“It’s us.”
She frowned. There was only one “us” in her life and they didn’t sound anything like that.
“Fuck off until seven.”
With no locks on the doors—damn shapeshifters—nothing stopped the two women from rushing into her room.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think I said come in.”
The smaller one stopped and stared down at Angie’s feet. “Oh, Lord, she’s even got cute shoes. We don’t have cute shoes.”
Turning to face them. “Who are you?”
“Don’t you remember us? You met us yesterday before you left with Nik.”
Angie shrugged. Very few people held her interest, especially from one day to the next.
The bigger one spoke. “I’m Nik’s cousin Reena. This is his sister Kisa.”
“Great. Now I’ve got the whole rootin’, tootin’ clan in here.”
“You gotta help us,” the smaller one begged.
“Help you? How?”
They dumped the clothes they had in their hands on the floor. Angie grabbed the first thing she saw and held it up.
“Going as a nun, are we?”
Reena nodded. “Exactly.”
“Ya see?” Kisa insisted. “Ya gotta help us.”
“Why me?”
“We saw those Pride whores today,” the taller one said. “They looked amazing.”
“It’s all over town you helped ’em.”
“That’s all over town?” Angie snorted. “Not a lot goes on around here in Shifterville, does it?”
“Look, you reek of style,” the smaller one offered. “We, however, don’t.”
Angie looked at the two women. The problem wasn’t their looks. They were gorgeous shapeshifters and you could barely make out those scars on their necks. But the little one could barely look her in the eye. Shy. The other one clearly a hard ass. Probably the one saddled with the constant responsibility of keeping the youngest boys in line. That task always seemed to fall to the oldest females.
Hell, who could it hurt? And, to be honest, she kind of enjoyed helping the fashion helpless.
“All right. Why not?” The two women smiled in relief and she gave a big grin. “But we need champagne to do this.”
His brothers walked into his office.
“What’s that look on your face?” Ban threw himself into one of the wingback chairs. “And what the hell are you listening to?”
“Lords of Acid.”
“Devil music, O-E-G would say.”
“What’s wrong?” Aleksei sat on the edge of Nik’s desk. “And stop calling our grandmother that, Ban.”
“There’s over twenty thousand dollars in my account.”
“That’s all you have left in the world?” Alek demanded.
“Bro, why didn’t you tell us? We can lend you some money.”
“You idiots, I don’t have twenty thousand left…there’s suddenly more than twenty thousand extra there.” He checked a few more things, then leaned back in his chair. “She paid me back.”
Kisa rushed in. “Champagne?”
“Wine cellar.”
“Chilled?”
“Fridge in the basement.”
“Thanks.” She tore out of the room.
Ban shrugged and turned back to Nik. “Who paid you back?”
“Who do you think? And did you get your damn dog out of my backyard?” Ban was the only tiger he knew who insisted on picking up strays, even dogs. Not for a “munchie” either as their mother called it. But for pets. The local rescues loved Ban because he gave them money, helped during fund raisers, and came over to pet the cats and walk the dogs. His brother was so weird.
“Yes. He’s back at my house. And do you mean the delectable Ms. Santiago paid you back? By the way, she can handle my puppy anytime.”
“Angelina Santiago,” Alek sighed. “That name rolls right off the tongue, don’t it bro?”
“I’m sure lots of things roll off the tongue when it comes to her.”
“Sewing kit?”
The brothers looked up to see Reena in the doorway.
“Aunt Abby’s room, I think.”
“Thanks.” She disappeared.
With a shake of his head, Nik turned and stared at his siblings. “Let’s get this straight, shall we gentlemen. You stay away from her. She’s my guest. I promised those dogs I’d take care of her. So you two idiots back off.”
Aleksei winked at Ban. “I thought you didn’t want her.”
Ban grinned back, and Nik felt his hackles rise in anger. “Which means, big brother, she’s fair game.”
Kisa rushed past the room, heading back where she came from. “I took cheese and crackers too!” Then she charged up the stairs.
Nik didn’t know what the hell the women were up to, and he didn’t want to know. Instead he focused on his brothers. “She is not fair game.”
“Oh, come on, Nik. Ya can’t keep ’em all.”
“I don’t keep ’em all. And I’m not keeping this one.”
His face perfectly innocent, Ban asked, “So we can get her when you’re done?”
He knew his brothers would never go after his leftovers, but still…even the thought of it made Nik want to rip the hides from their backs. They knew it, too. They knew they were getting to him. That they were making him dangerously angry. And they were enjoying every minute of it.
Chapter Seven
Nik took the snifter of brandy Ban handed him and crashed down on his couch. Ban joined him and Alek, and the three men dropped their big feet on Nik’s fifteen thousand dollar coffee table. Cut from a solid piece of wood, Nik bought it because he liked it. Yet he always knew that any furniture he brought into his home had to be sturdy enough to withstand the abuse of his entire family. Like most cats, they enjoyed being comfortable.
Alek glanced at his watch. “It’s seven-o-five. Where are they?”
“What is your thing with time?”
“I don’t like to be late, is all.”
Ban glanced at Nik. “Kind of uptight, ain’t he?”
“Shut up, Ban.”
Nik shook his head as he sipped his brandy. He hadn’t seen her all day. She’d been holed up in her room with his sisters for hours and, to his growing horror, he realized he’d begun to miss her. But that was her fault. Sitting out by his pool, wearing those damn shorts, and looking like she truly belonged in his home—more than any woman had a right. Without meaning to, he swallowed his brandy with one gulp.
Physical. There was nothing more to this than physical. Angie Santiago was one hot piece of ass and all he wanted was to find out if her legs would look any better resting on his shoulders.
The study door opened and Reena swept in. She twirled once in the extremely tiny mini-dress she wore, then looked at her cousins. “Well?”
“Dang, girl,” Ban offered. “You clean up nice.”
“What does that mean?”
Nik punched his brother in the head. “He means you look nice.”
“Well say that, then. Can’t believe no woman’s killed you yet.” She glanced back at the partially opened door. “Kisa’s coming. Now say somethin’ nice,” she whispered fiercely.
Reena stepped back from the door as Kisa stepped in. He’d never seen his sister so elegant before in a full-length gown that swept the floor as she moved. “Aw, darlin’,” Nik said with utter pride. “Look at you.”
“Do I look okay?” Kisa unnecessarily smoothed the dress down in front. “I feel kinda silly.”
Nik stood up. “You look amazin’. Both of you do.”
The two women smiled in delight and the five of them stared at each other. For the first time in a long time, they weren’t yelling, mocking, or fighting each other. Just a nice, quiet, adult moment between relaxed shapeshifters.
“Well,” Angie strutted into the room, “let’s go people. It’s time to get this party started.”