Melinda’s Wolves(49)
Her heart and her mind began a battle that was painful.
Keegan sighed loudly, muttering under his breath as she followed him to a trailer where several people were coming and going. He took her hand without a word as they stepped inside.
“Hey.” A tall slender man about their same age lifted his gaze from a spread of blueprints. “’Bout time you showed up,” he teased, winking at Melinda.
He stepped forward, holding out a hand. “I’m Braden. Welcome.”
“Melinda.” She took his hand, immediately emitting a light gasp no one noticed. It happened sometimes when she touched another person. Perhaps the person was stressed about something or fake or in a bad mood. She didn’t think Braden was inherently bad, but she stared at him a moment longer after releasing his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Braden rounded the enormous table back to his spot. She watched him move, light, intent on the designs spread across the desk.
Keegan set his hand on the small of her back. “Braden is the foreman on site.”
Melinda nodded. “Got it. Hope there won’t be a name quiz later after I meet several people.” She tried to shake off her weird feeling.
Braden chuckled. “As long as you remember mine, it’s all good.”
She lifted her gaze to Keegan, playing the sweet new mate. “I need to make a few calls. Is there some place I can do that?”
“Of course. Use my office.” He seemed relieved as he ushered her to a door on the short hallway. “Make yourself at home. It’s sparse, but let me know if you need anything.”
She felt like one of his employees instead of the mate he’d fucked this morning.
The second he shut the door, leaving her to herself, her spine went stiff. She glanced around the room. Something was off. Not surprising. This wasn’t an unusual feeling for her, and she’d known it would happen on this site. But it was more intense than she’d expected. There was a small window on the outside wall, and she took the few strides to it and looked out. It faced the casino.
A shiver raced down her spine. Something was definitely off. Imminent danger made her skin crawl.
Not for the first time, she cursed her weird ability to detect almost nothing but unease in some instances. What was she supposed to do with that? Run out there and tell everyone to get back?
Nope. She couldn’t do anything of the sort. She needed to pull herself together and take a chill pill first. Later.
She slumped into the uncomfortable plastic chair on the back side of the desk, shaking off her premonition as she pulled her phone from her purse.
Sherri answered on the first ring. “Hey, boss. How’s it going?”
“Okay, if you don’t mind spending the day at the casino site.”
“The casino? That monstrous eyesore that’s going to block the view of the lake and bring unwanted drunk people to Sojourn and probably run your shop out of business? That one?”
“The very one.”
“Pray tell, why?”
“Apparently my mate is the building inspector on the job.”
“No.” Sherri gasped.
“Yes. Definitely yes. And it must be super humorous to bring me here for the day to keep an eye on me. If that man thinks he’s going to convert me to his way of thinking, he’s got bigger issues than just his warped idea of progress.” She realized her voice had risen, and she twisted to look at the door. It remained closed.
Plus, she had another problem. Her thoughts weren’t her own. Either of her mates could prod into her mind at will. And she seriously doubted she had the skills to block them well with her emotions running as high as they were this morning.
Her leg bounced up and down as she tried to rein in her anger.
“Sweetie, calm down. He’s your mate. Like it or not, you’re going to have to work this out. Or at least agree to disagree.”
She knew that. But easier said than done.
Deep breaths.
“I just wanted to let you know I won’t likely be in today. You guys okay without me?”
“Of course. Take as much time as you need. It sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Take it easy on your man. Don’t rip him a new asshole the first day after mating him. You did let them claim you, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” Sherri giggled. “Talk to you later.” She hung up before Melinda had a chance to respond.
She set her phone on the desk and leaned back in the horrific chair, tipping her head back and closing her eyes. More memories flooded into her mind from last night and this morning. Unbidden, but there all the same.
The small office suffocated her. It smelled of Keegan, and the confined space made her legs bounce. She lifted her sandaled feet and balanced them against the side of the desk. Why had she chosen a sundress today?