“Yeah, you go have a talk with him,” Tory said with that ferret-looking sneer on his face. “Tell him he should have stayed gone after he disappeared.”
Bryan released that low growl Hunter knew signified a loss of control. If Bryan let it slip, they’d all be in deep shit. “Bro, not here.” We have something you need to hear.”
Things were piling up. It was getting late and, sooner or later, Hunter was going to have to come clean about the other shifters. For now, he and Lacey should give Bryan the good news about the ranch.
Lacey, bless her heart, jumped right between Bryan and his father. “Sorry to interrupt your little homecoming, sir—and you, too, Tory—apparently Bryan has a business call.” The lie spilled naturally past her lips before she turned away and walked off arm in arm with Bryan.
Hunter followed, repressing a chuckle when she asked, “What is it you two do for a living anyway? I don’t recall you mentioning.”
“Why don’t you make something up? It couldn’t sound any more truthful than the lies pouring out of your mouth,” Bryan said. “You’re too good at this.”
“She may have to get better. Wait until you hear what we found out, Bryan,” Hunter said.
“To answer your question, Lacey, I’m a real estate developer. Bryan did go back to school, got his law degree, and passed the bar. He’s one of the best real estate attorneys in the state.”
“Sounds like an oxymoron—best and attorney don’t belong in the same sentence,” she said with a grin.
“Really? Lawyer jokes?” Bryan asked.
“Actually, I can’t think of a better profession for you, not with what you two are about to face,” she said to them.
“Yup, we’re just the boys to handle it.” Hunter sneered. He may have sounded cocky, but there was damn good reason for that. The Harrises were very successful. The Cauldwells wouldn’t know what hit them when they were finished with them.
“Where do you want to go to talk?” Bryan asked. “Out back?”
“No, not anywhere around here,” Hunter spit out then switched to their mental link. “
This town is crawling with…shifters and more. Don’t you smell them?”
“No.”
Bryan sniffed and his eyes narrowed in Lacey’s direction. “
My senses are overwhelmed with Lacey’s scent. I can’t focus on anything else. Who?”
“I don’t know these people,”
Hunter thought, but looked in the direction of the bar. “I met Keiran’s husband. He’s an interesting sort.” “
Wolf”.
“Jack?” Bryan stared over at the bar. “
Must have gone through his change after I left.”
“Nice guy. Full of useful information.” Hunter nodded. “Have you tried the pineapple?”
“I’m not much for pineapple.” “
Doesn’t pineapple interfere with our sense of smell
?”
“That’s good.” Hunter nodded again. “
Stay away from the gardenias and the potpourri on the bar, too.”
“I don’t think they agree with you.”
“What are you two talking about?” Lacey broke in, confusion written in her expression. “Why do I feel there’s more going on between you than you’re letting on?”
“There is,” Hunter whispered. “We need to find some place to talk, privately. Not here,” he clarified, glancing in the Cauldwells’ direction.
“Come this way,” Hunter said. “Let’s go see Thomas.” Dragging Lacey along to where Thomas stood by the gate, he figured meeting him was a good enough reason to wander to the far end of the veranda.
“I’m not sure I’m speaking to that—” Lacey folded her arms across her chest.
“How about we get out of here, Lacey? I think I put in enough time,” Bryan said. “Say goodnight to Thomas. You can’t stay mad at your best friend for looking out for you all these years.”
“There’s still plenty to do before I can go home.”
“I’ll help, if you forgive me,” Thomas said. “No one will expect you to stay.”
“I’ve been trying to get her out of here for the last half hour.” Bryan frowned at him. “I figured we’d make a clean break when Tory and Cauldwell cornered me.”
“How’d you escape? They heard you were back and from what Jack said, the shit hit the fan.”
“The old man knew where I was for two years and didn’t have much to say. Then, later, you were the only one who knew where to find me, Thomas.”
“Lacey are you going to speak to me?” Thomas asked. “I’ve never kept anything else from you, hon. Bryan said he loved you and it was for your own good. I thought if he loved you that much I should trust him. Forgive me?”
Lacey unfolded her arms and walked into Thomas’s open arms. “Forgiven! But don’t you ever hide anything from me again.”
For an instant, Thomas’s expression went flat. Hunter had to admit the guy rebounded well. “Does that mean you want to hear all about the dream I had about you and me last night?”
Lacey closed her eyes and covered her ears. “Nah, nah. Nah, nah. Is he gone yet?”
“All right,” Thomas uncovered her ears. “I’m just chiding.”
A few steps away from the exit, a light wind blew across the terrace carrying Lacey’s scent on the breeze. A rumble he had to fight down rose in Hunter’s throat. What with the Were virus infecting him and the full moon approaching, his inner cat was growing more aggressive by the minute. If only there was a way to ease them into accepting the idea of a ménage bond before Lacey’s transition made it a necessity.
Hunter pulled Bryan aside. “Meet me back at the cave, after you finish making excuses to the cleanup committee.”
“What is it?” Bryan asked Hunter. “You seem out of control.”
“Testy is all. You’ll understand when I tell you what Jack said.”
The shape of Lacey’s pupils had already started to change. The tilt to her naturally almond shaped eyes made her look all the more exotic. The changes were subtle but he didn’t miss the way she walked with more catlike grace.
“Later, bro. Look at her and the way the men are eyeballing her. For God’s sake, get her out of here.”
“What?” Lacey asked.
“Nothing we can talk about here.” Hunter brushed her question off and pleaded with Thomas. “Convince her it’s okay to leave.”
“She is going to grow more and more unstable before dawn.”
Hunter used their mental link so only Bryan would hear his warning. “
We have to get her out of here. We’re running out of time.”
Her feminine stride already turned into the confident glide of the cat. Silent. Smooth. Slinky. Sexy as hell.
Hunter noticed the nuances of the lioness rising to the surface. The other men noticed, too. They couldn’t tear their attention away from her even though they didn’t understand what was drawing them to her.
“I’m having a hard time keeping the lion from surfacing and tearing apart every guy in the place who’s staring at her.”
“The men can’t help themselves. Look at her eyes, the way she walks.”
Bryan grumbled under his breath, “I don’t know why we have to hang around, Lacey.”
“I hate leaving the rest to clean up—” she said.
“Bryan, there’s more you should know, and we have a lot to explain to her tonight.”
Thomas placed both hands on her shoulder and turned her toward Bryan. “You’ve done more than your fair share. Now scoot.”
“Tell Thomas she has a fever. He’ll make her excuses.”
“She still has that fever,” Bryan said and stared at Thomas, giving him a friendly pat on the back.
“Still? If you have a fever, you should rest.” Thomas said, shooing her away. “Go on. We’ll handle the cleanup. Don’t worry. Donna loves ordering me around.”
Hunter jumped in before Lacey voiced another objection. “Okay, then, let’s get going.”
“What now?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Hunter resorted to their mental link for privacy. “
I’d rather discuss this in private. The lioness is rising. She’s getting closer. When you come, make sure you bring Lacey. This concerns her.”
“I’ll meet you there in less than an hour. I can’t stand this much longer.”
If Lacey thought she was angry about Bryan binding her to him without her knowledge, she was going to be furious when she found out about what their connection would mean. Hunter wished they had more time—time to get to know each other. Time was up. There was no way he’d make it through the full moon without her and she wouldn’t survive her transition without both of them now.
“You feeling any better, Lacey?” Hunter asked. “By the way, you look great tonight.”
“Thank you. I’m feeling okay. You know about the side effect of the fevers?”
He nodded.
“Well, I’m also hot. Itchy. Honestly, I’m glad to be away from town and out here where it’s cooler. I feel better.”
Bryan stepped forward. “Hunter, Lacey told me what Jack said about Emma Cauldwell’s will. What’s with all the secrecy?”
“It’s not about the will.”
“The others?”
“No, Bryan.” Hunter backed away from them, deciding it would be better to start by spitting out the news. “I confirmed I have the Were virus.”
“Shit! I’m sorry,” Bryan said, shaking his head, “Real sorry. I hoped you’d be able to fight it off. But you should be fine until you find a mate—”
“No. Hold off. There’s more.”
“More?”
“Yeah.” Hunter paused before he ran his hand down his face. “And it’s real bad.” Hunter backed up, glancing between Lacey and Bryan. “Lacey, would you mind standing in front of Bryan?”
“Enough. Just spit it out,” Bryan snarled.
“Okay. When Lacey saved my life,” Hunter looked ready to bolt, “not only did my lion imprint on her, her cat responded.”
“What!” Bryan lunged, and Lacey gasped at the same time. She held her arms out, again protecting Hunter from Bryan as the anger vibrated around them. Hunter watched the lion morph beneath the surface of Bryan’s skin as he fought to keep his lion under control.
“Sorry to complicate everything. Hey, you remember how we dated the same woman or two in the past, right? It can’t be that different than—”
“Ew!” Lacey said.
Hunter realized his mistake immediately. Maybe mentioning how the little fox shifter wanted both of them wasn’t such a good idea. Hunter thought it would help them ease into the discussion of a possible ménage relationship, but Lacey seemed repulsed and Bryan looked embarrassed.
Clearly, the picture of the two men pleasuring another woman disgusted Lacey. Her respiration increased. The idea of Bryan with another woman made her inner cat furious. Besides almost breaking her heart with that little tidbit about them both dating the same woman, he was right, her lioness wanted them both. Hunter sensed her jealousy in so many ways. The heat boiled up inside her and rolled off in waves around her. He swore he heard her spit.
“Thanks, Hunter! How is talking about shit like that gonna help me out here?” Bryan asked, looking like he’d like to punch him.
Instead, he turned to Lacey and tried to explain. “Sorry. Hunter’s got it all wrong. Sometimes we dated the same women. I tried to… Hell, I didn’t… Couldn’t…” He stepped closer and cupped her chin.
Hunter noted his brother’s touch took her off guard.
Bryan looked deep into her eyes and said, “I haven’t been with anyone else.”
Hunter couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Ever?” he asked, astounded.
“Never,” Bryan whispered, still staring at Lacey.
“It’s none of my business what you’ve done these last five years.” She twisted out of his grasp. Her voice sounded brittle, almost as brittle as Hunter felt.
This was going to be a mess.
Bryan held her in place and forced her to hear him out. “Yes, it is, Lacey. I pledged my love to you and that hasn’t changed. My emotional and my physical love. My heart, as well as my body, remain yours.”
“You never…?” Hunter asked Bryan, incredulous.
“No,” Bryan snapped and shook his head. “I have no desire for anyone. Just her.”
“Shit!”
As unbelievable as it was, the impact of what Bryan admitted made Hunter shudder. “Suddenly I see what I’m in for. Insane changes during the full moon. And no sex.”
“No sex?”
“No sex.” Hunter took a chance and turned to Bryan. “I’m not ready.”
On their mental path, he tried to explain, “
Not until you and I are sure we can share your mate. One, you’re my brother and I won’t fight you. Two, somehow I have to convince Lacey this is right. I don’t want to be a third wheel once a month at the full moon. I want a mate who wants me because she loves me, not because she feels sorry for me. Though how I’m supposed to manage courting her, convincing you, and adjusting to being an imprinted male, while I stay in enough control to help you with Lacey’s change, I don’t know. God give me the strength.”
Bryan promised to be the one to tell her what was going to happen to her. Now Hunter had a more personal stake in the matter. He wanted Lacey to care about him and being the bearer of more bad tidings wouldn’t immediately ingratiate him to her. Bottom line was he didn’t want a mate who loved his brother and only fucked him once a month to keep him sane.