Chasing Tiger Tail [Tigers of Twisted, Texas 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  Please don’t let her be involved with Purdy.

  “I’m okay. Is my dad in the back?”

  “Yep. I heard him stirring around a while ago.”

  Phil had to make a move. Had to get close to her. Had to touch her. An enormous, overwhelming rush of lust pummeled through him. His body shook with the power. His tiger roared to life, faster, harder than it ever had. Growling, it flexed its claws and scratched to the surface.

  It’s her.

  He had no doubt. What he felt was too strong to be anything other than the connection. He moved toward her and reached out his hand. “Hi. I’m Phil Nordstrom.”

  She blinked, studied his hand as though it was a snake, but didn’t take it. “Danna Harris.”

  “These two helped take care of your dad last night,” offered Purdy.

  “Oh.” Her gaze shifted to Cam as he came up beside Phil. “Thanks.”

  “I’m Cam Nordstrom.”

  Phil risked a glimpse at his brother. Did he feel it, too? Just because they were brothers didn’t mean they’d both have the connection with the same woman. They’d always planned on sharing one woman, of getting a connection with their intended mate, but it wasn’t a guarantee.

  When Cam glanced his way, Phil saw the amber flecks in his eyes and he knew. Yeah, his brother felt it, too.

  He ached for her almost to the point of grabbing her. How he kept from doing so was beyond him. From the way his brother’s jaw was clenched, Cam was fighting his own urges.

  He met her gaze again and was reassured by what he saw. She felt it, all right. Her pupils were enlarged, her mouth parted. An almost palpable vibe rolled off her, cocooning him with a warmth and sexuality that were beyond mere physical things. She was attracted to him. He’d been with enough women to recognize when a woman wanted him, but it was more than simple attraction.

  The amber colored his world as his tiger bellowed its joy. He’d found his mate.

  Which made it all the more confusing when Danna sidestepped him and hurried toward the hallway. Phil tilted his head to the side, then motioned to Cam and led the way. Getting to work took a far second best to meeting their future mate. Even if she didn’t act like she was interested.

  “Boys.” They paused as Purdy stepped in front of them, blocking their way. The bartender’s eyes flashed and fangs slipped over his lower lip, his tiger rising to the surface. “Slow the hell down.”

  “You’re a weretiger, right?” Cam’s tone was low, filled with need.

  “Yeah. But here’s the thing.” Purdy glanced over his shoulder in the direction Danna had gone. “She’s human. All human.”

  He should have checked. Should have sniffed. “But her father felt like one of us.”

  “He’s half-weretiger. Still, like I said, she’s human.”

  It happened. Rarely, but it did. Yet what did it matter? Human or weretiger, she was the one for them.

  “Then she has to know about shifters,” said Cam. “How could she not know?”

  “She does.” Purdy eased out of the way. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give her time. Especially with her father and other troubles in her life.”

  “What other troubles?” Phil couldn’t think of anything that would keep him from his mate. Not now when they’d finally found her.

  “Damn it, Dad!”

  He and Cam were off and running down the hall at the sound of Danna’s shout. He slammed to a stop at the door leading into the supply room. Danna knelt next to her father, trying to wrangle a whiskey bottle out of his hands.

  “Fuck, girl, turn it loose.”

  Purdy came up behind them. “Damn it. He must’ve found Curtis’s stash.”

  The look Danna gave Purdy was a mix of anger and pleading. “Aren’t you supposed to keep the office locked? Damn it. He’s already drunk.”

  “I’m not drunk. I’ve only had a little of the hair of the dog, you know. I’m fine, girl. Right as rain.” A loud burp followed, then a snort and a giggle.

  “Sure you are.” Phil came to Hank’s side and, using a little of his shifter strength, pried the bottle from his hand. “Now that you’ve had a little, it’s time to get you home.”

  “I don’t want to go home yet. I’m sticking around until the bar opens up.”

  “No, Dad, you won’t. I’m taking you home.”

  Phil felt sorry for Danna. He knew exactly how she must be feeling. Angry, humiliated, and worn out all rolled into one awful emotion. “Look, Hank, I don’t know you, but I can tell you’re a good guy. Your daughter needs you back home. You’re not going to let her down, are you?”

  “’Course not. But a man needs a little somethin’ to get the old bones moving.”

  * * * *

  Danna fought to keep from hanging her head every time one of the Nordstrom men looked her way. Not only because they were so handsome and sexy that her insides were churning, the heat rising up from between her legs to rush all over her body, but because she was embarrassed by her father. She’d gotten used to others in Twisted seeing her father drunk, but having the two new men see him not once, but twice, was almost too much to bear.

  She forced herself to think logically. What they thought didn’t matter. Once she was accepted, she’d head to law school. All she needed to do was to get her father home. And yet, the sensations searing through her made it difficult to concentrate on anything but them.

  What the hell is going on?

  Lust, sweet and cruel, ripped through her. A hunger to hold them, to push their heads between her legs consumed her. Her mouth watered as though they were the life-giving nourishment she needed.

  Shit and double shit. This cannot be happening. Not now.

  Yet she had no doubt. She’d heard about the connection all her life. Had, in fact, seen her sister and the Wills men experience it. What she was feeling was the bond drawing her and her mates together.

  Getting the connection was the last thing she wanted to happen. She knew all too well that meeting the men who were fated to be her mates didn’t mean life would be smooth sailing from then on out. Her parents had taught her as much. They’d been brought together by the connection, but it hadn’t kept her father from turning into a drunk or her mother from leaving her two daughters. Love and mating were hard work even with the invisible link between them. Instead, she’d keep to her plan and go to law school. No men, even men she was meant to be with, would keep her from fulfilling her dream.

  But, damn, she hadn’t counted on the incredible feelings of longing coursing through her, giving birth to the urge to forget her father and spread her legs.

  Keep your head on straight.

  “Let me go. This is America. I have a right to do what I want.” Her father struck out, missed, then tried to push Phil and Cam away.

  “No, Dad, you’re going home.” She forced herself to lift her gaze to Cam’s. “Even if these guys have to haul you out kicking and screaming.”

  “Don’t you go telling me what to do, girl.”

  Cam came to the rescue. “Hank? Sir? I’m sorry, but we’re taking our orders from Danna. You need to let her get you home. Either you go willingly with your daughter or we’ll take you.”

  “You dicks can’t tell me what to do.” Hank staggered to his feet, along with the help of Danna and Phil. “I’m staying until the bar’s open.”

  “No, you’re not, Hank.” Purdy leaned against the door jam. “Even if the bar was open, I wouldn’t serve you. Now get on home.”

  Hank let out a string of expletives as Phil and Cam took his arms. They treated him with respect but also with firm resolve as they led the stumbling man down the hallway. She hurried past them, opened the door, then led the way to the old pickup her father had owned for years. More rust than paint decorated the sides of it, but the truck was reliable. Gently, they eased him into the passenger side.

  “Are you sure you can handle him?” asked Cam. “We can drive him home for you.”

  It would help a lot if one of them cou
ld drive her truck back. But one look at their hard-packed bodies said it wasn’t a safe thing to do. If she spent any more time around them, she wasn’t sure what might happen. She needed time and space to get hold of her emotions.

  “No, thanks. My sister will bring me back for my car. I don’t want to take any more time out of your day. Don’t you need to be somewhere?” It was a shot in the dark.

  “Actually, we do. We’re helping out Bill Broderick on his ranch.”

  Relief and disappointment fought inside her. “You should get going. I wouldn’t want Bill to get angry.”

  “Okay.” Cam studied her. “If you’re sure you can handle him.”

  “Yeah. I can. I’m used to it. But thanks again.”

  Her father’s snores drifted to her. She’d have an easy drive getting him home. Hopefully, her sister’s mates would be around to help her get him to his bedroom. It was the least they could do.

  “Okay, then.” Phil frowned. “If you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure.”

  I’m sure I can handle my father. As for leaving them? Not so much.

  If she didn’t have her future planned out, she would’ve begged them to come home with her. The plea was already on the tip of her tongue.

  Cam and Phil turned around and a pain struck her in the middle of her chest, leaving her feeling more alone than she’d ever felt. But this wasn’t the last time she’d see them. She was sure of it. Her heart skipped a beat when Cam faced her again.

  “Danna, you felt it. We know you did.”

  She had no doubt what he meant. The shake of her head morphed into a nod. Denying it wouldn’t ring true anyway so why try? “Yes.”

  Their faces brightened as they moved closer. She held up her hand, palm out. “But it doesn’t matter.”

  “Of course it does.” Phil took another step her way.

  “He’s right. You know what it means. You know the connection is between us. You’re our mate.” Amber flecked in Cam’s eyes.

  She suddenly found it hard to breathe. How could she make them understand? Especially when they looked so damn happy? “Look. I agree. I felt it.”

  “Then—”

  She whipped a finger in front of Phil. If she wasn’t so upset, she would’ve found his surprised expression humorous. “Like I said, it doesn’t mean a thing. I’ve got plans for my future. A future that doesn’t include mates or having their babies.”

  “What does it include?” asked Cam. His voice had taken on a low growl.

  Phil had recovered fast enough to show he was as angry as Cam was. Part of her, the part affected by the continuous pull of their instinctual need for each other, wanted to stroke his cheek and tell him she was only kidding. Instead, she clenched her hand. “It includes law school and a good practice in my own firm.”

  “And where is this law firm going to be? New York or some other big city?” Cam’s gaze hardened as amber dotted his eyes.

  “Nope. Right back here.”

  “Then what’s the problem? I wouldn’t think there’d be much need for an attorney in Twisted, but you sure as hell should give it a try. If that’s what you want to do.” He zoned in on her, his gaze intensifying. “You could do your law thing and be our mate, too.”

  She gave an empty laugh. “Not a chance. I don’t want anything taking my focus from my work.” Although if anything would be worth getting distracting, it would be them.

  No. Mates will only distract me. Maybe even enough to keep me from going to school.

  “What the hell are you saying?” The muscle in Phil’s jaw twitched.

  She understood why they were having a hard time understanding. When had any woman ever denied her mates? Sure, sometimes they had to ease a human into acceptance, but not when she already knew about shifters.

  She climbed behind the wheel and found her hands shaking. Gripping the wheel until her knuckles grew white, she sat up straight, determined to keep a calm tone even if her body was anything but calm. “I’m saying I’m not interested. Find yourselves another girl.”

  They were still gawking at her as she threw the truck into reverse and backed into the street. Every part of her screamed to turn around, to tell them she was wrong, to tell them she couldn’t live without them. Her vision blurred as the tears burned unshed in her eyes.

  Don’t let them get to you.

  She did her best, but by the time she was halfway down the main street of Twisted, she was too angry at them, at herself, hell, at the world to not let the tears fall. “Fuck the damn connection.”

  * * * *

  “The girl’s crazy.” Cam faced Phil. “Yep, our mate is out of her fucking mind.”

  “Maybe she has a drinking problem like her father.”

  Cam strode toward their pickup. “Naw, it’s a mental thing.”

  They piled into the truck and Cam pulled it into the road. “Have you ever heard of an intended mate refusing to be a mate? Especially when she admits that she feels the connection?”

  “Maybe it’s because she’s human.”

  He gave Phil’s idea consideration. “Her being human doesn’t have anything to do with it. Hell, I hate to say it, but I think we have to take her at her word. She wants to be a lawyer and doesn’t want to be our mate.”

  Phil slumped against the door. “So she’s planning on being alone for the rest of her life?”

  “Maybe. Or she’s okay with wanting something less than her intended mates in her bed. Maybe she wants a human husband.”

  “This is bullshit, man.” Phil growled, venting the best way he could.

  “Yeah.” Cam gave the truck more gas. “But don’t worry about it.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  He grinned at his brother. “We just met her and we’re not giving up. No shifter worth his balls would give up so fast. No, man, we’ll keep at her until she realizes how wrong she is.”

  Phil was a resilient soul. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Chapter Three

  “Danna! Oh, Danna! You have visitors.”

  Danna startled at the sound of Harriet’s sing-song voice. Her sister didn’t sound that happy unless something was about to go down. Something Harriet knew Danna wouldn’t like. But what? Yet before she could stop it, an image of the Nordstrom brothers hit her. A second later, a raging sexual heat swamped her, accompanied by a wash of emotions and passion.

  No. It can’t be.

  Please don’t let it be them.

  Damn, how I want them.

  Angry at her reaction, she slammed the kitchen knife down so hard the vegetables on the cutting board bounced.

  She wiped her hands on the dishtowel before heading toward the front door through the attached living room. Having neighbors drop by wasn’t unusual in Twisted, but they rarely did so during dinner time. The front door was already open, allowing her to hit the screen door hard enough to knock it against the outside wall.

  Her anger warped into surprise—along with a thrill of excitement—as Harriet, Edward, and Ralton parted, revealing Cam and Phil. “Oh. You’re here.”

  Stop it. Don’t let the connection control you.

  Harriet’s wide grin didn’t help. “Hey, sis, why didn’t you tell me you’d found your mates? This is amazing. I’m so happy for you.”

  Yeah, right. So they told Harriet?

  She leveled her gaze at Phil and Cam. “What do you want?”

  Cam shrugged. “We just want to talk. There’s no harm in having a friendly discussion, is there?”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.” The raw tension swamped her as it had the first moment she’d seen them. If she didn’t watch out, the connection would wipe every bit of sense out of her head and she’d end up throwing herself at them.

  Harriet whipped her attention between the Nordstrom brothers and her. “What’s wrong with you, Danna? They’re your mates. You three have a whole lot to talk about. Why didn’t you tell me you met them?”

  “We just met this morning,” offered Cam.


  Danna crossed her arms and adopted a stern expression. “I was busy handling our father.” She glared as hard as she could at her sister. “Without any help from you.”

  But Harriet wasn’t thrown. “They’re your mates, sis. I think you could’ve said something.”

  Arguing with her sister wasn’t getting them anywhere. Instead, she refocused her attention on the Nordstrom men. “I don’t mean to sound harsh or anything, but please understand. I’m sorry this has happened to you, but I have the right to choose my own life. A life that doesn’t include mates if I don’t want them.” She struggled to say more. “And I don’t want them. I don’t want you.”

  “What?” Harriet kept dancing her gaze between them. “You’re kidding. Come on, sis. You can’t turn them down. What kind of woman turns her mates down?”

  “This kind.” She was being put on the spot, not only by her sister, but by Cam’s and Phil’s intense stares. “I can and I am turning them down.”

  “Because you want to be a lawyer?” Harriet laughed derisively. “You’re nuts. Certifiably nuts. Nothing’s more important than having a life with the men you’re supposed to be with. And kids. What about kids?”

  “Your sister’s right.” Edward slung his hand over Ralton’s shoulder. “You can’t refuse them. No one can ignore the connection.”

  “I’m ignoring it.” Why was everyone against her? For once, couldn’t her sister have her back?

  “You know you want them,” added Ralton. “Hell, you’re probably wet right now.”

  She sucked in a hard breath. Ralton had a mouth on him and he wasn’t afraid to use it. “This is none of your business.”

  “The hell it’s not. You’re planning on running off to law school.” Harriet’s humor at finding out about the Nordstrom men was gone. In its place came anger.

  “They’re the answer to your problem. To all our problems.” She grabbed Cam’s arm as well as Phil’s. “These guys can turn our ranch around. They’re exactly what we need. Yet instead of accepting them as your mates, you’re going to push them away?”