Free Destined by Allyson Young Page A

long look, and she waited for Ash to take
the lead. He was the more dominant of the two, although she’d never make the
mistake of thinking Craig was a pushover. She’d always been able to more easily
manipulate the younger brother, but Craig had a line a person never crossed.
She wondered if they were aware of how well she knew them. Not that her
understanding was helping her ineffectual performance. Where was the speech
she’d practiced over the past week, especially on the drive here? One look at
the two of them had driven that perfect explanation clear out of her head. She
was consumed with the need to kiss those chiseled lips and trace her tongue
over those delineated pecs and six packs. The memory
of them without shirts, heaving bales and hauling feed made her weak.
    “Let me sum things up here, honey.”
Ash stared right into her eyes, obviously ignoring the sexy little outfit she’d
donned in preparation—or back-up—for this conversation. She wanted to stamp her
foot, but was determined to maintain her adult perspective.
    She fought down the urge to tug at
the short shorts, and now wished the top wasn’t so clingy, outlining the cute
demi bra that did marvelous things for her breasts. The brothers had devoured
her with their eyes when she walked into the room, and even a woman with as
little experience as she possessed recognized sexual interest when it was that
obvious. Didn’t matter they kept their eyes focused on her face afterward. What
was the problem? Ashton cleared his throat, a sure sign he was going to attempt
a lecture. She was going to listen carefully and counter any argument. It was
now or never. Her sinking stomach aside, she wasn’t a quitter.
    “You came home for two reasons,
honey. One to finish out your vet school practicum, and
secondly, to establish a ménage with me and Craig. Do I have it right?”
    Put like that, Sinclair knew she’d
messed up. Had she really put it that way? Being in their proximity made her
brains turn to mush. “You have things in the wrong order.”
    Craig barked out a laugh before
visibly swallowing it back. She longed for one of his hugs, the type where she
surreptitiously stole the imprint of his fit chest and inhaled his familiar
scent. He always kept his lower body away from her. “I’m curious about the
ménage part,” he said.
    She knew her head had tilted in exasperation,
even as she narrowed her eyes on him. Did he really think he could play that
game? Tease her and make fun? Make this less than it was? That was his way of
building distance, using humor, and she well knew it.
    “I’ve known about you and Ashton,
and your … interest in sharing, since I was sixteen,
Craig. When I saw you in the barn with Melinda Roberts.”
    “Jesus.” Craig wasn’t laughing now,
and a nerve ticked in Ashton’s jaw.
    “And you’ve never married. You date
separately for the events around here, always have
somebody different on your arms, but you always do the same girl. Together.”
    “That’s personal, little one,” Ashton
gritted out.
    “He asked.” And now she sounded
like a ten-year-old. Great.
    “Jesus.” Craig couldn’t seem to
find any other words.
    She decided to go for broke,
although in her fondest imaginings she’d seen this play out very differently. More easily. Craig and Ash would hear her out, recognize how
sincere she was and sweep her up into their lives. Where
they’d live happily ever after, and to hell with convention. They’d
profess their love—and lust—for her, just like in all her daydreams.
    “I love you. Both
of you. I don’t want anyone else but you. I’ve know it for years. I want
to be … whatever it is a woman is in your life. I hoped for forever, but I’ll
take whatever you’ll give me.”
    ****
    Holy mother. Ashton ran a hand through his close cropped hair and got a grip, literally. The
slight pain confirmed he was wide awake and this was no nightmare. His brother
was still gaping at Sinclair as though