“Sure.”
“Why didn’t your mom tell you all the stuff you needed to know?”
Lucas shrugged. He wasn’t even sure if his parents were aware of what he was. Maybe the paranormal gene had skipped a generation. Itwasn’t as if he could call them up and ask them, not without drawing attention to his location. “I guess she had her reasons.”
“You doing anything today?”
“No. Unfortunately.” Lucas pictured himself with a loincloth smacking a fish against a rock. That would be his future in a couple of weeks if he didn’t find a way to make money soon.
Forrest smirked. “Need a job?”
“God, yes. Know anybody who’s hiring?”
“No, but I know someone who needs help. What do you know about boats?”
“I know they're supposed to float on water. I know about car motors, not boats.”
Forrest laughed. “My brother Bennett might bitch at you all day, every day, but he’s a good teacher. We can stop by his house this morning and then I’ll take you to see Mom. Maybe Ramsey too, depending on what Mom says.”
“Thanks, man. I totally owe you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t met Bennett. He can be…surly to say the least. And Ramsey still has to let you stay in his territory.”
Oh God, if that was the case, once these people learned what kind of baggage Lucas came with, they were totally going to kick his ass out of town.
Chapter Seven
Bennett rolled his eyes the second he saw his brother, Forrest, come through the door of his garage. He could tell Forrest wanted something as soon as he walked in. He always got a sheepish grin on his face whenever he was getting ready to talk Bennett into something.
“Whatever it is, the answer is no.” Bennett got back to his job, dismissing Forrest. He was in the zone with the boat motor and didn’t welcome an interruption.
Forest walked closer and leaned against the boat. When he did, Bennett smelled something completely delicious. “You don’t even know what I was…going… Why are you looking at me like that?”
Bennett came closer and sniffed. He jumped down next to Forrest, getting a good whiff of his hair and clothing. “You smell good.” Bennett’s cock got hard and he backed up, away from Forrest. “Why do you smell like that? Who have you been around?”
“New renter is all. It’s why I’m here actually.” His brother bounced around on the balls of his feet.
Bennett frowned and dismissed the wonderful smell. It was easy to do, especially when he moved away. “Whatever it is, I said no.”
“But he needs a job and you need help. It looks like rag city threw up around here.”
The smell drifted to him again, but it didn’t come second hand from Forrest. He turned and saw the most beautiful man standing just inside the door. Bennett’s cock hardened in his coverall and his eyes changed. His dragon was pacing, wanting closer to their mate. Bennett stalked around Forrest, taking in deep breaths as he drew closer.
The cute little witch took a step away from him, and his eyes widened. “Forrest,” the man said his brother’s name in a panic, which pissed Bennett’s dragon off.
Bennett growled out a warning to his brother to stay away from his mate.
“What is he? Oh, God, get him away from me before I freak the fuck out and lose my shit.” He held a hand up. “Seriously, dude. I don’t know what your problem is but I don’t always have control when I’m scared. Kinda like now. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice guy who just so happens to be looking at me like I’m a cheeseburger.”
Forrest took a step closer to Bennett, grabbing his arm. Bennett turned and growled, making Forrest back up a step. Forrest tilted his head to the side, which placated Bennett’s dragon enough to keep him from ripping Forrest’s head off.
He turned back to the guy, instinctively holding out both of his hands. He didn’t even know why he did it. He just knew the man was a witch and would want to read him. All witches did. Reading a person provided comfort to most witches. His mother had said once that knowing who a person was, made her feel safe. Giving himself over to the witch was the equivalence of submitting the way Forresthad done. Something he would never do under normal circumstances. Hell, Bennett hadn’t even let his mom read him since he had been a teenager. He didn’t submit to anyone but his alpha.
Bennett was Ramsey’s beta, so nobody fucked with him. He was also the guy who enforced the clan rules, which meant most of the clan members looked at him with a fearful respect.
Forrest sucked in a breath. “Holy crap. My brother never submits to anyone but Ramsey, Lucas. Take his hand and read him. He’s letting you.”
Bennett turned and scowled at Forrest, not understanding why he felt the need to butt his nose into Bennett’s mating.
