Page 51 of Claim Me

“Why?”

“Are you fucking kidding?” I demand, and Sync chuckles at my indignation. “I ought to take my shoe off and smack you with it.”

“Daddy, you’re in trouble,” Deirdre says and hugs Kiera. “He’s gonna get spanked.”

Kiera suggests, “Mommy, put him in a timeout first.”

I smile at the girls before remembering I’m angry with their father. “You know what? I really ought to put you in a timeout for thinking I’d ever bring a stranger around the girls just because I’m lonely,” I grumble while slipping off my sandal. “Is that how you see me?”

Sync smiles as my sandal waves in front of his face. “I couldn’t risk your lonely clam making a decision your big brain wouldn’t.”

Grunting my disapproval, I slide on my sandal and turn away. Sync grabs me by the arm and tugs me back in front of him.

“This thing with Indigo seems fishy. Are you sure he’s not just covering up his man-on-man feelings?”

“What is your problem?” I demand and cross my arms. “Wait, did you bet money that he was gay and you don’t want to pay up?”

“No, it’s just I was so sure. I even thought he might be into Tack.”

“Well, Tack talked to Indigo months ago, back when Hunter was hiding at the farm. They came up with a plan for Indigo to share how he felt about me. So, no, he’s not into Tack. If he was, that would have been the time to say something.”

“Or he was embarrassed and distracted Tack with this talk about you.”

“You’re so stupid,” I hiss, and the twins gasp dramatically. “Indigo and I are dating. He came on to me. He’s not into dangling bits. Why are you being so rude about this? Wait, areyouinto dangly bits and you’ve had a thing for Indigo? Yes, that would make the most sense.”

Sync rolls his eyes with such flair that the twins applaud his efforts. I shake my head at their cheering.

Kiera only shrugs. “He’s really good at eye-rolling, Mommy.”

“A champ,” Deirdre adds.

“Well, he’s getting on mylastnerve.”

A concerned Kiera hurries over and tugs on Sync’s hand. “It’s her last one, Daddy.”

“She’s got more in layaway.”

“Okay,” Kiera says and bounces away to stand with Deirdre who is watching a lady walk by with a little dog.

“Don’t hassle Indigo, okay?” I tell Sync when he returns to frowning at me. “He’s new at dating, and his heart is fragile.”

“You get how I’m his friend and brother and everything, right?”

“Yes, but you’re also so effortlessly an asshole, and I’m not sure you can control yourself.”

“You should have told me in a less goofy way, Siobhan. First, I worry you’ve got a freak at your house. Then, you drop the Indigo thing. I’m allowed to think the situation is suspect.”

“Are your feelings hurt over how your friends haven’t told you about Indigo and me?”

“Wait, who else knows exactly?”

“Everyone. We had a party the other night and didn’t invite you.”

Sync chuckles in that overly intense way he gets when I’ve pissed him off.

I back away and sigh. “This thing with Indigo came out of nowhere for me. I wasn’t sure we could work. I hadn’t thought of him as a man. He was just family. But once I opened myself to lusty thoughts, I’ve fallen hard. Please don’t mess this up for us.”

“How would I mess anything up?”

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