Mallory's Bears(64)
“Huh. And here I thought I’d already done that.”
Gunner laughed. “You sure did. You with a shovel? That was fucking hot, woman.”
She could still see the man’s face at times, but she was getting better at shoving those images away.
“Don’t worry about the rogue werewolf. If he doesn’t learn his lesson with this new hard-nosed pack, they’ll exile him, making him a lone wolf. That’ll leave him vulnerable to other packs and hunters. Trust me. For a werewolf, that’s worse than a death sentence. Hell, it is a death sentence. Either way, he’ll never show his snout around here again.”
“That’s good to know.” One more time the image of the man’s face came and she shoved it away. “I don’t know if I could’ve handled losing Rick. I was a fool to leave.”
“And we were fools to let you. But that’s over now. You’re staying.”
“I am. There’s nothing I want more.” She skimmed her palm along Rick’s arm. The same arm that had been injured and had healed so quickly. She had a lot to learn about werebears, but she’d spend her life doing that. “I just wish he’d wake up.”
“He will. Besides, I think he’s milking it.”
“Who’s milking it?” Rick opened one eye, then the next.
“It’s about time.”
“Damn, I barely get my eyes open and she’s already nagging at me.” Rick grinned at her, then sought out his brother with a questioning glance. “Mallory, I need to tell you how sorry I am.”
It warmed her heart to know that she was the first thing on his mind. She pressed her fingers to his lips. “No, you don’t. I’m not sure my heart could handle an apology from you. Just get better. That’s all the apology I need.”
“No. Don’t let me get off that easy. I should’ve listened to Gunner and told you earlier. We lied by not telling you, by ignoring your questions. I treated you like crap even as I tried so hard to bring you closer. I’m sorry, baby. Sorrier than I can ever say.”
“It’s okay.” She didn’t want to cry. If she did, she wasn’t sure the tears would ever stop. “I understand and it doesn’t matter now. I’m staying.”
Gunner’s hand caressed her shoulder. “I’m sorry for lying, too, and for not taking the time to tell you. We just got caught up in everything and forgot to think about it from your perspective. I should’ve forced Rick to tell you.”
He chuckled at Rick’s snarl. “Easy, bro. Don’t hurt yourself.”
“We love you, Mallory. More than life itself. Can you forgive us?”
Gunner’s hand continued its path along her arm, exciting her with his gentle touch. “Yeah. If you don’t. I’m not sure what will happen to us.”
She took Rick’s hand, loving the way he searched her face. Hungry. Yearning. Vulnerable. “Yes. I forgive both of you.”
“Does that mean what I think it means?”
“Yes.” She thrust out her chin. “It does. After all, someone’s got to take care of you two. Besides, I love you two beasts.”
“You’re staying? You’ll be our mate?” He sat up even more, taking both her hands.
“Not that we deserve her.”
“Hell, no we don’t,” agreed Rick. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let her go.”
She took her hand away. “I’m staying and I’ll be your mate on one condition.”
“Aw, shit.” Rick gave her a palm’s up after catching her haughty eyebrow lifting toward the ceiling. “Forget I said that. What’s the condition? Whatever it is, the answer’s yes.”
She reached out and took his hand, then Gunner’s. “First of all, you have to find someone other than Lawson Industries to handle your cattle.”
“We need to,” added Gunner. “Tyler checked into it and found out that you were right. They’re using practices we won’t stand for. I’ve already switched our contract to another facility. And trust me. Tyler has already checked the new place out. Other ranchers say they’re top-notch.”
“Then that’s an easy yes.”
“There’s more.”
“Aw, shit.” He cringed. “Again, forget I said that.”
She loved her men, but that didn’t mean that a girl had to give up her convictions. “I want you to do your best to get out of the business of raising cattle. Instead, I want to ask you to focus more on training the therapy horses. From the research I’ve done, that’s actually a more lucrative business. Besides, you’ll still have the oil wells.”