Page 91 of Follow Your Instincts

Lucas growled at him, but cut it off short. “Sorry,” he said again, and lowered me to the ground.

“Can we pick this back up later?” I asked, not letting him go. “I’m very into the Lucas that defends my honor and makes out with me in a dirty stairwell.”

Lucas gave a rueful smile. “I don’t know what happened.”

“Instincts, bro,” Ben said. “And my instincts are telling me that Maggie needs to get very drunk in public.”

“Actually, there is someone I’d like you to meet,” I said.

We met Kira at a bar she recommended near her side of town. I had insisted on something low-key after her first suggestion of karaoke.

While Ben and Lucas were ecstatic to be meeting my sister, Lachlan and Soren were more subdued.

“Is everything okay?” I asked Soren as we walked up the sidewalk to the bar. He was wearing a dark blue sweater that matched his eyes under a brown leather jacket. I intertwined my hand with his and squeezed.

He smiled tightly at me. “Fine, baby girl. I’m just pissed about what happened earlier. Should’ve done more to protect you, show that asshole you’re off limits.”

I bumped his shoulder lightly. “You did, though. I always feel safe with you.”

Soren stopped abruptly and kissed me hard. “You are safe with us, baby.”

We caught up to the group, and I was drawn to Lachlan. His face was tight with tension and he was scowling. Once, I would have interpreted that look as unhappiness, but I knew better now.

“You don’t have to be nervous,” I said softly. “She’s going to love you.”

Lachlan looked at me in surprise, then smiled. “Am I that transparent? I’m very anxious for her approval. I know how important she is to you.”

I smiled and tugged his hand closer to the door of the bar. “Quit stalling.”

The bar wasn’t exactlylowkey. It was a dive bar, or at least trying to be one. I didn’t think real dive bars had patrons that mostly looked like models. Kira was wearing a bright pink dress that looked amazing against her brown skin and she rushed me as soon as we walked in, scowling.

“If youevergo that long without calling me again, you’re going to regret it, babe,” she said, glaring at me. Then she threw her arms around me and squeezed.

“I don’t have any excuses, but it has been an eventful couple of days,” I said, squeezing her back. Her ocean scent was comforting as always.

Hard rock music was playing over the speakers, but we didn’t have to shout as I made the introductions.

Ben bounded up first to shake Kira’s hand. “It’s so great to finally meet you. Maggie has told us so much about you.”

“All good things?” Kira said, glaring at me threateningly.

“Mostly,” Ben said, laughing. “Remind me to get the details of the time she had to bail you out of jail in Florida.”

“Kira, Ben. Ben, Kira,” I said. “The two of you are going to be insufferable together.”

I smelled Lucas’s sweet scent a split second before his arms wrapped around my waist and his chest pressed against my back. “Hi Kira,” his voice rumbled through me. “I’m Lucas.”

Kira looked up, a little dazed. He was over a foot taller than her, and if she wasn’t my sister, I would’ve had more than a small twinge of jealousy at the way her expression had gone a little slack. Yes, he was beautiful, but he wasmine. I frowned and pushed the thought away.

Soren stepped up next. “Soren,” he said in his gravelly voice, but he was smiling and shook Kira’s hand warmly.

“The cop!” Kira said. “Thank you so much for being there to help Maggie the night she presented.”

“We’ve got Maggie’s back,” he said, echoing our earlier conversation.

Lucas released me as Lachlan stepped forward, and Igravitated towards him, tucking myself under his arm. “It’s lovely to meet you, Kira.”

Kira looked a little intimidated by his intense gaze and general aura of dominance, but she shook his hand, too. “Nice to meet all of you,” she said, looking around at the pack and then back to me and winked.

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