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Okay, that wasn’t entirely true. Alex appeared to be paying him no intention. But Bree knew the guy was fully aware of every move Calvin made and every word he spoke.
Calvin turned back to her, his brow creased in concern. “I heard what happened with Moira. I’m sorry, Bree. She just—”
“You don’t have to apologize for her.”
“Yes, I do.”
“It’s not like I’m not used to her making a scene.”
“You shouldn’t have to be used to it,” Alex rumbled, his eyes still on the screen of his cell. “She should just leave you to live your life.”
Calvin cleared his throat. “Yes. Well. The news that you’ve forsaken Paxton … it hit her hard, Bree. And then Mom got her all riled up.” He sighed. “She’s worried about you after what happened last night. Bernadette, I mean.”
Not worried enough to shove aside her anger to so much as send Bree a text message, but whatever. “You can assure her that I’m fine.”
An uncomfortable silence fell because, really, what else was there to say? Well, she could ask him about the necklace—a necklace she’d tossed into the decorative wishing well in her backyard—but she’d rather not ask him in front of Alex.
“Well, I’ll leave you to relax,” said Calvin. His smile shrunk as his gaze once more landed on his cousin. “Alex.”
Not even bothering to look up from his phone, the wolverine only grunted. Again.
Once Calvin was gone, Bree returned to the kitchen. “You were rude.”
“I know.”
“It’s not nice to be rude.”
“I don’t care.”
“Yeah, I got that. Why is there so much tension between you two?”
Feeling his metaphorical hackles lower now that Calvin had gone, Alex pocketed his phone to give her his full attention. He shrugged. “Some people just don’t see eye to eye.” The truth? Each male recognized that the other wanted Bree, and so neither had any time for the other. Alex’s beast loathed the shithead on principle. “What are you going to do?”
“About what?”
“Calvin. He wants you. Now that you’ve made it clear you’re not waiting for Paxton to come for you, he’ll soon make a play.”
She blinked. “You’re serious?”
“I’m deadly serious.” Alex was surprised she hadn’t sensed that for herself.
“But … I’m the predestined mate of the guy’s twin. Shouldn’t he find that, I don’t know, weird?”
“Probably.” Just as Alex should find it weird that he wanted the mate of his cousin, but it would never be enough to keep Alex away from her.
The person who’s not ready is you.
Fuck, she’d been bang-on with that. He just hadn’t wanted to face it.
“Bernadette would kill him if he made a move on me,” she said.
Alex nodded and drained the last of the juice from the carton. “She would see it as him trespassing on his brother’s territory. I doubt Ruben would like it much either. But I’m not sure if their disapproval will hold Calvin back.” He binned the carton. “Will you give him a shot?” Even Alex heard the note of barely contained menace in his voice, so it didn’t surprise him that she tensed.
“He’s Paxton’s brother.”
“That’s not an answer.” Alex prowled toward her, liking the sound of her pulse spiking. “Will you give him a shot, Bree?” he pressed.
She lifted her chin. “Do I need to remind you that that’s none of your business?”
A growl rattled his chest. He’d figured she’d say something like that. Alex cupped her jaw and put his face close to hers. “You’re very much my business, baby girl,” he whispered, his eyes following the path of his thumb as he brushed it over her soft, plump lower lip.
His gaze snapped back to hers just in time to watch her pupils dilate. And then the scent of her need rose up between them and perfumed the air.
That scent threw him back to another time, another place. He remembered the feel of her tongue sliding against his, her teeth grazing his lip, her nails pricking his shoulders, the heat of her pussy pressed against his thigh, and that little sound she made just before she came. Fuck.
She swallowed and stepped back, making his hand slip away from her jaw. “We’ll just have to agree to disagree on that.”
His beast rumbled a growl, annoyed that she’d put space between them. He urged Alex to lunge. Subdue. Dominate. To take what he wanted. And shit if Alex didn’t long to do exactly that.
He clenched his fists, fiercely conscious of how close she stood, of how easy it would be to reach out and take what he’d craved for so goddamn long. It was excruciatingly hard to hold back when a primitive, greedy hunger beat at his skin and battered at his control. That hunger taunted him. Teased him. Tempted him to act.
“Anyway, thank you for personally delivering the news of what happened at the agency. It was very much appreciated.” She gestured at the door.
