“Just moved to the area. Not surprising he’s with Masters. Their families are close. They’re probably fucking the same woman.”
“He related to the Bartels?”
Mike nodded again. “Bingo. Half brother to Miles and Melinda.”
“Fuck.”
“Yep. I’ll get you their personal information and see what else I can find out. Could be a coincidence. Let’s not freak out yet.” Mike hauled himself to stand next to the conference table. “I have a friend at the sheriff’s office in Sojourn. I’ll contact him and see what he knows. Could be the two men you saw just mated.”
“Each other?”
“No.” Mike rolled his eyes. “A woman. They wouldn’t be the first in their families to share a woman.”
Roger flinched. What the fuck?
“Don’t ask. It happens sometimes with shifters. It happens a lot in those two families.”
“And this deputy you know, how does he figure in?”
“Pete Sandhouse. He’s not too pleased with the number of matings occurring in threes. He’s kind of an asshole, but he always knows shit. If there’s something to know about Masters and Hamilton, he’ll have the scoop.”
“Sounds like my kind of guy.” Roger smiled broadly.
“Don’t bet on it.” Mike released the desk to stand tall. “Anyway, you see those two again, you let me know immediately. I’ll email you addresses and anything else I can find as soon as I get back to my office.” Mike stuffed his hat back on his head and left the room.
Roger cringed as the door to the trailer opened and closed, leaving him alone. His crew was off on Saturdays and Sundays, though it occurred to him perhaps he should have them working straight through until they were done with this job. He rubbed his temples with both thumbs, pressing his fingers into his forehead. “Fucking God dammit.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Amanda,” Mary called from the front room. “Your men are at the door.”
My men… Amanda rolled her eyes as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. She’d primped for the last hour, showering, shaving, lotion, makeup, hair. She’d put on a denim skirt and her favorite sheer pink blouse with a matching pink camisole underneath. Her underwear was a matching set of delicate lace in a softer shade of pink.
At least Mary didn’t sound angry or put out. In fact, Amanda could hear their voices in the front room, and her pulse sped up. She glanced at herself once more and took a deep breath. Her long black curls lay in some semblance of order. Her makeup, something she wasn’t in the habit of wearing much of, was subtle and feminine.
A glance at her chest revealed her nipples stood at attention even through the lace bra, camisole, and blouse. There was no way to hide the evidence of her arousal. Besides, from what she’d learned so far, they could smell her a mile away anyway. There would be no hiding anything.
It occurred to her, not for the first time, that this was entirely unfair. She didn’t have the abilities these wolf men had, leaving her at a distinct disadvantage.
“Amanda?” Mary’s voice drifted down the hall.
“Coming,” she called. She stuffed her feet into the pale pink flats that matched her shirt and forced herself to leave the bathroom and face her men.
As soon as she stepped into the living room, everyone turned around.
Mary’s face was serious, but with concern, not anger. She had calmed down considerably since early in the morning. After Laurie left, Jazmine followed, saying Mary needed to spend time with Amanda.
Half of Amanda would have preferred she be left alone to think and clean up and get dressed, but Mary followed her down the hall and sat on her bed while she chose an outfit. As Mary softened to the concept, Amanda found her biting her lower lip and fighting a grin. Deep inside, she knew her sister was happy for her. Even though she had a pile of concerns a mile long.
“You look amazing,” Logan eventually muttered. He stepped forward as if finally able to get his legs to move, trailed his fingertips down her arm until she shivered, and leaned in to kiss the spot right beneath her ear. He inhaled slowly before he righted himself. “And you smell fantastic.”
Sawyer approached her other side and boldly kissed her lips, his eyes dancing as he did so.
“So, uh, do you all have time to sit down for a bit?” Mary asked.
“Yes. Of course.” Sawyer took Amanda’s hand and led her around to the couch. He eased onto the cushion on one end, pulling her down next to him while Logan took a seat to her other side.
She was crowded, to say the least, and completely unsure she could sit still. Their thighs rubbed against her on both sides, making her question her decision to wear a skirt. It rode up as she sat, leaving her thighs exposed to the denim pressing in on her from two sets of jeans.