicken foccacia is good.”
Brandon frowned at his brother’s high-pitched tone. What the hell was wrong with Tyler’s voice?
Probably the same thing that’s wrong with your heart.
The waitress turned up and Brandon cleared his throat, lounging back against the leather seat.
“What can I get you guys?”
Laura hummed and pointed to something on the menu. The woman smiled and nodded, then took their orders.
Wonder what she asked for.
Then, out of nowhere, she fixed him with a look that could only be called a glare.
“What?”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly from their downward arching and her mouth pulled into an even grimmer line.
“Aren’t you going to ask about Belle? Or did you call her already?”
Brandon coughed, and covered his mouth to hide the smile. She was kidding, right?
“No, I haven’t. How was she this morning?” Like he cared.
Pain spread through his foot as Tyler stamped down on his boot. He tried not to grimace and pulled his leg hard, Tyler’s foot and the subsequent pain disappearing.
“She’s hungover but at the college enrollment I’ve been pushing her toward all year.”
Brandon hummed and shrugged, winking at the cute little waitress as she set their food on the table.
“You’ve been pushing her? Are your parents not around anymore?” Tyler asked as Brandon slurped some sauce on h
is chips 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’s got a stubborn streak a mile wide and I’m hoping some more study will help.”
Brandon reached for his water again and swallowed the weird feeling that had risen. He shouldn’t care what sort of sister she was, but his mother’s lessons about family had been drummed into him since the cradle.
“That was really good of you Laura.” Tyler said and Brandon nodded his head, unable to remain impassive to such a thing. That took guts, and heart—something missing in most of the women he’d known.
“So tell me about this family dinner thing. Do you get together like that often?”
Her eyes flicked between them and Brandon noticed how much longer she liked to look at Tyler over him. Understandable really, considering last night he’d been ten minutes away from having his way with her sister, but it still sat like a lead weight in his gut. Plus, she’d never be able to guess that they both wanted her. No human would.
Tyler answered for them. “Yeah, mum and dad put on a family dinner at least once a month. They like entertaining and now that they’re mostly retired and we’ve moved out, I think they get lonely.”
Brandon grunted and finished his lunch. Lonely? He doubted it.
“You disagree?”
He raised his head to see Laura staring at him, her green eyes far too keen and observant.
“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 him a moment longer, 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?”
Brandon grimaced. “Yeah, unfortunately.”
Tyler laughed. “Her name is Renee and you’ll meet her today if you decide to come.”
Yeah, bloody pain in the ass that she was.
Brandon’s phone buzzed with a text. He picked it up and read the message from his father and cut Tyler off mid-sentence. “Dad wants us to go set up for the party.”
Their 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 Brandon pulled out his wallet, flinging a couple of bills onto the plate.
“No. I’ll pay for my…”
Brandon scoffed and stood up, staring down into Laura’s beautiful heart-shaped face.
“What, your salad? Next time, order some real food and we can fight about it then.”
Laura looked away and picked up her things, standing slowly and facing him with that grim look around her mouth again. God, she was stubborn.
“I’m trying to lose weight.”
Brandon scoffed again and said the first thing he thought of. “Why the fuck would you do that? You’re perfect just as you are.”
The gasp of the patrons around him was audible but Brandon didn’t let it distract him. Somewhere inside himself he marveled at the words. He’d always been drawn to skinny little blondes, but what he’d said was the truth. He didn’t lie. Laura was a major turn on.
Laura’s eyes went wide and her pretty mouth opened and shut like a fish.
He took advantage of the silence. “So, you gonna’ come to mum and dad’s thing? And make sure you bring an appetite with you, their lamb on the spit is incredible.”
Laura stepped away and turned to look at Tyler. “You said you’d explain about the hand thing.”
Brandon glared at his brother. Had he now? And just how was he going to explain a perfect mate’s bond to a human?
Tyler smiled at her with genuine warmth and Brandon’s lion growled and paced inside him, causing him to need to step away toward the door. He didn’t like how they’d bonded already. Being ignored was not a sensation he was used to.
He heard them walk up behind him so he opened the door and took some deep breaths in through his nose, enjoying the spiciness of the spring scents.
“It would be so much easier if you came this afternoon. There will be heaps of people there and you’ll be safe, I promise.”
Brandon rolled his eyes and turned to watch his brother working their mate. She looked at him for a moment, then went back to talking to his brother.
“Why do I feel so safe with you guys? I know I must sound like an idiot, but I trust you already, and I shouldn’t. I barely know you.”
And why do I want to take you home and mate you right now? Bloody curse!
Tyler laughed. “It’s all linked to the same things. Please come?”
Laura frowned, then nodded, crossing her arms over her big boobs in a move that had Brandon swallowing a moan. His cock was stiffening in his jeans. Fuck, he wanted her.
“So you’ll come?” Tyler’s voice had risen an octave and Brandon rolled his eyes again. If he didn’t know any better he’d think they were both sixteen and courting their first woman. He’d never felt so uncool.
Laura nodded and sighed, letting her arms drop. “Yes. I have to.”
“Awesome. It’s only about five minutes from our place. Two hundred and one The Grange Road, Newbank.”
Laura nodded before pulling out her phone, typing fast, then tucking it back into her bag.
“What time?” She asked, her voice stronger and deeper than before.
“About three?”
Yeah, that was perfect. There’d be a few people there already and she wouldn’t feel as isolated.
“Great. See you both then.” Laura backed away and slowly got into her car.
Brandon couldn’t help mirroring Tyler as they moved forward and shadowed her, making sure she was safe as she waved and pulled away from the café. As soon as she was out of sight Tyler slapped him on the back, his feet actually leaving the ground as he jumped into the air.
“We’ve almost got her!”
Brandon grunted at his too-enthusiastic brother. Don’t count your chickens, mate.
“Women are a lot more complicated than that, Ty. Let’s go.”
Tyler gave him a strange look. “You’re joking, right?”
Brandon grunted and they both headed off to their own cars.
He knew why his brother hadn’t believed his statement. He’d always claimed that women were simple-minded and easy to manipulate. Well, that may have been the case for the one-night stands he’d managed over the years, but it didn’t take a genius to know that Laura was special. If she really was their mate, which he’d find out today, then she would be harder to handle than any other woman they’d ever met.
****
Laura parked her car about a half mile down from the address Tyler had given her. She couldn’t get any closer. There were cars everywhere. How big was this family shindig anyway?
She stepped out of her car, tugging on the long summer dress she’d chosen to wear. Why was she even here? It made no rational sense whatsoever. She knew nothing about this man, and there was no reason at all to trust him. Yet, here she was.
The pecan pie she’d made was still warm and she picked it up from the front seat. She had to know what this ridiculous attraction was all about. How could she have such a subconscious and strong physical reaction to two men, brothers at that. And they were just so different!
Laura walked along the grassy footpath, inhaling the smell of the mountains around her. She’d thought Tyler and Brandon’s house was beautiful, but this place took the cake.
She stood in front of a double-story mansion, with a wraparound verandah and acres of land behind the home.
“Wow.”
“It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” A chirpy female voic
e said behind her.
Laura turned around and smiled hesitantly at the tall, gorgeous redhead that had walked up behind her. Wow was right. This woman was exactly what Laura had always wanted to be. Gorgeous. Thin. Confident.
“Hi, I’m Renee.” The redhead greeted her with a smile, gesturing for Laura to follow her up the path to the house.
“I’m Laura.”
Renee smiled with genuine warmth and opened the front door as though she owned the place. “What brings you here, Laura?”
Laura’s mind whirled as she stepped into a magnificent home that had the feel of warmth and family love about it, even from the entranceway.
“Ah, Tyler invited me.”
“Oh, really?” Renee said, her voice rising in excitement. Laura looked closer at the woman.
Renee didn’t have any of Tyler’s coloring, but there was something about the shape of her eyes, and the smile.
“You’re their sister.”
Renee chuckled, amusement sparkling in her green eyes. “Got it in one, I’m impressed.”
Renee linked her arm into Laura’s and took the pie with the other, holding it up like a waitress bearing a plate.
“Let’s go meet the parents.”
Panic rose in Laura. Shit, no! Where the bloody hell was Tyler?
“Oh, I’m not anyone special…I just…”
Renee laughed as she continued to lead her through the house. The sound of Renee’s voice was as soothing to her as Tyler’s presence. Strange.
“Renee, who do you have there?” The beautiful, singsong voice of a woman who simply had to be Tyler’s mother rounded the corner and smiled up at her.
Brandon obviously took after her. She had the beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair which was just the same shade as her son’s.
“Mum, this is Laura. Laura, this is my mother Rosalie.”
“Lovely to meet you.” Laura greeted her hostess, stepping a little closer to Renee as she spoke.
Rosalie surveyed her quickly, smiling broadly as she took the pie Renee offered her. “Oh, thank you, Laura, you really didn’t need to bring anything.”
Rosalie bustled off, then Renee grabbed Laura’s arm and dragged her through the house.
They made their way through the kitchen full of laughing women, and into the back yard full of talking men. Wow, what a family. There wasn’t a man under six foot in the whole group.
