Page 37 of Can't Be Love

I blushed. “Yup, that’s about how it went.”

“And now?” he asked, brushing my hair behind my ear.

“Now? I don’t know what to think. It’s going to take some time to absorb all that,” I told him honestly.

He nodded, then stood, grabbing my hands and hoisting me to my feet. We quietly walked back to the truck. I was thankful we didn’t pass Mr. Draper on the way, certain my nose was red and my eyes puffy from crying during his story.

We stopped at another barn. This one was all wood and rustic looking, and I could see the stalls of horses from the parking lot. I quickly checked myself in the mirror on the visor, happy to see I didn’t look like I had been crying.

Thomas opened the door and shook his head. “You look beautiful. Stop making a fuss,” he said.

His compliment caused wild flutters in my stomach, but when I looked back at him, I was still having a tough time reconciling the man I was getting to know with the boy I had thought he was. I slid from the truck, right into his arms. He leaned in and I knew he was about to kiss me.

“Thomas!” a loud voice yelled, interrupting us.

Thomas rested his forehead against mine and took in a deep, frustrated breath. I liked seeing him all worked up. He kissed my forehead and pulled back with a fake smile on his face and irritation flowing off him in waves.

“Hey man, be up in a sec,” he yelled back at a dark-haired, handsome cowboy perched on the fence.

We headed in that direction, and four more gorgeous men in tight jeans and cowboy hats seemed to appear out of thin air. Thomas greeted each of them with some weird handshake.

“We’re breaking in the new filly,” the one who had yelled at him said.

Ruby came out of the stables and headed our way. I was grateful for a familiar face. It was a little overwhelming being surrounded by all those hot, tanned muscles. My wolf was agitated and didn’t like me even near them, but I could still take a second to appreciate the scenery, despite her growling protests in the back of my mind.

“I see you’ve met the Six Pack,” Ruby said, stopping and giving me a hug. “Don’t let these boys flatter you. The whole lot of them are nothing but heartbreakers.”

“Oh sweet Ruby, I’d never look at another woman if you’d have me,” the red-headed cowboy said.

“Austin, that’s enough out of you. You know you aren’t man enough to handle all this,” Ruby teased back. With her own striking, curly red hair they would have made quite the couple. She turned back to me. “Thomas introduce you to the gang already?”

“No, ma’am, he didn’t,” Austin said, all his attention suddenly turned my way. I felt Thomas take a step closer to me.

“That jackass right there is Austin. This guy up here,” Thomas said, pointing to the first one I had seen, “that’s Wyatt. And this is Clay, Emmett, and James.” I tried to keep track of who was who.

“Hi,” I said. “I’m Lily.”

“Miss Lily Westin. We’d know that beautiful face anywhere,” Clay said, and Thomas growled aggressively at him, taking a step towards him.

“Jesus, Thomas. What the hell’s wrong you?” Emmett asked.

“Poor Clay’s gonna shit himself, you do that again,” James added.

“Something tells me this girl is completely off-limits, boys,” Wyatt laughed, warning them. “Lily, it’s nice to meet you,” he said, jumping down from his perch. “Any girl manages to get this dick that worked up is fine in my book. How long are you in town for?”

“End of the week, at least,” I said. I chanced a look at Thomas just in time to see him wince.Good, I thought. I liked the idea of him being affected by that thought. The way things had progressed in the last twenty-four hours, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to leave at all, but I wasn’t ready to admit that either.

“I’m sure my mate, Kate, would love to have you over for dinner before you leave, if you have the time.”

I looked at Thomas and shrugged, seeking his approval. He nodded, and while the others had gone about their business and gotten back to work, I knew Wyatt was observing everything.

“Yeah, okay. That sounds great,” I finally told him, and I meant it.

Ruby came back through from wherever she had been headed and stopped to talk some more.

“You’ll like Kate, Lily. Sweet girl. Wyatt’s the only of the Six Pack to take a mate, so far,” she added. “I know Kate will be thrilled for a little female company.”

“Why do you call them the Six Pack?” I asked curiously.

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