“I think I will punch you.”
“Bring it, babe.”
“Let’s save that shit for the honeymoon,” said Jack. Ice clinked into an old-fashioned glass and he poured three fingers of single-malt Scotch. “She’s in trouble.”
Grant winked at her, his fiery-hearted bride, and joined his best friend for some booze. He was more a beer guy, so he rounded the bar and pulled open the mini-fridge. He grabbed a bottle of black lager. “You want something, sweetheart?”
“My name is Roxie. Bourbon. Straight-up.”
Grant chuckled. “Bourbon for the lady.” He made her drink, leaving out the bottle. He had a feeling she’d want more than one. He opened his beer and leaned back, sipping on it while Jack filled him in on Miss Trouble. When he was done, Grant shook his head.
“Damn. I know Karen has a rep for being a bi—er, bad ass,” said Grant. “But would she really throw you to the wolves, Roxie?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s what her dad did when he was alpha. My father won her in the Suitor’s Brawl and nine months later, I arrived.”
“He died right after Roxie was born. He crashed his motorcycle into a canyon wall,” inserted Jack.
Grant nodded. No daddy. No-good mom. Roxie had it tough, so she became tough.
“A couple months later, my grandfather’s fourth mate killed him—and my Mom killed her. She became alpha and mated with Cody, who is the biggest asshat of the Blood Pack.”
“You’re the only child?”
“The only daughter. I have a couple of half-brothers. Crawl is a fucking idiot. Yes, his name is Crawl,” she said, answering Grant’s question before it could leave his lips. “Cody named him. I was a little over a year old when Crawl was born. A year after that, Derek came into the world, and Mom put the kibosh on having more babies. Cody took Crawl under his wing, and ignored me and Derek. Mom didn’t really care if we were around or not. So, me and Derek kinda raised each other.” She paused to finish the bourbon. Grant poured her another, and she nodded her thanks. “Derek was the one who convinced Mom that me going to college was a good idea, and then he joined the Marines. He thought going to war in another country gave him a higher survival rate than living in the Blood Pack.”
“Sounds brutal,” said Grant. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “Thanks, but that’s my past. I’m more worried about my future.”
“Sounds like marrying us is your best way out of the Suitor’s Brawl.” Grant finished his beer and tossed it into the trash can under the counter. “I’m going to take a shower.” He shared a look with Jack. He tried to mentally convey one thought: Convince her, dude.
Grant liked Roxie, and he figured that was enough of a foundation to build the alpha triad for the Earth Pack. Jack was more of a thinker, and that was okay. When his friend took to over-thinking things, which was a lot, Grant could step in and get the ball rolling. And when Grant’s first reaction was to barrel into a situation fists flying, which was also a lot, Jack pulled him back. They made a good team—and Roxie would be part of that.
He’d been ready to take the final step for a while. He had faith in the triad, in the Earth Pack, and even in dead Matilda.
All they had to do now was convince Roxie.
Jack found her, so he got the first move. But when it was Grant’s turn … he grinned. He couldn’t wait to see what he and Miss Trouble would do together.
* * *
“MAYBE YOU JUST need convincing.” The rich timbre of Jack’s voice had a sensual quality that made Roxie’s nerves prickle. They both leaned against the wet bar, sipping on their drinks. He put down his glass and plucked hers out of her hand.
The lazy intent glittering in his hazel eyes warned her, but before she could protest, he lowered his head and pressed warm, soft lips against her mouth.
Shocked into stillness, Roxie didn’t move—not even when Jack pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. He tasted of scotch, which wasn’t bad, and his lips did not demand, but coaxed. Her breasts pressed against the hard planes of his chest and her nipples hardened.
Damn, it had been a long time since she’d been kissed. And she couldn’t remember the experience ever being like this. His tongue flicked the corner of her mouth, and a jolt of electricity zapped the pit of her stomach. With that opening salvo, he invaded, his tongue tangling with hers.
Heat coiled her belly and sparked every nerve ending. Arousal liquefied her body, clouded her mind, and dissolved her doubts.
This was what she’d been looking for. Only she hadn’t known it. She’d never really belonged in the Blood Pack. College had been great, but had only filled part of her restless longing to be part of something that mattered.