Kane threw a burger bun and hit Troy on the face. “Troy, you idiot. Can’t you see Ry’s not in the mood for your jokes. Look at him. He’s hanging on to his skin by a thread.”
Riel blinked, drawing deep breaths into his lungs. “It’s OK.”
Troy shook his head and stood. He brought Riel a beer. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean any disrespect. We’ve known she’s yours since the moment you saw her.”
Riel sighed. She was the one that didn’t know they belonged together. He’d been too concerned with scaring her in the past to try and push speaking to her or asking her out. She’d appeared so alone and vulnerable that he’d felt instantly protective over her.
Kane strode to the grill with purpose. He took the cooked meat off the fire, placing it in one of the large, covered platters. He prepared a burger and sat back down. Then he smirked at Troy. “What? Oh, was I supposed make one for you? Get your ass up and get it. Do I look like Mr. Belvedere or the housekeeper to you?”
Troy chuckled and threw the burger bun back at Kane. “Ry, you’re starting to remind me of Chase when Sophia had the twins.”
Riel laughed at that. Their alpha had turned into a softie around his wife. Whatever Sophia wanted, she got. It had been two years since they’d had to fight off hyena shifters trying to get their hands on Sophia’s research. When Sophia had the twins, Chase had turned into the ultimate protector. No one got near his wife or kids without calling him first. Sophia had smacked Chase upside the head a few times when the guys showed up with a gift for the newborns and he complained because they hadn’t called ahead.
“I don’t think anyone can ever be as paranoid as Chase,” Kane said between bites.
Riel picked up his beer bottle from the stone-paved floor, took a swig, and thought of Chase’s position. Two children and a mate. The alpha had the ultimate blessing and knew it. No wonder he was so overprotective of his family.
Troy sat and bit into the burger he’d put together. After swallowing, he turned his attention to Riel. “Ry, what’s going on with Sam Suarez? Why is she back this time? Shouldn’t she be off volunteering in some country filled with mosquitoes, anacondas, and piranhas?”
Riel wished he knew. After Ginny passed, the house had been locked for two weeks. The old woman had been amazing. She’d known how he felt about Sam and had asked him to wait. She promised that Sam would return to him. And now she had, but for how long?
“I’m not sure. It could be she’s tired of being away and is ready to be home.” God, he really hoped she was there to stay. Riel didn’t think he could handle her leaving again. His patience had reached the limit.
“You’re going to need some luck there. Maybe I can help.” Kane prepped another burger and put a handful of potato chips on his plate, then went back to his lounger and started eating.
Riel’s impatience got the best of him.
“So? How is it that you can help me?”
“Don’t make that face. You’re not all that.”
“I am all that. I’m already the hottest thing on two—and if I believe the women in the pack—four legs.”
Troy chuckled. “Tell that to the sexy human who’s been running from you for years.”
“She needs time to come to terms with my wonderful personality and amazing wit,” Riel joked.
Kane drank from his beer bottle. “I’ve been seeing Natalia Diaz,” he said offhandedly.
Troy choked on his burger. He coughed and gulped down his beer. “Sam’s best friend?”
Riel smiled. Troy had asked Natalia, better known as Nat, out a few times only to be blatantly rejected by the redhead. She’d told him he was too much of a playboy for her to waste her time with him. It became one of the best ways to nag Troy.
Kane grinned. “Yeah. Sam’s best friend. She thinks I’m adorable.” He put a bunch of chips in his mouth and made loud crunching noises as he ate.
Troy’s clenched jaw made Riel laugh. “So what you’re saying is that you can get me inside information on Sam from Nat? And I won’t have to do any crazy stunts to get her to notice me?”
Kane nodded. “And I can do it all without feeling like I’m doing you a favor because Nat is hot!”
Troy threw a pickle at Kane, and Riel laughed again. They acted like two little kids fighting over a toy.
Kane grabbed the pickle from his chest and took a bite. “What? She is hot. She’s got a body that’s made for loving.”
Troy growled and fisted his hands. “You stay away from her body! She’s mine.”
“Hell no.” Kane’s shit-eating grin grew. “All she has to do is say the word, and I’m all hers. I don’t recall seeing you claim her as yours. She’s a single sexy woman with a hot body. And she likes to spend time with me. Suck on that one pretty boy.”