Page 33 of The Way Back Home
“Yeah,” chimed in another. “Eli’s leg moves really fast if you scratch him in just the right spot.”
Beside her, Noah exhaled heavily and muttered, “Here we go.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” someone asked.
Three men, bearing a resemblance to Noah—but not nearly as much as Alex—stepped into the path between them and the house. They had darker hair, but the same amazing amber-like eyes. Two of them were mirror images of each other—another set of twins? Like Noah and Alex, they were tall and well built.
Clearly, there were good genes in this family.
“Teagan, this is my brother Daniel,” Noah said with a half-hearted wave toward the biggest and youngest looking of them.
At least six foot four of solid muscle, Daniel had aboyish grin and dark brown hair peeking out from beneath a beanie. He smiled warmly and nodded.
A gentle giant, she thought immediately.
“And these two knuckleheads are Adam and Eli.”
They grinned in tandem, their smiles eerily similar.
Eli—at least she thought it was Eli—said, “Twins tend to run in our family.”
“That’s no lie,” said his doppelgänger. “Welcome to the asylum, Teagan.”
“Teagan. Unusual name, that. Irish?” Alex was suddenly there beside her, having moved with the quiet grace of a shadow. The smile never left his face, but there was something more than idle curiosity in his gaze.
Noah stepped closer, shooting his brother a warning look. “Alex.”
“It’s okay, Noah,” Teagan said, shifting her weight slightly.
Alex picked up on the tiny movement instantly, and Teagan swore she saw his eyes grow more intense. He leaned against the truck, looking casual, but Teagan knew better. She recognized the stance, felt the ready tension buzzing around her as clearly as the frosty flakes landing on her face, and she knew without a doubt that Noah’s twin was a predator at heart.
If there was one thing Teagan was familiar with, it was dangerous men. Growing up the way she had, she’d developed a sense for undercurrents of potentially violent behavior lurking beneath smiles and calm facades. Alex was better at controlling it than most, but it was there. And it pissed her off.
She hated bullies.
She looked directly into Alex’s eyes, pinning him with a gaze that matched his intensity, flashing with barely concealed defiance. He might be a seasoned predator, but she was pretty sure she had more experience as prey.
“Yes. It is Irish.” She lifted her chin, locking eyes with his.Bring it, she said silently.I’m not afraid of you.
Alex’s only reaction was a slight dilation of his pupils. He held her gaze for a few moments that felt like an eternity, then blinked, effectively dismissing her, and turned back to Noah.
“So, does Mom know?”
“She knows,” Noah said.
Teagan guessed he’d called her one of the times they’d stopped.
Eli shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe Mom held out on us. We could have prepared a proper welcome.”
“Which is exactly why I asked her not to say anything,” Noah said. “We’re keeping this low-key, guys, hear me?”
Alex shot Noah a questioning look, but as far as she could tell, Noah ignored it.
“We’re just going to pop in, say hi, then head out to get a tree. Is the sled out?”
“Go show Mom you made it in one piece, and we’ll have it hooked up by the time you come back out,” Daniel said, grinning. “Assuming she lets you out, that is.”
“Yeah,” Adam said. “Remember when Brandon brought Kinsey home the first time?”
