Ivy watched as Klyde meandered through the trees andapproached her, two mugs in his hands. “Try these.” His jaw was bruised as ifhe’d been in a fight.
“What happened to your face?”
“Disagreement about recipes,” he said easily.
She dutifully took both mugs by the handles. “Um, are youstill mad at me for shooting you in the chest?” It was a fair question, and shewanted an answer before she sipped anything.
The youngest Maxwell brother leaned against a rough woodenpillar, his lips tipping into a grin. “Of course not. If I didn’t get shot by afamily member once in a while, I’d worry I wasn’t needed any longer.”
Yep. The Maxwells were unique.
“Maybe your mate will shoot you, as well,” Ivy suggested.
“She wouldn’t dare, whoever she is,” he said, losing thehumor glimmering in his eyes. “While it’s fine if my sisters shoot me, my matewill behave once I find her. Period.”
Interesting. Now Ivy wanted to shoot him again. She lookeddown at the two steaming mugs. One red, one blue…both heavy and ceramic. “Wantone?”
“No.” Klyde’s black hair was windswept, and his tawny eyessparkling. “I want you to taste both and say which one is better.”
She sighed. While she’d only been on the ranch for a week,she’d already learned that the six brothers were impossibly competitive. Theoldest, Raine, was due home in a day, and she’d heard he was worse than therest, which was impossible as far as she was concerned. “Fine.” She sippeddelicately from the red cup and then gasped, her eyes filling with tears. Fireburned down her throat. “What is that?” She coughed.
“Moonshine,” Nia said, striding out of the woods. She woreblack jeans, a fall-themed green sweater, and a sweet smile. “Klyde and Collincompete every year.”
It tasted more like antifreeze. Ivy sniffed and took a verysmall drink from the blue cup. The liquid burned her tongue until she wasn’tsure it’d ever work again. She cleared her throat. “They’re both terrible.Absolutely horrible.”
Nia laughed. “Klyde? Back to the drawing board.”
Klyde frowned, reclaimed the mugs, and turned toward thetrail between the trees. “Huh. I need more cinnamon.” He strode away, stillmumbling to himself.
Nia shook her head and settled her spectacular brown bootsmore securely on the dying leaves. “Good answer. Also, I heard from Leah. She’smoved on from Tennessee. Wouldn’t tell me where.”
Ivy kept rocking. “I’m not surprised.” Although she wassorry she wouldn’t be able to continue their work.
“Jasper seems to be on a mission.” Nia’s eyes sparkled. “Ithink Leah will be home soon. For now, I thought you and I could continue yourcampaigns from that business you set up. I’d like to keep getting jerks lockedup.”
Ivy perked up. “Me, too.”
“Good.” Nia glanced behind her. “I have a secure computerroom in my basement. Let’s meet there after dinner.”
Athan moved into view from the trail and paused. “Grams?What’s up? I thought you were getting ready for the barbecue.”
Nia patted his arm. “Don’t be late.” She winked at Ivy andthen turned down the trail.
Ivy studied her mate, her entire body short-circuiting.Every time he was near, she felt electrified. Alive and powerful. “Hi.”
He looked her over from head to toe, his glittering bluegaze taking all of her in. “Whatever you and my grams are planning, stop it.”
“Sure,” Ivy said easily. “But we’re not planning anything.”How odd that she’d found not only a kindred spirit but also a friend in hermate’s grandmother. What a wonderful world she’d entered.
“Humph,” he grumbled, the sun glinting off his dark hair andhighlighting the powerful angles in his handsome face.
Her body warmed. “We have a few minutes before the barbecue.”She loved having a family.
“Right. I wanted to warn you.” He straightened, looking evenmore powerful against the wild forest. “Jasper is on a tear to find Leah. He’sgoing to ask you questions, but don’t worry, I’ll be there.”
Amusement tickled through her. “I’m not afraid of yourbrother.”
“Good.” Athan stalked toward her and made quick use of thethree steps to the deck. “You’re not afraid of much.”
