“See what I mean?” Janet whispered over her glass.

“I admit, there is an attraction.”

“Ya think?”

Thankful the men were too far away to hear their conversation, and even more delighted to have a woman to talk to, Kate turned her head in secrecy.

“Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve had sex?”

“Considering I just met you, no.”

“Forever. As in Joey’s conception.”

“Oh, really?” Janet’s sarcasm quickly replaced with certain horror. The expression made Kate smile.

“Yeah, really, Joey’s dad could charm the pants off a seventeen-year-old virgin,” she paused. “Which is exactly what he did with me. I was young, stupid, and naive. Once he knew I’d become pregnant, he took off like a roach running from light.” The memory no longer left the void it once did.

Even the anger diminished after time. Kate was almost thankful, at times, she had Joey all to herself. Christopher would have been a horrible father, had he stuck around. He was selfish and flighty, as evidenced by his hasty retreat. No. Kate had learned long ago that she was better off without him.

“Are you telling me there has been no one else?”

“Yep, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Wow, how do you do it?”

“With a little help from the energizer bunny,” she joked. The words left her mouth so swiftly she almost choked, which was exactly what Janet did.

She laughed so hard small droplets of tea splattered on her sundress. Before Kate knew it, they had caught the attention of the men. Even Joey stopped playing long enough to glance over at them.

Janet’s laugh was so infectious Kate felt her insides start to buckle. Soon their laughter took on its own life. Misty-eyed, neither of them could stop.

Kate couldn’t remember laughing so hard. It felt good.

Max walked over and sat beside his wife.

“What’s so funny?”

Neither of them spoke. Kate widened her eyes in a silent, don’t you dare say a word, warning. Not

that she needed to.

“Nothing,” Janet managed.

Richard’s eyes shifted from each of them before settling on his brother. “Something tells me it’s a need to know basis.”

“And you don’t need to know,” Janet pointed out.

Richard didn’t press, thank God. Instead, he took a seat in the chaise lounge beside Kate and stretched out.

He had changed into a casual pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Apparently, he spent a lot of time at his brother’s home. Enough to have his own room.

Kate’s cell phone went off in her purse. The caller ID told her, her boss was on the line. “Excuse me,” she told them before walking away.

Richard let his eyes linger on her backside. His lips curved.

“Stop leering, her son’s right over there.” Janet hit his arm to gain his attention.

Max laughed.

“A guy can look.”

“Seriously,” Max lowered his voice. “What have you decided?”

Richard knew he referred to the changing. What the hell am I thinking? All these years he had avoided the family curse, although none of them considered it an affliction. To them it was a duty. A way to right the wrong of those werewolves bent on destruction and violence.

Richard glanced at Joey diving under water with a set of plastic goggles on the tip of his nose. What would the boy do without his mother?

Kate was pacing by the back door deep in conversation with her boss, concern etched in her face. An overwhelming desire to protect surged. He had made the decision the minute his lips had touched hers. Something inside of him sparked and sizzled. It wasn’t just chemistry either.

Richard never considered himself possessive.

Kate was changing that.

His past relationships had all been mutually casual. Kate was different. She wouldn’t tolerate casual. Which, for some reason, was fine with him.

Richard turned to his brother, leveled his eyes to his stare, and said, “You better not leave a scar when you bite me.”

Chapter Five

Richard peered down at his future. A long nose, pointed ears, four legs, a flapping tail and a silver-grey coat. Of course, there was no way of knowing how he would look once the change took place next month. His coat may be a sleek black or chestnut in color. Or silver like his brother’s. There just wasn’t any guarantee. Much like the gene pool, you couldn’t choose the color of your coat any more than you could the color of your eyes at birth.

Trepidation engulfed him. He knew deep down this night would come. With the setting of the sun, the reality hit him hard.

In the span of less than twenty-four hours of meeting Kate, he would change his life forever. He would let Max sink his sharp teeth into his flesh, allow the saliva to enter his bloodstream, and forever be like his brother.

Once he let Max take a bite there was no turning back. No antiseptic, antibiotic, or even amputation would change what would take place.

He knew he was stalling. Janet had wished her husband well before “sending him off to work.” Kate tucked Joey into bed, settling in for the night, as well.

A howl off in the distance caught Max’s attention. The hair on his back prickled in alarm.

Richard knew it was the call of his kind. Good or bad, it didn’t matter. The howl remained the same.

The men who wanted Kate could very well be searching for a way to enter the perimeter to get at her. Their fortress would prove impenetrable.

Richard’s hand instinctively went to the sidearm he

carried. He’d loaded it with silver bullets, the only thing known to slow down and possibly kill a werewolf.

Next month, he wouldn’t need the gun.

A second howl set his features firm. There was no way in hell he would let those bastards get at Kate or her son.

Determined, Richard knelt down next to his brother and stuck out his arm. “Do it.” Max cocked his head to the side, his eyes searching.

“Do it!” Richard met him stare for stare.

When Max’s teeth rounded over his skin, barely touching, Richard closed his eyes and waited. With a final sigh, Max bit down, causing Richard to stiffen with the assault. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t cry out.

Nerves quickly diminished with a sense of calm, like that of a homecoming seeping into his system.

Max let his grip go almost as quickly as he’d set in. Blood trickled in the puncture wounds inflicted.

It stung, but not as bad as Richard had imagined.

Another howl cut the night. Max backed away with his ears pinned toward the sound. He sniffed the air. Without provocation, he loped off in the direction he’d scented trouble.