Page 44 of Wanted by the Lawman

“Certainly, we are, but want to know what would make me even prouder? If at least one of them would settle down and give me a grandchild. Neither their father or I are getting any younger.” She placed the brownies on a china platter. “I don’t see what the holdup is. I met Bo and my life changed. I knew immediately I’d spend my life with him, and a year later we were married.” Beatrice swiveled. “I think a woman just knows. Don’t you agree?” Beatrice studied her.

She smiled nervously. “I-I’m not sure.”

“Hm.” Beatrice went back to dividing out the dessert. “Zander’s a good man. Out of all my boys he’s the one I worry most about though.”

“He is?” Wynn asked softly.

“He doubts himself way too much. Have you heard about that storm called Sam?”

Wynn sat down at the small round table. “Yes, I have.”

“Then you know he isn’t a stranger to sadness. Also, growing up he had dyslexia. I bet he didn’t tell you that, did he?”

“No, he didn’t.”

Beatrice placed the dessert plates on a tray. “He had the hardest time reading, but as long as he took things slow and focused, he could manage. What he hated more than reading was writing. Getting him to write his papers was a lot like saddling a wild horse. However, I found a pretty tutor who was a few years older than him and he took up to writing quite quickly. It’s funny what a pretty girl can do for a boy.” She gave Wynn a wink. “But then, you’d know something about that, now wouldn’t you?”

“He grew out of it? The dyslexia.”

Beatrice brought over a brownie and held it out for Wynn. “He did, even enjoys reading on occasion, although I’m afraid he might get things a little mixed up…like reading something that isn’t there…like he did with Sam.”

Wynn understood where this conversation was headed. “I like Zander a lot, but—”

“But what, dear?” Beatrice pulled out the chair opposite to Wynn and took a seat.

“I-I think I doubt myself too often also.”

“He likes you. I know my sons.” Beatrice laid a hand on Wynn’s. “He hasn’t brought another woman home since her.”

“I think he just felt sorry for me.”

“Then he would have taken you to grab a pizza.” Beatrice smiled. “Coffee’s done. How about we get back out there and give the men their dessert?”

~~~**~~~

Zander walked into the living room and his body tightened when he saw Wynn sitting among his clan looking like she belonged—like she’d been there all along. His brothers were laughing about something and she was smiling, that bright smile that he wanted to own. He felt like someone had whacked him in the head with a crowbar as he watched her. She was exquisite, every part of her, and his blood pressure skyrocketed into dangerous numbers.

Damn! What in the hell was she doing to him?

She was more delicious than his mother’s homemade brownies. And apparently his family liked her too.

The music was on and Kace held out his hand to Wynn. Without any hesitation she placed her palm into his and allowed him to swing her around in a twirl to the beat of the country song.

She was breathtaking.

Zander didn’t know what to look at first. Her hair bounced around her flushed cheeks, making her eyes appear as creamy as chocolate. Her smile beamed like the light of a lighthouse. Tight jeans cupped her heart-shaped bottom that made him clench his teeth. Her legs were long and all he could imagine was having them wrapped around his hips. The red T-shirt fit nicely against her breasts teasing his curiosity, wondering what color her nipples were. Pale pink or blush? Were they thick? Perfect to roll his tongue around. He’d bet his eyeteeth she tasted like honey straight from the hive and he ached to sample every sweet, ample curve. She gave a little bouncy step and her breasts jiggled a little. He wanted to step in and support the jiggly mounds with his palms, but he had to get himself together. He had a lot of sets of eyes watching and he didn’t want to announce that he was hot for Wynn. He needed to keep his thoughts of her firm breasts and ass to himself without sharing it to his siblings and parents. If they gathered what he was feeling they’d never shut up.

Feeling pressure behind his belt buckle, he shifted and caught Nixon’s grin from across the room. Zander smirked and flipped his brother off. He shouldn’t care that his siblings understood how the sexy little female morsel made him crazy, but without knowing how she felt about him he didn’t want to end up looking like a fool.

He and his brothers had a rule. Although they liked to tease each other about everything and anything under the moon, they didn’t cross a line when it came to women. If one of the brothers liked a woman, she was off limits to the others. Zander needed only to say one word and they’d all get the message to stay the hell away, although he had a feeling he didn’t need to voice anything because each of them had given Zander that “I know, bro” look.

When the music stopped, Zander interrupted, “I hate to break up the party, but it’s getting late and we have a drive.”

Wynn turned and nailed him with a smile that warmed his heart. He caught his breath and their gazes held for a good three seconds. There was no way he could hide what her smile did to him.

She lit up a fire within him that had been burnt out years ago. His body began to sing a silent tune. He knew he should break the spell, knowing eyes were on them, but he was frozen in the moment—the hold of those creamy brown eyes. She had the prettiest face he’d ever seen. Her lips seemed exceptionally plush and ruby. Her bottom lip trembled ever so slightly. His world tilted, and he wanted to drag her in and kiss her until she was weak with need.

“Ready?” he asked with a shaky voice.

“Sure.”

He was still reeling when they pulled up to her house and she invited him in. They stepped through the door and she toed off her boots, turning to look at him. He skimmed his gaze over her features, wanting to memorize every lovely detail. He smoothed his gaze over the curve of her cheeks, the cute tilt of her nose and lips that begged for attention. When their gazes met, he swallowed against the constriction of his throat. Her eyes…they were bright and endearing. They were huge, like saucers of milk chocolate, surrounded by smudgy dark lashes. Her hair was damp from the snow they’d been caught in and the tresses stuck to her flushed cheeks.

He should say something, anything, but his tongue was frozen to the roof of his mouth. And finally, he found himself saying, “You will be the death of me.” His feet came unglued from the floor and he strolled the few feet to her. There was no way he could put the brakes on the tornado that caught them up.

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