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Once I've satisfied the furry lassies, I make my way toward the living room and the human lass I want to satisfy in a different way. That's why I've put on my jeans but not a shirt, not yet. I'm also holding a towel in one hand because I didn't finish drying myself off. I want to see that lustful look on Calli's face when she sees me half-dressed and still somewhat wet.
Halfway down the hall, I pause.
Calli is talking to a man I've never seen before. She snags his arm and tries to pull him toward the front door, but he resists, his expression full of granite-hard stubbornness.
"Please," she says, "let's go outside and talk. It's a beautiful day."
His gaze narrows on her. "What don't you want me to see?"
Could this be her brother? The overbearing one? That would explain their behavior toward each other. It reminds me of Lachlan and Rory when one of our sisters does something they disapprove of and refuses to see it their way.
I, of course, never behave like that. A perfect angel, that's me.
The time has come to let Calli and her brother know I'm here. Maybe I could be more subtle about it, but that's not my style. I saunter out of the hallway, holding my towel in one hand.
When Calli sees me, she clamps her lips between her teeth and winces.
Oh aye, the stranger must be her brother.
The man turns around, coming face to face with me, though we stand several arm's lengths apart. His gaze is flinty, and his eyes narrow to slits as he zeroes in on me. If he means to intimidate me, he will fail. If I can withstand Rory's steely glare, I can handle this bloke and whatever expressions he wants to throw at me. His fingers tense and curl toward his palms, just enough to convey his desire to throttle someone. Probably me. Or maybe Calli.
He must know about us.
"Hello," I say, giving the man a friendly, wide smile. I'm not pretending. I do want to be friendly with the brother of the woman I plan to marry.
The man clenches his jaw. His gaze darts from me to Calli.
I lift my towel to scrub my head with it. I swear this is not an act. I honestly am not intimidated by Calli's brother.
The bloke lodges his hands on his hips. "Who the hell are you?"
"Aidan MacTaggart." I move closer to him and hold out a hand. "And you are?"
He glances at my hand, his lip curling a wee bit. "I'm the Marine who's about to kick your ass from here to Mexico."
Calli stomps between the two of us and rounds on her brother. "Stop acting like a caveman. Aidan is not the enemy, and I can take care of myself, thank you very much." She leans toward him and whispers, "Remember who took care of you after Mom and Dad died."
She must've meant for that to be heard only by him, but I heard it too. Since Calli had told me about her brother's breakdown after their parents died, I don't know why she feels the need to whisper about it. Well, I suppose she doesn't want her brother to know I know.
The anger evacuates his body. He pinches his forehead with his thumb and forefinger, sighing as if the weight of the world resides on his shoulders alone.
"Should I leave?" I ask, running a hand through my hair to comb it out. "Seems like the two of you have things to discuss."
"You don't have to leave," Calli says, casting me an over-the-shoulder glance. "This is my brother, Gavin."
I smile again, gazing at Gavin with curiosity. "Your brother? That does explain it."
"Explain what?" Gavin asks.
"Why you're concerned about her welfare. I have three sisters, and I wouldn't like to find a man I'd never met staying in any of their homes. Especially not my younger sister."
Gavin's face goes blank. He doesn't move or speak for a moment. Then one side of his mouth ticks up as he looks at me. "Maybe I should go move in with your little sister."
"You could try," I say, "but Jamie lives with my older brother Rory at the moment. He's not as friendly as I am."
Grasping the back of his neck, Gavin frowns. "I still don't like this, but…Calli's an adult. She can do what she wants."
I gather they had a lengthy conversation about the topic of me before I got out of the shower.
