Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

“Is she doing okay? How’s it going with your wild pack of brothers?”

“Why are you asking me?”

There was a moment of silence. “Because I left her with you. You’re supposed to be taking care of her.”

“No. The deal was I would keep her alive. She’s alive.”

Truth was, Alec was avoiding having anything to do with Mia directly. He kept tabs on her, of course. He couldn’t have her wandering off the ranch and getting herself killed. It would make his life easier, sure, but they owed her cousin a favor. And that was the only reason he cared about her. How the fuck was he supposed to know how she was doing?

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say about her?”

“You want to know more, then why don’t you come here and see for yourself?”

Jardin sighed. “I can’t. Stuck in the middle of something. Mike’s been calling me for updates about her. He wants to make sure she’s doing okay.”

“Well, why don’t you talk to her yourself?”

“Because I thought I’d call you and ask. I thought you were keeping an eye on her.”

“Not her babysitter. Talk to her yourself or come here.” Alec hung up. But there was a little kernel of guilt that had started to grow.

Fuck.

Mia sat down at the dining table again to eat. Alone.

Three nights of this and no change. She sighed. But after a moment of staring at a plate of pot roast she had no interest in eating, she suddenly became aware of the silence. She glanced up to find them all standing there staring at her.

She glanced up. “Yes?”

“You planning on eating in here alone again, darlin’?” Tanner asked.

“Yes. And don’t even think about trying to move me anywhere, Tanner Malone, I am not in the mood.”

“Learned that after the other night when you smacked me around with your fork.”

“I did not smack you around.” She blushed; a bit ashamed of her behavior. They were turning her into a crazy person.

“Wasn’t anything you didn’t deserve,” Raid muttered around a mouthful of food.

“Why you want to eat in here so much?” Maddox asked.

“Because it’s civilized and normal. It’s what a family should do. And I’m tired of watching you make a mess in the living room while you fight over food and insult each other at the top of your lungs.”

“Well, sorry we offend you,” West said, surprising her. What was he even doing here? Mostly, he ate with Alec in his office. “Didn’t realize you were the manners police.”

“I’m not. It’s just . . . ” Okay, she’d started this, time to finish it.

“Manners?” Tanner looked around at all his brothers “We have manners. Don’t we always say thank you for cooking?”

“Never. You’ve never once said thank you. You traipse through the house with your dirty boots on, you don’t take your hats off, and you make a pigsty of the living room every night when you eat.”

All right. She hadn’t meant to say that.

“You’re exaggerating,” Maddox told her. “We’re not that bad.”

She pointed a finger at him. “You bit Beau’s hand this morning when he tried to reach for the last biscuit.”

“Yeah, and I think it’s infected. Where the hell has your mouth been?” Beau turned to him.