Page 16 of Doubly Tied

Brody’s hold loosened on her waist, and she kissed him once before facing the other male. Ani waited while Mayne took a moment to compose himself. When his gaze landed on hers, she noticed his eyes were almost all black. Mayne lifted the cell to his lips once more.

“Round up the guard. Tell them, we are on our way,” he said before ending the call.

Mayne’s eyes remained focused on Ani for a beat longer. Her mouth widened in surprise as the blackness faded to reveal a deep, rich brown.

A trick of the moonlight?

Perhaps.

“Brody,” he said to his friend. “It’s Sam. He’s causing a ruckus with the younger males. We have to leave tonight.”

“What has he done?” Brody asked, and pulled her back against his chest.

Ani was having a tough time following their convo, but for some reason, his body against hers made her feel better. She knew something was wrong. Her dreams of being with them crumbled and disappointment unlike any other welled up from deep inside.

“He’s made a move. The bastard is claimingheis the rightful Alpha of the Pack. If we don’t move now, we’ll be too late.”

The fuck?

She had no idea what they were talking about. Only one thing got through her lust-fogged brain. They were leaving. And herhoo-hawas about to throw the biggest pity party of her life.

“You have to go? Like now?” Ani asked, trying to keep her emotions in check.

It was ludicrous she should feel this way. For some reason, the thought of either man leaving sent spirals of pain shooting through her heart. Tears pricked her eyes and her stomach flip-flopped. She hardly even knew them.

“Ani, we don’t want to leave,” Mayne began.

“Come with us,” Brody said, and the words felt more like a command than a question.

“We have a private jet with a bedroom on board. We can talk. See if this is right for all of us. What do you say?”

“Brody—” Mayne began, but the other man sent him a look that had him cursing softly.

“Please, Anise. Come home with us,” Brody positively crooned.

The deep timber of his voice was soothing, hypnotic even. She wanted that. Craved the bliss she knew he could deliver. Falling under whatever spell he was weaving was just icing, she figured.

“You ever been to Texas?” he asked. “There’s nothing like it. Our ranch has over four hundred thousand acres. Right now we’re running three thousand head of pure Santa Gertrudis cattle. We breed quarter horses too. Even have a rescue operation for them, and retired racehorses.”

“Wow. Horses?”

“Yeah, do you ride?”

“Uh, a little,” she said, and shook her head, cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I know it’s a little cliché for a city girl to dream about riding horses, but I used to. Like all the time. You know, back when I was younger.”

“Not a cliché at all, sweetheart,” Brody replied. “We’ll teach you. Have you ridin’ bareback in no time at all, darlin’.”

Ani shivered, thinking about another kind of riding entirely. Mayne growled in his throat, and her eyes snapped up to his. They were black again, but she wasn’t afraid. In fact, it kind of turned her on.

“That sounds amazing, but I don’t know. I’m here with my sisters, and—”

“If you don’t want to stay with us, you can use our jet to fly anywhere in the world,” Mayne added helpfully.

“Your jet? You own a jet and a ranch?” she asked.

“Yes,” Brody affirmed. “Our operation is quite large. We raise certified organic beef cattle. Along with some buffalo. You should know we’ve made a lot of improvements in the past few years. Big River Ranch is dedicated to leaving a small environmental footprint.”

“Wow. You know, I’ve never been to Texas,” she whispered, knowing she was crazy for even considering it.

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