Page 41 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

“Never.”

“I’m a very sensual woman, and I pride myself on my ability to have and give a good time. We’re late meeting your brother, so are you sure you want to get into this?”

He couldn’t believe she was agreeing. They hadn’t known each other long, and he insisted she was made for him. He expected her to resist the connection or run off. This woman was much more than his first mate had ever been, so shocking and unpredictable. Sure, he’d been young—barely eighteen back then. Regardless, Lachelle was one in a hundred million.

“My brother will wait. I agreed to meet him for you. If you’ll be with me now, that’s most important.”

“Then let’s go for it.”

Chapter 16

“Lachelle!” Janessa cried with tears in her eyes and dragged Lachelle into her arms. “You’re okay? I’m so sorry for leaving you. Declan was out of his head. I couldn’t make him calm down before he hauled me and Bannon out of that hotel.”

Lachelle waved off her sister’s worry. “You know I can take care of myself. I’m fine. Plus, I’m learning what it’s like to have an overbearing meathead breathing down my neck.”

She cast a glance in Gerard’s direction. From the color in his face, she knew without a doubt he heard what she said. After their fun in the woods, he had flown her back to the hotel to find everyone in an uproar about where they were. Gerard ignored everyone, including his boss, and just asked about the meeting with his brother.

She also learned that Patrick arranged for someone to go back to the restaurant they ran away from to retrieve her purse and her sister’s baby bag and purse. Lachelle was thrilled to have her phone returned, and she brought Janessa’s along and handed her sister the items belonging to her.

Now, they were in another restaurant, apparently owned by Patrick’s cousin. The entire place was shut down to customers, but Lachelle smelled something good cooking in the back. Her belly growled. She’d waited long enough to have dinner and was ready.

The five of them were shown to a table. As she sat down, Lachelle watched Declan balance his baby boy with one large hand on the baby’s back. The little one seemed pretty content to be with his daddy, sucking on his thumb while staring up at Declan.

“Gerard.” Declan grinned and dragged his older brother into his arms. Gerard hugged him with as much warmth as one would show a grabby great aunt.

Declan looked his brother over then nodded. He was satisfied apparently that Gerard was healthy. The two of them sat down with Gerard beside her and Declan next to his fiancée.

“I never imagined,” Declan began. “I thought you were dead. I never picked up your scent anywhere I traveled.”

“I had no wish to be found.”

“But there wasn’t word either. I’ve gotten plenty of reports over the months about Patrick’s whereabouts and how he had men loyal to him—a growing number. Nothing about sightings of you. Where did you live? You haven’t been in the city where Lachelle lives all this time?”

“No.”

Declan waited to hear more. Gerard offered nothing. Lachelle grew impatient with the idiot. She rolled her eyes at him. “He’s antisocial, if you can’t tell already. Picture Tarzan of the Jungle.”

Gerard frowned, and Lachelle and Janessa laughed. Declan seemed less than amused. In fact, he looked worried.

“You can come to our home. We’ve got plenty of space. I’ll call and have my guys get started on building you a house. Everyone will be shocked—wait.”

Declan leaned back, running a hand over his head. Lachelle thought he looked different from the way he did before getting with her sister. That lackadaisical air was gone. There was purpose in his eyes like he had found a new lease on life.

She compared Gerard with his brother. Both were dressed in casual clothes, a simple button down shirt with jeans. Declan looked more put together, as if he cared about his appearance. Gerard, while he did wear shoes, he didn’t look like he gave a crap about clothes or impressing anyone.

The two men weren’t twins by any stretch. They had common traits, both being tall with silver eyes and dark hair. That’s where the similarities stopped. Gerard’s was a more rugged jawline, and those silver eyes weren’t nearly as warm as his younger brother’s.

“What am I saying?” Worry colored Declan’s expression. “I’m not the rightful leader. You are. You were next in line. If you come, I won’t stand in the way. I’ll hand over my position to you.”

“I’m not coming.”

All three of them looked at Gerard. Lachelle was just as surprised as the other two. She had assumed the family reunion would lead to Gerard moving to wherever her sister and Declan truly lived. For a long while now, she believed they kept Janessa’s apartment for show, but she had never shared her suspicions with her sister.

“I don’t want to live with our people,” Gerard explained.

Declan glanced at her. “I can tell she’s important you. Who would have thought you would prefer humans. I get it. I’ll do anything for Janessa.”

“I don’t prefer humans.” Gerard gritted his teeth with frustration. “They are the ones who killed one of ours. I won’t let that happen again, and living with you means I can’t stop it.”

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