Page 25 of Heat Island
“So this arrangement would be practice for you?” I ask,unable to hide my skepticism. This sounds perfect—too good to be true. So, of course, I don’t trust it.
Matheo leans forward, his dark eyes intense. “Exactly. And from what the agency told us, you need a convincing pack for a week at a luxury resort. Seems mutually beneficial.”
“Can we ask why?” Lucas asks, ignoring Matheo’s unsubtle elbow to his ribs as he studies me. “The agency just said you need us for a wedding, but didn’t give any more details.”
It hadn’t been my plan to reveal everything at the first meeting, mostly because I assumed any sane pack would run for the hills when they heard my crazy explanation for all this.
But I like these men. And it isn’t as if they won’t learn the whole truth, eventually.
So I give them the broad strokes: my sister’s surprise engagement to my exes with a specific request that I not only attend their last-minute destination wedding but take responsibility for planning it while my entire family looks on.
Cash is the first to break the silence, his lips quirking in a small smile. “So this is a revenge thing?”
“Not exactly?—”
“It’s more about making them eat their words and all their assumptions,” Matheo interrupts with a chuckle. “I am absolutely here for it.”
But Lucas gives me a look of solemn sympathy. “It sounds like they really hurt you.”
I shrug off the sudden ache in my chest. I don’t miss my exes, but I can’t pretend this situation is what I want. “It was a long time ago.”
Lucas just shakes his head, looking troubled.
“In case it isn’t obvious,” Cash interjects. “We’re in for whatever you need.”
I tap my fingers against the table, considering. They’re leagues above any other candidates I’ve seen today. Professional, well-spoken, and they actually smell good. With the suppressants in full effect, I don’t get much beyond a hint of woody pine of Matheo, citrus from Cash, and supple birch from Lucas. Scents that really shouldn’t work together, but somehow do.
It’s a damn sight better than the beer, sweat, and ditch weed of the last group.
There’s only one problem, and it is entirely self-inflicted.
I clear my throat, preparing to deliver the news that will probably send these three perfect specimens walking right back out the door.
“There’s just one problem,” I say, folding my hands on the table. “I may have gotten myself into a bit of a…situation.”
The three men exchange glances.
“When I first brought up my supposed pack, I might have mentioned that I had three alphas.” I wince at my own stupidity, hoping I haven’t just ruined the best thing that has happened to me this week. “In my defense, I was being cornered by one of my exes, who was being particularly nasty about my inability to keep an alpha interested, much less an entire pack.”
Cash’s eyebrows shoot up, and Lucas’s mouth forms a small ‘o’ of surprise.
“I understand if this is a deal-breaker,” I continue quickly. “I’m open to hiring one of the individual alphas I interviewed today to round out the group.” Which I can barely even say out loud without making a sound of disgustmyself. “But if you’re not comfortable with me bringing in an outsider that you have to pretend to be packed up with…” I grit my teeth as the omega in me screamsno, no, no!“I completely understand you needing to walk away.”
Before Cash or Lucas can respond, Matheo jumps in with an immediate response.
“Actually, we already have a fourth pack member,” he says smoothly. “We just weren’t sure if he’d be available because of his schedule.”
Cash’s head whips toward Matheo so fast I’m surprised he doesn’t get whiplash. “Matheo?—”
“Kyren is out-of-town at the moment,” Matheo interrupts. “But I know he would be just as interested as we are, enough to make his schedule work.”
“Kyren?” I repeat, looking between the three men.
Cash’s jaw tightens visibly. “I’m really not sure Kyren will be available.”
Matheo shoots Cash an unreadable glance before turning back to me with a reassuring smile. “Trust me, he’ll make the time given the circumstances.”
The tension between Cash and Matheo is palpable, but I’m too desperate to question it. “Tell me about him.”
