Page 18 of Meant for Her

Malia pushed back her chair. “Then I better see if Mason can look into the Bradley brothers. If you hear anything, please let me know.”

“I will. So, when do I get to meet my future brothers-in law?”

CHAPTERSIX

“What are you talking about?” Malia asked Will.

“I know you, sis. You wouldn’t be looking into cattle rustlers if these men didn’t mean a lot to you. Spill.”

If Will hadn’t been her twin, she would have dodged the question. Her younger brother Seth would understand. Will might, too, but she wasn’t sure she could trust him not to tell her other brothers. Then the news would reach her parents, which could be bad.

Was she positive they’d be upset that her mates were some poor ranchers who had a bad upbringing? Maybe. Add in the fact that they were only twenty-nine, and she’d have to give it a definite yes. Her folks had this antiquated idea that the woman should be younger than the man, which was ridiculous.

“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to say anything to anyone—except to Seth. He knows.”

“Why did you tell him first?”

“I thought he might know the names of some cattle rustlers.”

Will nodded. “That makes sense, but why don’t you want the family to know this big news?”

“You know Dad would disapprove.”

“You don’t know that.”

Malia huffed. “It’s a good guess.”

“You’re probably right. Dad is a snob. You’re sure these two are your mates?”

“Yes.” She explained about her reaction to the men. “I’ve never felt anything like it before. And trust me, they were not attractive when I first saw them.”

“Maybe you were experiencing sympathy toward them and mistook the emotion for lust.”

“That’s what Tawny suggested.”

Will’s eyes widened. “You talked to her too?”

“Yes, because she’s been through this mate thing, and you haven’t. Yet. I thought maybe my reaction was somehow different, but it turns out it wasn’t. Here’s how I know they are my mates. When the men woke up, I saw Ryan’s eyes turn a pretty golden color when he looked at me.” She refused to believe it was trick of the light. “He must have been surprised by his reaction, because they returned to a dark blue a few seconds later.”

“I thought you said both men were your mates.”

“Yes, but the problem is that Luke wants nothing to do with me. I don’t know what I did, but he won’t even look at me. I feel the same draw to him as I do to Ryan, however.”

“Why don’t you talk to him?” Will asked.

She laughed. “I don’t think I’d even get past the front door to speak with him.”

“Seriously? I’ve seen some of your outfits. Mind you, you rarely wear them, but you should move out of your comfort zone and seduce him. If he is your mate, he won’t be able to resist you.”

That was the best her twin could come up with? “I’m a professional, not some teenager with a crush.”

“Listen, if you feel something for this guy, it won’t be hard to put out.”

Put out?Who was this person? “You must not know me like I thought you did.”

“I know you as well as I know myself. It’s why I’m making that suggestion. Look, you need to know what you’re up against. While I’ve never heard of a werewolf rejecting his mate, I guess it’s possible. You need to make it impossible for Luke to turn you down. And Ryan? Is he on board?”

“I can’t say for sure. As soon as they sort of healed, I drove them home, but they both rushed into the house.”

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