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Maria paused in her evening rounds to check on the commotion. “Ay Señor,” (Oh Lord) she muttered, seeing the brothers stationed at the window, “alphas worse than lovesick puppies.”

Neither brother denied it.

They were completely, utterly, and wonderfully fucked.

And their little mate hadn’t even moved in yet.

Chapter 8

Icollapsed onto the couch, phone pressed to my ear. “Luke, I’m screwed.”

“What, like, right now? In that haunted cottage? Kinky.”

“I hate you. But no—remember Caleb who helped with my car yesterday?”

“Mysterious Good Samaritan who just happened to find you broken down in the middle of nowhere?”

“Yeah, well, I just met his brother. By making him spill coffee all over hismust cost more than my student loanssuit. Then he insisted on buying me lunch, and after that took me to a lawyer where I found out I can’t sell this place for six months. Some clause in Mom’s will.”

“Wait, there’sanotherone? And he bought you lunch after you made him ruin his suit? What’s with this town?”

“Apparently, they’rethoseStones. As in, they basically own the town.”

“Hold up. You’re telling me you’re trapped in CreepyVille for six months? Should I be planning your rescue or your funeral?”

“Neither, because Caleb is taking me to dinner in thirty minutes.”

The silence was deafening.

“Luke?”

“I’m sorry, my brain just broke. You’re going on a date with the mysterious mechanic whose equally mysterious brother you turned into a walking coffee stain today?”

“I walked into him, okay? But he’s the one who insisted on lunch.”

“Uh-huh. And now his brother is whisking you away to dinner. Nothing suspicious about that at all.”

I sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. “I know how it sounds…”

“You could always move in with me and Eomma,” Luke offered. “You know she would love to have you.”

“And that’s exactly why I can’t. Imo already does too much for me. Remember winter break? I gained like ten pounds from all her ‘you’re too skinny’ meals.”

“That’s just how she shows love!”

“I know, and I love her for it. But I can’t keep crashing with you guys every time things get rough. I need to figure this out on my own.”

“Okay, fine, no moving in. But at least tell me where you’re going tonight. And his license plate. And maybe get a DNA sample—”

“I’m not getting his DNA, Luke.”

“Fine. But I want updates. Every hour. No, every thirty minutes. And if you don’t text back, I’m calling the police. And telling Eomma.”

“Imo is scarier than the police.”

“Exactly.”

I smiled despite myself. “I’ll be careful. Promise.”

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