Liam lost his teasing grin.“From what I’ve heard, it’s different for every couple.For some, the knowledge is intuitive, while for others, one party experiences the pull stronger than the other.There is no rhyme or reason behind nature.”
“That’s baffling,” Suzie said, sighing loudly.If Edwina were here, she’d discuss this with her, but Liam and Scott were the last ones standing.“I like Niall, not because he’s wealthy and a successful businessman.I can talk with him about dozens of topics and not get bored.”
“What about the sex?”Scott asked.
“I’m not talking about that with—okay.Fine.The sex was fantastic, but the next day, he accused me of working with his brothers and giving away sensitive business information.And before you ask, I didn’t do that.His product is amazing, and I’d never sneak info to his competitors.Never.Niall has worked hard to gain his success.”Aware she was prattling, she stopped to glower at her grinning male friends.“Laugh it up, boys.Do you want to come to dinner or not?”
“Yes,” Scott said.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Liam agreed.
“We wouldn’t ignore a dinner summons,” Scott said, and her eyes narrowed when his lips quivered.
“We want to check out this mate of yours,” Liam said.“And report back to Saber and London.”
Her squinty-eyed glare did little to curb Liam’s humor at her expense.“Please don’t humiliate me,” she said.
“We won’t,” Scott said earnestly, but she didn’t believe him.If she stood in his shoes, she’d be teasing him or Liam full-out.
She harrumphed, but they were making a point of not returning her gaze.“If either of you embarrass me, remember payback is a bitch.I’ll meet you at the entrance.”
“The lobby with the cool swords and shields on the walls?”Liam asked.
Suzie nodded.“Yes.Ten to seven, okay?I’m going to have a drink and see what’s happening in the great hall.Coming?”
Scott shuddered.“Liam and I are walking to the village for some time out.I’ve had two propositions today and one marriage proposal.”
Suzie blinked and glanced at Liam to see if Scott was dramatizing events.
Liam scowled, his green eyes flashing a hint of anger.“Suzie, he’s not kidding.Two male shifters hit on me at breakfast.I had a female lion grab and kiss me while her friends took photographic proof, and two shifters from our corridor broke into our room.I didn’t hear them, which was weird, but one climbed into bed with me before I was properly awake.It is a jungle out there.You’ll see.”
“You’re exaggerating,” Suzie scoffed, but neither male cracked a grin.
“See you later,” Scott said with a wave.
Suzie gazed after the two men and shook her head.“No, it can’t be that bad.They’re pulling my leg.”
Curses!
It was worse, and the way the shifters sniffed at her left her edgy and full of anxiety.And that was in the five minutes she spent in line to grab a cup of tea.
“Back up,” she snapped to the couple behind her.They had fair hair and similar features, marking them as siblings.“I’m not interested.”
When a wolf shifter prowled along the line, pausing at several women, Suzie decided she didn’t want tea that badly.She’d settle for a bottle of water.Suzie stomped past the wolf shifter and ignored his rumbly voice as he tried to flirt with her.
“Come back, baby.I can light your fire,” he said.
Gah!No wonder he was single and desperate.If she’d still had Edwina as her wingman, she might’ve stopped to give him a few pointers.But she wasn’t feeling that magnanimous today.She had enough problems of her own.
Suzie grabbed a beverage from the ice bucket on the bar and headed outside to the garden.It wasn’t as pretty as the private gardens on Niall’s side of the castle, but it was relatively peaceful.The MC had organized a scavenger hunt, and Suzie found a quiet bench, content to listen to the competitors’ merriment and frustration.
Her thoughts slipped to Niall, and she wondered if they had a future or if his distrust would drive them apart.He’d already been on edge because of his honey and the break-in at his facility.Suzie understood why he’d jumped to the conclusions he had, but his distrust had hurt.She’d given him her virginity, and she’d thought he’d understood this meant she was all in with him.
She’d never betray him.No, she was Team Niall.At least he’d seen his brother kiss her and witnessed her reaction.His older brothers were creepy.
A rustle in the bushes to her right made her start, and she cursed herself for letting her guard down.Any shifter sneaking up and thinking to score with her could think again.She wasn’t interested.
Rustling came from the nearby bushes, and she realized the group had moved to another area of the castle grounds.Gradually, she relaxed because she couldn’t scent anything in the wind.The birds had ceased their twittering momentarily, but everything reverted to normal.Reassured, Suzie went back to thinking about Niall.
