“Nice to meet you, Mr. Masters.”
“Call me Adam.” He turned slightly to greet Miles with a firm handshake and an arm to his back. “Please, sit. Is lunch almost ready, hon?” he asked his wife over his shoulder.
“Yep. Sharon, help me get everything on the table, will you?”
It seemed to Rebecca all these wolf clans ever did was eat and feed her.
Griffen pulled out a seat for her and scooted her in. He sat at one side of her while Miles took the chair on her other side. Both men set a hand on her thighs, making her gasp and slap them away.
It was bad enough when they were alone. No way could she concentrate in front of Griffen’s parents with them touching her.
“I spoke to my brother yesterday,” Adam announced.
It seemed like a strange segue to Rebecca, but she watched him as he continued.
“Not sure if you remember,” he said to Griffen, “but all four of his boys in Oregon mated with two people.”
“Yeah. I thought of that.”
Sharon set a dish on the table and gave a fake pout, looking at Rebecca. “They have a sister too. Tessa. Apparently the luck did not extend to her.”
Rebecca laughed. Leave it to Sharon to think this arrangement was over the moon and feel envious.
“Must be a generational thing,” Adam continued. “Damn strange if you ask me. But here we are.” He smiled again as his wife kissed him on the forehead and took the seat to one side of him. “Your brothers are a little leery, it seems.”
“I’m sure,” Griffen said. “I would be too if I were them. Now they have to wonder if every man they run into is destined to share a woman with them. And the truth is they probably won’t know until they meet her.” He turned to face Miles.
Rebecca never thought of it that way.
Griffen grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I’ve known Miles for years. Never would have expected to sleep with him,” he teased.
Trace walked in at that moment, shocking Rebecca. She hadn’t realized he was in the house. He froze in the doorframe, grabbing the wood with both hands. “Please tell me it isn’t like that.”
Griffen laughed, tipping his head back for several seconds while the sound vibrated through him and warmed Rebecca’s entire body. God, she loved that sound. Finally, he wiped his eyes with one hand and met his brother’s gaze. “No. Not a chance, Trace. This arrangement is strictly two on one.”
Trace’s shoulder visibly relaxed as he eased farther into the room, his brow still furrowed.
Rebecca fought to keep from giggling. How comical was it that every one of his brothers now had to worry about what man they knew was destined to share a woman with them? Or was it possible they didn’t even know the male component yet?
It certainly wasn’t a topic she had ever entertained in her life.
Lunch was wonderful. Carlie served Mexican—every conceivable item anyone could want to make soft- or hard-shelled tacos with all the fixings.
The family made her feel so welcome in their gorgeous mountain home. Griffen’s parents regaled her with tales of his childhood until he finally told them to stop and save some of his embarrassment for another day.
They had finished eating, and Rebecca was helping Carlie and Sharon clear the table when the ground shook.
Everyone froze in their spots and grabbed the edge of the counter or wall or table to steady themselves for the five seconds that seemed to last much longer. The rattling and clanking of dishes in the kitchen made Rebecca cringe, but nothing fell.
“What was that?” Sharon voiced.
Adam stood and headed for the back door. “Earthquake. Small one.”
“Shit.” Griffen came straight to Rebecca’s side and wrapped his palm around the back of her hand.
She still gripped the edge of the kitchen island, her knuckles white.
“You okay, baby?” he asked.
She nodded. She was physically fine. Emotionally, she was hanging on by a thread.
Miles’ phone rang in his pocket, and he yanked it out. “Melinda, you okay? Grandma?” His shoulders lowered as he listened to his sister on the other end of the line. “Good. Stay close to the house. I’m in Cambridge… No, I don’t think it was very big. The house shook, things rattled, no real damage… Good. Okay… I’ll call you later.” He disconnected and put the phone back in his pocket.
Adam came back inside. “No visible damage in the vicinity.” He sauntered to the living room and flipped on the television. “Never expected an earthquake in northwestern Montana,” he mumbled while shaking his head.
Already there were reports coming in from all over the place. The first channel that came on with the TV had switched to news coverage that fast. The broadcast started inside the studio but quickly switched to various reporters out on the streets as the entire family watched.