Page 58 of Meant for Her

“I need to wash up,” Ryan said, as he strode to the bathroom, his strong ass cheeks flexing with each step.

Luke rolled next to her. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk.”

“You don’t need to keep apologizing. I understand that you have a lot on your mind.”

“Fine, but if I’m a jerk again, it’s because I still worry those men might try to harm you.”

“I know, but I’ll be careful.” As Malia reached up to stroke his cheek, her stomach grumbled. That was anything but sexy. “How about we order delivery? I’m starving.”

“Me too,” Ryan said as he returned.

“Works for me,” Luke said.

* * *

Malia had to work a full shift the next day, and boy was that hard. Had she not made love for much of the last night, she might have managed to get sufficient sleep.

Despite all of her yawns, she was happy. Very happy. Now that Luke had finally agreed that she belonged in their lives, it was time for her parents and other siblings, besides Seth and Trevor, to meet them.

Instead of calling her mom and telling her the news over the phone, Malia thought it best if, after she showered and changed, she stopped in at their house and surprised them. Malia had already told the men that she was taking the night off since she needed to speak with her parents first.

Ryan understood. He said when the time was right, he would be happy to meet more of the Grangers, but Luke had been hesitant. He claimed he wasn’t in the mood to be grilled over their poor financial state.

As much as Malia would have liked to assure him that her parents would welcome them with open arms, she didn’t believe it herself. No doubt the men would be a hard sell to her folks, even though they always claimed they had her happiness in mind.

She could hear the tired refrain now. They’d say she needed to pursue her medical degree first before getting involved with anyone. Then her father would remind her that he thought she’d end up with a doctor or with someone who shared her love of helping others. He didn’t seem to understand that it was his dream, not hers.

Malia pulled in front of her family’s home. Even if her parents had eaten already, there would always be leftovers, assuming she could calm her jittery stomach. Her hand actually shook as she knocked on the front door and then pressed on the lever. The door was opened and she leaned in. “Hello? Anyone home?”

Between the lights blazing and the fact her dad’s truck was in the driveway, they were there.

“That you, Malia?” her mom called.

“It’s me.” She followed the voice back to the kitchen once more.

“This is becoming a habit.” Her mom smiled. “And I like it. I’m about to serve supper. Grab another plate.”

Having something to do while she told her folks about Luke and Ryan would help calm her nerves.

“There she is!” Her father came into the kitchen. “I thought I heard your voice.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Seth mentioned there had been some rustling going on near Midvale.”

“Yes, but thanks to Seth spotting the change of brand, the two men were able to retrieve six of their twelve stolen cows.”

“That’s nice.”

Nice?She supposed she should be pleased that he hadn’t figured out that she knew the men intimately. “They still need to find the other six.”

“Does Sheriff Hanson have a clue who the rustlers might have been?”

“No.” She explained that when Seth called to say he thought he’d spotted the cows, she’d picked up Luke and drove to the auction. “Luke was able to prove the cows were his. Before they can get their cattle back, the sheriff has to go through a committee.”

“I thought you told me that they lost a large percentage of their stock?” her mother asked.

“I did, but at the time Luke wasn’t sure how many had been taken.”

“How many head do they have?” her father asked.

“A little over a hundred.”

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