Her Mates by Suzanne Thomas Page B

only woman that could be was here looking for a job. I sent her away, as I have all the help I need. I suggested, with her looks, that she should go over to the whorehouse and she would be hired in a second.” The little man looked up and choked on his laughter. He visibly trembled and took several steps back before pointing in a direction.
    Brand felt the rage that consumed him, and it almost made him shift right then and there. Only years of control helped him overcome the urge. He slammed the door with enough force to shake the entire building.
    He walked along the edge of the boardwalk as he tried to get himself under control. He almost missed the exchange of words that made him freeze.
    “Did you see that little morsel asking for a job over at Harry’s? I wouldn’t mind offering her a job.” The man gave a dirty laugh to his friend. “I just saw her go into the Landmark hotel, and I’m going over there to see if I can do a little persuading.”
    When Brand heard that, he changed directions and headed to the closest hotel. His ground-eating gait quickly had him walking into the lobby. He stopped short as her fragrance flooded his senses, causing his cock to swell in excitement. The low growl, barely audible, made the man standing next to him sidle away as quickly as possible.
    “I can work in any part of the hotel, sir,” she said to the man shaking his head sadly.
    She apparently had been talking to him awhile, as the number of customers lined up behind her fidgeted. The man placed his attention on the next person in line, clearly stating that he was done with the conversation.
    She turned dejectedly from the counter. He could see tears shining in her eyes as she hurried out the door. She passed right by him, overflowing his senses with her essence. He took a deep breath to fill his nostrils with her. He turned and followed.
    She stopped a little ways away and leaned against the building. She lifted a hand to wipe angrily at the tears flowing freely down her cheeks. He turned as rapid footsteps came up behind him. Seeing the man who had made the comment about offering her a position, he reached out and grabbed him and pulled him up by his shirtfront. He growled low in his throat right in front of the man’s face.
    “Touch her and you are dead,” he rumbled out in a low voice so as to not disturb his mate.
    The man gasped and paled as he took in the size and obvious strength of the giant who held him. He gave the woman a look of remorse and nodded his head in agreement. He was roughly deposited back on his feet to scurry away as fast as he had come.
    The woman in question didn’t even notice as she continued down the boardwalk. She also didn’t notice the number of times that he had to fend off would-be assailants who took her for prey.
    He finally had enough and walked to intercept her next entry to an establishment.
    “Excuse me, miss. My name is Brand Dupries, and I couldn’t help but overhear that you were looking for a job. I happen to be in town to find a housekeeper for my ranch. My brothers and I are in dire straits, as our last housekeeper married and left,” he lied without care.
    The tension mounted as he waited for her answer. Her hands visibly shook, and the blush on her beautiful cheeks stood out on her pale face. Her hair, the color of a wheat field, hugged her head in a wraparound braid. Her ample breasts moved with every breath she took, and it required all his strength not to stare. Her small waist accentuated full hips. His palms itched to hold her plump ass in them.
    She was unbelievably beautiful, and she belonged to him and his brothers. He understood that if she didn’t agree to willingly go with him that he would take that decision away from her with little to no qualms.
    * * * *
     
    She kept glancing up at him through her long, thick lashes. His dusty trail-worn clothes were well made, though very dirty. He looked like any other mountain man who flooded the towns she had been in