Blake, Abby - Keen Inclination [A Bride for Eight Brothers 4] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) by Abby Blake Read Free Book Online Page A

were dealing with, so his mom should know exactly why he seemed tired.
    “What’s up, Mom?” he asked, trying not to sound exasperated. If she’d just get to the point, he’d be able to deal with whatever disaster she wanted him to handle and then he could go back to bed.
    “I met a lovely young lady today,” she said casually. She’d started many a conversation with the exact same opening line when she’d been trying to set him up on a date. Had she forgotten he was married now? He raised an eyebrow, letting his irritation leak into his body language. She noticed.
    “Well anyway, she said she was Peter’s fiancée and—”
    Lachlan cut off her words. “Is she still there?”
    His mother looked a little alarmed at his vehemence but shook her head. “We just wondered what was going on. Your fathers reckon Peter would never marry anyone besides Mikayla, but Sandra and I were wondering if maybe you’d finally reconsidered. I mean, with Mikayla’s miscarriage, it makes sense that you would take on a few extra wives to complete your family.”
    She took a deep breath but started talking again before Lachlan could get his temper under control enough to set his mother straight. “You know, none of you are getting any younger, and Sandra and I didn’t birth eight sons between us just to end up with no grandchildren.” She folded her arms, and he sensed her deliberate attempt to intimidate him into silence. It may have worked when he was seven, but she seemed to have forgotten he was a grown man.
    “First of all,” he said, but she went to cut him off. He widened his stance, crossed his arms, and lowered his voice. He loved the woman dearly, but she sure could push his buttons. “First of all,” he repeated, “Jessie Evans is dangerous. She is not engaged to Peter, and the last time Peter saw her was in court as she tried to sue us for everything we’ve got.” His mother opened her mouth, but he spoke over her before she could get the first word out. “Secondly, you are very lucky that Mikayla didn’t overhear that rant. If I ever hear you talk so callously about her miscarriage again, I will refuse to take your calls. Are we clear?”
    His mother nodded but looked really shocked at his harsh words. A moment later her expression turned to one of remorse as if she’d just realized what she’d said. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it the way it came out. You know we love Mikayla. It’s just that we’d love grandchildren too, and with all eight of you married to the same woman…” Her words trailed off as she realized she was digging herself back into the same hole.
    “Mom,” Lachlan said, trying to see the argument from all angles, “we will have children. If Mikayla can’t carry them herself, we’ll work something out. Please just let it go for now.”
    “O…okay,” she said, seeming uncharacteristically unsure of herself. “But what should we do if Jessie turns up again?”
    “Call the police and have her arrested. I’m going to contact our lawyer and get a restraining order in place. Jessie Evans has gone far enough.”
    His mother nodded, but she still seemed hesitant.
    “I’ll let you know if she comes back.”
    Lachlan nodded, said his goodbyes, and then leaned his elbows on the desk. He scrubbed a hand over his face and tried not to think about how devastated Mikayla would’ve been if she’d overheard that conversation. For the first time since she’d left with Brock and John, Lachlan was very glad she wasn’t close by.
    He had no idea how long he sat there contemplating the situation, but he nearly jumped a foot in the air when he heard his brothers’ laughter as they came in through the security door at the front of the building. Shaken by his own uncharacteristic behavior, he went to meet them and get a run-down on what had happened with this group of raiders.

    * * * *

    She’d very literally been naked for three days straight, and she was beginning to think the