“Francine, did you see these?” Naomi exclaimed, holding up a pair of tiny running shoes. “Too freakn’ cute.”
“Disgustingly so,” she giggled. “God, I can’t believe you’re about to pop twins.”
“Good thing I’ve got two daddies to help handle them,” Naomi added.
“And two awesome boobies,” Javier said with a laugh, leaning over the back of her chair to honk them.
“Pig!” Naomi yelled, slapping at his hand. “We have guests.”
“We have Francine and my brother left. Everyone else scattered before you handed them a mop and broom to clean.”
“I’m not that anal,” she muttered.
“Of course you’re not,” Francine said, patting her hand with a snicker.
“Bitch.”
“Skank.”
“Love you, Francine.”
“Love you too, Naomi.”
“Can I love you both?” asked Alejandro, only to choke as Ethan came up behind him and grabbed him in a headlock.
Javier moved around the chair to sit on the armrest, draping his arm over the back of his mate’s shoulders. “Are you sure I can’t kill him and turn him into a rug for the nursery?”
“No, you may not. Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of hardwood floors? And don’t forget, I speak from experience. Besides, I need him to drive Francine home.”
Automatically, her mouth opened to protest. “Oh no, I couldn’t. I’ll just take a cab, if you loan me a few dollars.”
“Nonsense, my brother will take you. And he will behave,” Javier added with a glare in Alejandro’s direction.
“But-”
“No buts. He doesn’t mind, do you, little brother?”
Released by Ethan, Alejandro grinned as he rubbed his neck. “My pleasure.” He winked and Javier groaned, but Francine’s reaction followed the pattern it had all day. She warmed and blushed. She, who could fake a screaming orgasm in public, who could skinny dip naked in the daytime, who could walk up to a good-looking guy in a bar and say, ‘Wanna fuck?’ But apparently, when the good-looking Alejandro opened his mouth or touched her, she turned into some freakn’ virgin. Worse, she couldn’t stop her bitch from yipping in excitement every time he got near. Weird, because her inner wolf did the same thing around Mitchell. What could it mean? Sure, her BFF had two mates, but given her temper, she needed them. Francine on the other hand, tended toward an even humor, and while frisky in the bedroom, just needed one man, AKA Mitchell, to keep her happy. But someone needed to explain that to her wolf, apparently.
“Earth to Francine, are you coming or what?”
She wished. Again, that blush rode her cheeks as she stood and they all trooped out front so she could leave with Alejandro.
Naomi hugged her tight. “Sorry about what happened with Mitchell.”
“Not your fault your brother acted like a douche bag. Go and put your feet up. Don’t want those babies popping out too early.”
After squeezing hugs by Naomi’s mates, she turned and walked down the driveway to where Alejandro waited, looking entirely too gorgeous. She’d no sooner reached him than a familiar form got out of a parked car and stalked toward them.
Surprise made her jaw drop. “Mitchell? What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to give you a ride home.”
“She’s already got one,” Alejandro said, handing her his helmet.
The man she’d loved forever turned to snarl at Alejandro. “She’s not riding with you, cat.”
“She doesn’t belong to you, so what makes you think it’s your decision?”
“Because I said so.”
Oh, seriously, Mitchell hadn’t just said that. Francine didn’t say anything yet, letting her annoyance grow as she crossed her arms and watched them argue over her. Irritating as she found it, she couldn’t deny it was also kind of hot.
Alejandro snorted. “Aren’t you just the little dictator? Tell you what, why don’t we let the lady decide?”
Two pairs of eyes veered to look at her, and Francine had an irrational urge to stomp her foot. How often did she get two men fighting over her? And why did one of them have to be Mitchell, who acted like an ass earlier? Going with him meant rewarding him for bad behavior, and yet refusing meant missing a chance for him to realize that she’d grown up. What to do?
Taking a deep breath, she said. “Thanks, Mitchell, but I wouldn’t want to put you out. Besides, Alejandro needs a place to stay for the night and I’ve offered him my couch.”
Okay, so she fibbed a little. She waited to see if Alejandro would call her on it, but other than a slight widening of his eyes, he covered for her. “Yes, thankfully, Francine has agreed to save me from hearing the raucous noise of my brother making love to his mate.”
“No.” Mitchell said only the one word. Nothing more, but he did cross his arms.
The situation got more and more interesting because now Francine couldn’t deny he sounded like a jealous boyfriend. Or an overprotective brother. For the sake of her vanity, she’d pretend it was the former. “I’m sorry, but that’s not your decision to make,” she replied haughtily. “See you around.”
She waved at him before shoving the helmet onto her head. The scent of man, musky and enticing, surrounded her, and she couldn’t help the tingle that went through her. To hide it, she stepped around Mitchell and clambered onto the back of the bike. She wrapped her arms around the already seated Alejandro, and pretended to not notice Mitchell’s glower.
“Hold on tight, baby.” With a rumble of power that vibrated between her legs, they took off. She couldn’t deny the rush of excitement as Alejandro drove, her occasional prompting guiding them to her townhouse. Parking in her driveway, she pulled the helmet off with a laugh and a shake of her head that send her curls bouncing.
“That was fun!”
“More fun than making Mitchell crazed with jealousy?” he asked with a smirk.
“Ha. I wish. I’m sure he’s already convinced himself he was doing it to protect my honor. Jerk.” She dug her keys out of her pocket and led him to her front door. Unlocking it, she swung it open, hyper aware that Alejandro stood behind her. A part of her wondered if inviting him over was still such a good idea, especially given how her whole body-and wolf-reacted around him.
“Well, I guess I’ll be on my way now.”
Francine, half in the door, turned to give him a puzzled look. “Why? You and I both know that you won’t sleep a wink if Naomi goes at it with your brother and Ethan. Trust me, been there, done that, and it is beyond loud. And paying for a hotel is dumb when I’ve got a perfectly good couch.” She owned an even more comfortable bed. Bad, bad girl.
Uncertainty crossed his face. “I probably shouldn’t. Javier will kill me if he thinks I’ve dared touch his mate’s best friend.”
“Were you planning to?” she asked saucily, feeling more in control now that he seemed unsure.
“I shouldn’t, but you are quite the tempting dish.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” she laughed. “Just not in my pants.” Because despite his allure, and he owned plenty, she strived to make Mitchell jealous, not drive a wedge between them, not when he’d finally taken note of her. “Now get your ass inside, and let’s have a beer to celebrate.”
He followed her inside asking, “Celebrate what?”
“The fact that there was only one fist fight at the party and it was outside. That’s got to be a record for Naomi’s family.”
Javier snorted as he followed her to the kitchen and parked himself on a stool. “If you think her family is bad, then you should meet mine. Although, usually, it’s not so much the family fighting as it is angry fathers and scorned lovers. We tend to leave a trail of broken hearts.”
“Gee, a great line like that and yet you still manage to get laid.”
He grinned at her. “It’s my great big…” He paused and winked. “Smile.”