Page 20 of Midnight Rain

“The best kisses,” Austin agreed, “aside from yours.”

Cormac looked over his shoulder and smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Austin knew that look all too well. It was the same one he’d worn many times when trying to hide his true feelings.

“Are you sure you’re okay with us staying with you?” Maybe Cormac had made the offer just because he was a standup guy but regretted it. Even thought they’d shared a kiss and a nice walk didn’t mean he wanted Austin underfoot.

Cormac turned, and Austin noticed the look of “something wrong” was gone. “I don’t say things I don’t mean, and I’m not polite for polite’s sake, Austin. I would sleep better at night knowing you two are safe with my family watching over both of you.”

“But what about your cat?” he asked. “You saw how Lila behaved this morning when she smelled him on you.”

There went that look again. “I think Lila will be okay with felines.”

That was an odd way of putting it.

“Honestly, Cormac, I don’t want to cause any more problems between you and your brothers. That fight was vicious, and I don’t want you two butting heads because of me.”

Cormac snorted. “That fight was nothing compared to how we used to fight when we were younger. If we really wanted to hurt each other, it would have been a lot bloodier and more savage.”

The more Austin learned, the more he questioned the Lovatos’ sanity. “Are you saying that kind of fighting is normal for you guys?”

“I’m saying that was a way to blow off steam. Duncan was pissed, and so was I, but we would never intentionally hurt each other.”

“You could have fooled me.” It had looked like a death match before they’d been pulled apart. Austin was still in shock that Cormac had flipped his entire body over like a pro wrestler, taking Duncan along for the ride. Duncan was not a small man to lift so easily into the air. “I guess since I don’t have any siblings, that kind of behavior is lost on me.”

“Duncan and I will hash it out one way or another.” Cormac came back to the table. “I do need to tell him I’m sorry for snarling at Orion, though I’m afraid my apology might go to his head.”

Austin smiled. “Don’t apologize that often?”

Cormac sighed. “I’ll tell you the long, sordid details later, but, no, I’m not known for it.”

Now Austin was curious to find out. There was no denying that Cormac was intimidating, but the more time Austin spent around him, the more he realized just how sweet and considerate the guy really was.

Discounting this morning and their subsequent meeting at the barbeque. It wasn’t until he’d seen Cormac’s giant ass on the floor, trying hard to make a tiny dog his friend, that Austin had seen him in a different light.

Which only made Austin want to peel back the guy’s layers to find out who he really was at his core.

Chapter Six

As soon as Cormac got Austin and Paloma settled into their rooms, he searched for Duncan. His brother was in the kitchen by himself, pouring a glass of tea.

When Cormac entered, Duncan looked up, scowled, then went back to focusing on what he was doing.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry for snarling at Orion.” Cormac crossed his arms and leaned against the edge of the island. “I might have been pissed at his accusation, but he’s a mate, and it was wrong of me to cross that line.”

Duncan glanced up, his brows deeply furrowed. “Did you just apologize to me?”

“Yes.” Cormac sighed.

Duncan set the pitcher down then pressed his palms against the granite countertop. “For the first time in my life, I wanted to destroy you, Cormac. You flipped the fuck out over a guy you just met, intimidating my mate. If Beckett and Hayden hadn’t pulled me away…”

“It was more about Orion saying that I took advantage of someone,” Cormac argued. “I’ve never been so insulted in my life, because he reduced me to some fucking pervert.”

Duncan slammed his palm. “That doesn’t give you the right to snarl at him, Cormac! I don’t care if Austin is his cousin. To you, he was just some guy you wanted to fuck! That’s not the same as a mate, and you know it!”

Cormac snarled as he rounded the island, getting so close to Duncan that he could have snapped his brother’s neck. “Don’t you dare talk about Austin that way!”

“What is your problem?” Duncan shouted. “Since when do you lose your mind over some ass?”

“He’s not just some ass, you dumb fuck!” Cormac shouted, his cheetah ready to maul Duncan for insulting Austin. “He’s my goddamn mate, and if you don’t stop disrespecting him, I’m going to beat you senseless!”

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