Beloved by Brothers (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 6)

“Oh yeah, you’re a dark beer drinker. I remember.” She smiled. “I just happen to have a six-pack of your favorite.” The truth was, she kept on hand his, Mitchell’s, and Jason’s preferred drinks. Funny, since they hadn’t been to her home since the breakup. Jason’s bottle of Jack was three years old, but whiskey never went bad. Lucas and Mitchell were both beer drinkers. Every six months, she threw out the old six-packs and replaced them with new ones. It might’ve been a waste of money, but it was a practice she couldn’t bring herself to break. Now, Lucas was here.

He smiled. “I remember a lot of things, too, sweetheart. You bring your wine. And of course, beer is always great for me, but we are going to talk. We have the perfect opportunity, and I’m going to take advantage of it. Do you hear me?”

“It’s been over three years, Lucas. Haven’t we said all there is to say?”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Just get the wine, Phoebe.” His cell buzzed, stopping him from saying more. “Hello.”

She headed into the kitchen to get their drinks, hoping to come up with something she could do or say to derail the conversation Lucas wanted to begin. She’d been avoiding the Wolfe brothers since the breakup. It was always hard on her heart whenever she couldn’t. For the past three years, she’d kept them at arm’s length. It was how she’d been able to survive.

She heard Lucas yelling at the person on the other end of the phone.

“Listen to me, motherfucker, you call her again and you’re a dead man.” Lucas’s rage was evident in every syllable. “I will find you. I will kill you.”

Her heart pounded hard in her chest, and she spilled the wine. The stalker? Shaking like a leaf, she left their two glasses and walked back into the living room. Lucas glared at his cell in his hand, staring bullets into its screen. It was clear the call had ended.

Oh no. It couldn’t be…“Lucas? Was that him?”

He turned to her, his face blood red. “Yes.”

“How did he get your number? Why did he call you?”

Lucas walked toward her, taking her hands in his. “I’m not sure how the son of a bitch has my number, but he called me because he knew I came to your house with you. That we were together. I don’t think we need to consider the bastard harmless anymore.”

Am I really in danger? She’d wondered about that possibility for some time, but every time she did she tried hard to think about something else. “Oh my God. I can’t believe this is happening.”

Lucas looked her in the eyes. “Phoebe, like it or not, we will not leave you alone until this bastard is caught.”

“We?” Could he promise that?

“You know. The three of us—me, Mitchell, and Jason.”

She shook her head. “I can’t ask you to do this. Besides, how do you know that your brothers would even agree to such a thing?”

“I know and so do you.” Lucas stepped closer, pulling her to his chest. “We have a huge barricade to knock down, but our feelings for you have never changed. And I don’t believe yours have changed either.” He brought his hands up to her face.

She felt heat well up inside her. God, it has been so long since he’s touched me…since I let him touch me.

“I’m right, aren’t I, baby?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but pressed his lips to hers.

Her whole body responded to his kiss, but she still pushed him away. “I can’t do this, Lucas.”

Since the breakup, no man had kissed her, or anything else for that matter. Though her heart was racing and her skin was tingling, she couldn’t forget the damage of what they’d done.

“It’s okay, baby. Just relax.” He stepped back, removing his hands from her face. She instantly missed his touch. “All I want to do is talk. We need to hash everything out. It’s long overdue.”

He was right, of course, but she wasn’t sure this was the right time. “Why now? Let’s worry about the stalker issue first. Once that’s worked out and the guy is caught, then we can talk as long as you want.”

“Same feisty Phoebe I fell in love with. Baby, we’re not going to put this off one more second.” His commanding tone didn’t leave her any room for argument.

Though he and his brothers knew why she’d ended it, they’d never talked about it. For months, they tried to get her to open up, coming over and calling day after day. She’d refused every attempt. She was afraid she would be unable to resist the sexy Dom trio since she was still in love with them.

“Where’s my drink, baby?”

Crap. The wine. “I had a little accident in the kitchen. Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.” Lucas put his arm around her shoulders. “Let me help you clean up. Besides, you and I both know I’m the better bartender.”

She laughed. “I remember you were heavy handed with the liquor, Mr. Wolfe.”