She sat back on the couch. “You guys have kept so much from me. But why?”
Reese snorted. “Simple. To keep you from killing or getting killed.”
“And we have to keep doing that until we can figure out what to do next.” Blane took her hand. “We have to make sure you’ll stay safe.”
“And not shoot anyone else,” added Reese.
She took the hand Blane offered her. “Fine. But I’m not giving up on getting Shannon home safe and sound.”
* * * *
“We keep lying to her.” Reese brushed Ripcord’s neck, using his fingers to comb through the horse’s mane. Rupert would do a more thorough brush down, but just being with his horse helped relax him.
“Yeah. I don’t like it any better than you do, but until she finds out about her sister and accepts her as a werewolf, what chance have we got that she’ll accept us? Not to mention wanting her to change and be our mate?
“I’d say about a thousand-to-one odds.”
“What happened after we hightailed it out of there?” Blane rested on a rugged bench they’d placed next to the door of the barn.
“Let’s just say you should’ve stayed behind and let me get her to safety. You’re the smooth talker.”
Blane blew out a hard, short breath. “Maybe. So what’d they say?”
“Daniel was so angry that he shifted without meaning to with Anderson shifting along with him. I had to do some fast talking to keep them from chasing after her. Shannon helped keep the men from going ballistic.”
Reese chuckled. “I know it sucks and all, but ya gotta see the humor in it.”
Blane nodded and smiled. “Yeah. What are the odds of Daniel getting shot by the same woman not once but twice? He’s damn lucky she’s a lousy shot.”
Reese slid the brush down Ripcord’s flank and muttered soft words to make the horse stop dancing. “Ain’t that the truth.”
“So, here’s what I’m thinking.”
Reese patted Ripcord on the neck. “That’s what you do best, bro.”
“I wonder sometimes. Anyway, I think we’re going to have to take her back to meet with Shannon and her men.”
“No way. You want a do-over? Maybe give Charlie another chance at Daniel? Even a bad shot gets lucky eventually.” He glanced at his brother. He didn’t doubt Blane had thought his plan through several times, but it still made his spine stiffen.
“Not this next time, because we’ll be in control and she’ll be unarmed. She doesn’t know you’ve got her gun and let’s keep it that way. All I need you to do is to check with them and make sure they can maintain their human forms around her. I don’t want them to use the chance to rip her apart.”
“I’ll call Jackson Carr to talk to them and smooth things over. If anyone can do it, he can.”
Jackson Carr was the unofficial leader of the pack since his ancestors were among the founding fathers of Forever. They’d brought other werewolves and even other paranormal beings to the town with the idea that all of them would be accepted and live in peace.
“Good idea. If they’ve got any ideas about hurting Charlie, he’ll sniff it out and put a stop to it. But do it tonight. I’d like to get her to see Shannon tomorrow. I don’t want to keep lying to her.”
“At least she agreed to stay here until things calm down.”
Blane waited while Reese put Ripcord back in his stall. Rupert arrived to handle the rest of the horses. Together, the brothers walked to their home. A light burned from the bedroom they’d given Charlie.
“Blane.”
Blane followed Reese’s direction. A hitch trapped Reese’s breath before he could manage to get it started again.
The shadow against the threadbare curtains was a touch of heaven and hell rolled into one. Charlie’s back was to them as she dragged her shirt over her head and tossed it away. She lifted her arms to scoop her hair up then dropped it, causing a cascade of dark shadows against the curtains. The thin curtains didn’t hide anything from them. Instead, it gave her body an opaque essence that was even more titillating.
“I’m sure glad we haven’t gotten around to buying those new curtains.”
“Bro, I think it’s time to make sure our guest has everything she needs.”
Blane whistled, the yearning in the low sound echoing the ache in Reese’s cock as it sprung to attention. “When you’re right, you’re right. You know I’m all about hospitality.”
Reese picked up speed, heading for the steps. He growled as Blane yanked on his arm, pulling him back. “What the hell?”