Between the Bear's Sheets (Wylde Brothers 2)

She parked the car off to the side and made her way into the house. The foyer was an impressive combination of crystal, marble, and dark oak. The staff Mina’s family always seemed to have on hand bustled around, but it was the raised voice of

Luke that had everything else drifting away. Following the noise to a small study at the end of a long hallway, she found her brother in a very heated discussion with Mina.

Talia didn’t want to intrude on their private conversation, but when she went to turn and leave, she heard Luke comment on how untrustworthy Mina was.

Everything inside Talia stopped. Had Mina finally dug her own hole? Would it be Mina who ultimately ruined her own relationship with Luke?

“I think you’re blowing this way out of proportion, Luke.”

Talia’s interest was piqued, and she moved closer so she could see through the slightly open door. Mina sat on one of the leather chaises and appraised her nails. Unconcerned attitude wafted from her, and Talia gritted her teeth, because she could feel Luke’s hurt and anger.

“Blowing this out of proportion? Are you serious right now?” Luke paced the length of the room and came to a stop in front of her. It was clear his anger was clouding his other senses, because he didn’t even realize Talia stood right on the other side of the door. “I have to hear from your gossiping friends that you were with another man only months ago?”

Talia felt her eyes widen at the admission.

“Luke, honey, that was two years ago. We had just started seeing each other, and it was far from serious.” Mina glanced up at Luke and gave him a sugary smile. “You know I love only you. The past should be just that, the past, honey.”

Luke opened his mouth, most likely to let his anger spew forth in the form of words, but her brother didn’t say anything and instead ran a hand over his mouth.

“How am I to know you didn’t do the same at some point in our relationship?” Mina asked.

“Are you fucking serious right now?”

“Luke, watch your mouth in my parents’ home.” Mina stood and smoothed her hands down her too tight skirt. For someone who had supposedly come from such class, she looked pretty trashy at the moment. “Listen, the wedding is tomorrow, and you are acting like a lunatic. I don’t doubt the whole house can hear you right now.”

Talia could feel her brother’s ire growing by the second and moved away from the door. Was there any need to even tell him about Ford? Before she could answer her own inner questions, Luke started talking again.

“You say you love me, yet I can smell your desire for another man coming off you like cheap fucking perfume.” Silence followed, and Talia knew this was not a time for her to speak with her brother.

She headed out the same way she came in, and just as she slipped back into her car, she saw her brother storming out the front doors. He stopped on the top step and shoved his hands in his front pockets.

With his head downcast, he looked like a broken male. Before she could get out of her car to go to comfort him, Luke glanced up at her. He made his way toward her in long strides, got into the passenger seat, and stared out the front windshield.

Talia didn’t know what to say, so she just kept her mouth shut and waited for him to say something.

“I know you were right outside the door and heard everything.”

Talia kept her eyes trained ahead and watched as men and women in black-and-white attire moved back and forth in preparation. There was no accusation in Luke’s words. She shouldn’t have thought Luke was too upset to realize she was there. Nothing got by him.

“I didn’t mean to spy or anything. I just came over to talk to you, and I should have left when I first realized you were in an argument with Mina.” He didn’t respond, and when she looked at him, she could see the muscle under his jaw ticking. “I’m sorry.” Talia didn’t know what else to say.

“I’m not mad at you, Talia.” He looked over at her and smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Want to hang out with your older brother today?”

Without responding, she nodded and started the car. She had plans to meet Ford later on tonight, so she headed over to the bar. It didn’t matter if she spent all day there with Luke. It was clear he needed to get away, and she was going to be the person to help him ease some of his pain.

After they were at the bar and seated, they spent the next several hours drinking beer and talking about everything that didn’t have to do with Mina.