That was a fucking big if.
On his way out, he rummaged in the hall closet until he found his sister’s hat. Aislyn would get a kick out of the hot pink western hat with its black band that she would need to shield her fair face from sunburn. Good to her word, she stood on the porch ready to go by the time he pulled the truck up front. Leaning over, he pushed open the door and held out his hand to help her up.
“You weigh next to nothing,” he grumbled as she landed on the seat with one quick tug. “I don’t like it.” He didn’t know which bothered him more; the fact she’d lost the softness he used to love touching or the reason behind her slimmer figure.
“Not everyone likes plump women,” she returned with a frown.
He wasn’t everyone, but he had lost the right to say his was the only opinion that should matter. “You weren’t plump, just soft. Here.” He settled the hat on her head, this time drawing a smile. “Jan left it behind the last time she visited. It’ll help keep the sun off your face.”
“Jan, your sister?”
“Yes, and the youngest,” he replied, remembering the one time he’d spoken of his siblings. Their previous relationship had still been in its infant stages of getting to know each other when he’d gotten called home. There hadn’t been time to make sure her feelings were deep enough to accept his canine heritage, so he’d relayed very little about his family back then.
“She lives in Meridian with her husband and two point two kids. Number three is due this fall.” He looked away from the cute picture she made in the hat, her eyes scanning his acreage as he drove the half mile to the stables.
“I met your brother, Drake, coming in last night. The family resemblance was unmistakable. He didn’t seem surprised to see me drive up.”
Gavin nodded, expecting her curiosity. “He’s into horses and electronics, in that order. We have a security system, but he likes to monitor the property at night.” Drake still suffered from bouts of PTSD from the two weeks he was a prisoner of the Taliban, but at least his anger issues weren’t as bad as when he had first returned home after leaving the military ten years ago.
“Hold on, I’ll help you down and you can say hello to Cody.” Gavin pulled up at the stables the same time as his brother. Ignoring the indecision on her face, he came around and clasped her waist, torturing himself with the slow slide of her body down his as he lowered her from the high cab of the truck. He could feel her shudder, her nipples puckering under the shirt, and his mouth watered to suckle on her again.
Aislyn cleared her throat and he dropped his hands, stepping away from a temptation he had no right to act on. He turned to Cody, drawing her forward with a hand pressed to her lower back. “Cody, you remember Aislyn Lankford. She’s staying at my place for a few days.” He didn’t bother with further explanation; both his brothers were already aware Aislyn was his mate.
When he had moved back to the ranch, there was no hiding his sour mood from his brothers. Just a year separated him and Cody, and another from Drake. Growing up, they’d had each other’s backs through thick and thin, their close bond extending into adulthood. For two years, they had sympathized with him over the reasons he couldn’t claim her, namely the burden of taking over as Alpha when their father retired. They were well aware they could find themselves in a similar situation at any given time. In fact, after Cody’s abrupt resignation from the county Sheriff’s department in Boise and his permanent return to the ranch last year, Gavin suspected he’d already suffered the same fate, he just hid it better.
“Aislyn, it’s nice to see you again. I’ll have to have you over for dinner while you’re here.”
“Cody’s culinary skills are worth sampling,” Gavin said to Aislyn and then looked at his brother. “Let me know when and we’ll come over.”
“Let’s plan for day after next. That’ll give me time to get the ingredients for something that’ll impress our guest. I hope you enjoy your stay on our ranch, Aislyn.” He shook her hand and then turned to Gavin. “I’m off to help round up a few head that got out a downed fence in the north pasture. Catch you later.”
“Nice seeing you again, too, Cody.” Aislyn nudged the hat back and looked up at Gavin. “I don’t want to keep you from your work.”
“You’re not.” He took her elbow, steering her inside the largest stable and down the wide aisle until they reached the last stall in the back. “We’ve named her Lily,” he said, opening the gate, enjoying watching Aislyn’s face light up seeing the premature little filly curled up on the bed of sweet-smelling hay.
“Oh! She’s beautiful.” She didn’t hesitate entering the stall or approaching the frail-looking filly.
Watching her stroke the tiny foal’s neck, listening to her crooning in a soft voice as she knelt in the straw, heedless of the sight and smell of excrement, stirred Gavin’s emotions into a frenzy of need and want. Before he did
