Luna Junction 2 Forbidden Mate (W) by Sage Domini Read Free Book Online

eyes on the polished
table, not wanting anyone to see the hot tears which
threatened.
    Tatum spoke with sudden brightness.
“Well, I say the boys do the dishes. Sound good, ladies? Hop to it,
men. And be careful with my glasses. They are real imitation
crystal from Target.”
    Claire reached over and touched my arm,
whispering. “You can use the bathroom to freshen up,
Acie.”
    I was happy to retreat for a few
moments to collect myself. I smoothed my hair in the mirror,
wishing I hadn’t left my handbag which contained my makeup out in
the truck. My weary face could use a coat of help.
    I emerged to the sound of distant
kitchen clamor. Tatum was supervising the movement of her dishes
and barking orders. Claire nudged me toward the front living room
where she settled into a plush chair with the baby.
    “ She’s beautiful,” I
commented as I perched on the edge of a sofa.
    “ Thank you.”
    “ Thank you, Claire. For
what you said in there.”
    She sighed. “It’s a long and
complicated history with the hunters. Our fates are perpetually
intertwined. But we know you, Acie. As for Luna Junction, well, we
all remember Anna Landon’s death.”
    I frowned, remembering Max had also
mentioned the death of Cade’s first wife. Faintly I recalled that
she had died in the woods. Some sort of accident. It had always
been too painful a topic to broach with the Landon boys. “What
happened to her?”
    Claire lowered her voice. “Rogue
hunter. He wasn’t on Council orders but things were bad for a
while. Your dad supposedly took care of that son of a bitch.” She
smiled faintly. “Our fathers had been friends, as much as they
could be given the circumstances. Did you know that?”
    Tom Casteel had been different from the
brooding figures which usually frequented our small house. I
remember his visits as pleasant occasions spent chatting amiably
with Max across a pot of coffee. He always greeted me in a friendly
way when I traipsed through his house behind his youngest son. I
had already gathered Michael was a very different sort of
sheriff.
    Claire and I both jumped at the sound
of the crash. I heard Tatum cursing and the twins laughing. Claire
rolled her eyes and before I could object, she handed me the
squirming baby. “Can you hold her for a few minutes?” She galloped
out of the room without awaiting my answer. Peyton offered me a
toothless grin and drooled on my arm. I didn’t know anything about
babies.
    I settled her into my lap more securely
as she grabbed a handful of my hair. “Well kid, let’s try not to
get into any trouble.”
    Again, my body knew he was there before
my eyes saw him. I looked up warily as Gideon entered the room, his
hands raised as if he were surrendering. He sat carefully on the
chair Claire had vacated and eyed me with caution.
    “ What do you want?” I
demanded.
    He cleared his throat, considering, as
he stared at the floor. “I’m sorry about your face. I was too rough
yesterday, out of line.”
    I was confused. “My face?” I touched my
jaw. “Oh, that. You can relax. That wasn’t you. That was some other
asshole.”
    Gideon looked at me closely. He hadn’t
bothered to find another shirt to replace the torn one which
scarcely covered him. I met his stare and tried not to allow my
gaze to shift to the tanned muscles which showed through the gaps.
Despite everything I knew about Gideon Casteel I still felt the
dizzying pulse of physical attraction in his presence. But I’d be
damned if I let on. He began to speak, then changed his mind,
closing his eyes for a moment.
    “ Is there anything else?” I
asked.
    His clear green eyes were fierce. “I’m
not a monster, Acie.”
    “ No,” I shot back. “You
just behave like one.”
    We glared at one another for a long
silent moment before Tatum waddled in with Cade’s arm around her
shoulders.
    “ I’ll get you a new set of
imitation crystal glasses,” he promised her as she
pouted.
    I was almost sorry to give Peyton back
to