Free Tangled Pursuit by Lindsay McKenna Page B

guess?”
    Shrugging, she said, “Not a guess.” Her eyes crinkled. “And I’m not psychic, either. I saw how prickly, jumpy, hot, and bothered you got when Wyatt came over to see Matt the other morning at our table.” She laughed. “What does Mama say? ‘Honey, you’re like a cat on a hot tin roof!’”
    “Oh, please . . .”
    “If Matt is right, you haven’t had sex in years. I personally would be dying or dead by now if it was me.”
    Scowling, Tal groaned. “What did Matt say to you?”
    “Now, now, Tal. You know we’re fraternal twins, so of course we have a psychic link. He saw what I saw yesterday morning when Wyatt ambled over to say hello. You were blushing and fidgeting like someone about to be sentenced to a blind date. I could see you didn’t want to be there, but there was no way you could escape. Later, I asked Matt if you had a boyfriend and he said, ‘No, and that’s part of Tal’s problem.’”
    “Damn,” Tal growled darkly, giving her sister a hard look. “Is nothing in my life off-limits for family gossip or sacred?”
    Chortling, Alexa said, “Not between brothers and sisters, sweetie. But it’s obvious that Wyatt turns you on. We both saw it.” Alexa gave her a sympathetic look. “Honestly, I felt sorry for both of you. It was clear to Matt and me that Wyatt has a serious thing for you, whether he knows it yet or not. I sense he’s been waiting to make a breakthrough with you for years. And to be that determined—I figure him for a Taurus! An earth sign, very passionate and even sizzling in some cases. Their ruling sign is Venus, and they are all about smell, texture, taste—”
    “Stop,” Tal begged, gritting her teeth.
    “Oops! Did I hit a sore spot, Tal? Why don’t you just go to bed with the guy and get it over with? How can it hurt?”
    Tal stared at the empty mug and grabbed the coffee container, pouring more into it. “I’ve been seesawing back and forth on that very point,” Tal admitted.
    “You like him?”
    “Things changed suddenly last night.”
    Alexa perked up and leaned forward, her eyes widening. “Oh? Tell me!”
    Tal gave her a flat stare. “Not on your life. Now that I know you and Matt are talking behind my back, I’m saying nothing.”
    “Ohhhh, come on! We love you, Tal! Matt’s worried about you, too, and he and Wyatt are good buds. They’ve coordinated a lot of missions together. Matt said that Wyatt is one of the most trusted operators out here. He’s not a liar, and if he’s up front about wanting sex, so what? Did he ask you last night?”
    “Not exactly . . . but it’s there if I want it.”
    Sighing dramatically, Alexa said, “You know what? I never met Wyatt until yesterday, and if he wasn’t interested in you, I’d sure be interested in him. I’ll bet he is a Taurus. They’re known for a smoldering sexuality that burns just beneath the surface . . .”
    Groaning, Tal took a sip of the coffee, burning her tongue. “Stop!”
    Alexa reached over to pat Tal’s hand, which was gripping the mug. “You poor dear.” She dug into Tal’s eyes. “What’s stopping you? It can’t be Brian. He died four years ago.”
    Tal felt a bit annoyed by Alexa’s last remark. “Are you one of those people who believes grieving lasts only a year?”
    Alexa’s red brows knitted. “Of course not! But are you sitting there telling me you’ve been grieving for four long years, Tal?”
    “No. It’s just that I won’t open up my heart like that again. I can’t stand the pain, Alexa. It hurts too damn much.” She saw her sister’s face scrunch up. When Alexa was really emotionally moved, which was often, you could see it all over her. Alexa was truly an open book.
    “I mean,” Tal grumbled, “I look at you. You’re always in a relationship of some sort, Alexa. If I tried that, I’d die of a heart attack. I just don’t have that kind of emotional strength. I admire the fact that you keep trying. It’s the concern about separation