Mina's Heart by Michele Zurlo Page A

and also be invisible.
    She took a half step back from the door. “I should come back later.”
    Wilder caught her by the wrist. “Nope. If I let you escape, then he’ll get pissed at me, and his yelling might ruin his soufflé.”
    “I’m not making a soufflé, you idiot. It’s quiche.” Ever came down the hall to the foyer, the soft smile on his face completely at odds with the way he spoke to his brother. He took her arm from Wilder and pulled her inside, straight into his arms, where he planted a firm kiss on her lips. “You should stay.”
    The door closed behind them. Wilder headed back to the kitchen.
    She rested her hands on Ever’s chest, enjoying the way his heat permeated his shirt. “Are you sure? I didn’t mean to be so early.”
    “I know.” He grinned and winked. “You just couldn’t stay away from my animal magnetism.”
    Truthfully, no, she couldn’t. She’d definitely developed a weakness for him. She returned his grin. “Something like that.”
    “C’mon.” He turned and herded her toward the kitchen. “You can watch Wild practice tying knots while I finish making lunch.”
    A large wicker picnic basket rested on the counter near the refrigerator. Plates, cups, and forks waited in the drying rack next to the sink. Wilder sat on a stool at the island, an array of colored ropes on the granite countertop in front of him.
    Mina lifted her brow in amazement. “A picnic?”
    “Yep. It’s a nice day for it.” He guided her to the stool next to Wilder. “Sit. Wilder needs a hand.”
    Wilder looked a little surprised at that pronouncement. “If you’re okay with it.”
    She shrugged. “Sure. What are you doing?”
    “Practicing my knots. It works better if I have someone to work with.”
    There was a lot of rope on the counter. Mina wasn’t sure what she was getting herself into. It seemed a bit kinky. “You want to tie me up?”
    He seemed disturbed by her question. His blue eyes clouded over. “No. If you’ll hold out your arm, that’s really all I need.”
    Ever stirred something on the stove. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t allow him to do anything more than that.”
    She offered her arm to Wilder. He pushed the short sleeve of her shirt up and centered a green rope just below her shoulder. Then he wound it underneath. She felt the tickle of his fingertips brush against her skin as he manipulated the rope. He worked with a quiet intensity that was both calming and alarming. It was almost as if she didn’t exist. The ropes were all that mattered to him. The thought saddened her a bit.
    Looking up, she saw Ever watching her. His attention was focused on her face, not on the knots his brother tied around her arm. She offered him a smile.
    Abruptly, he turned back to the stove. “How was your night? Did you sleep well?”
    “Yes.” And she woke up hornier than she’d ever been. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Ever. He hadn’t come at all. “You?”
    He shook his head. “I would have slept better if I’d been able to drive you home. When do you think you’re going to get over this need to drive yourself around everywhere?”
    She didn’t know whether to laugh or take him seriously. Wilder glanced up from his macramé and noted her confusion. “If he drives you home and sees you inside, then he knows you’re safe for the night.”
    Ever transferred the picnic basket to the island counter and began packing plates and flatware, yet his attention was mostly on her.
    “I don’t need you to look out for me like that.”
    Ever scowled, his brows drawing together menacingly, but he didn’t stop loading items into the basket.
    Wilder bent her arm and worked on a fancy series of knots on the inside of her forearm. “It’s not about you. It’s about his peace of mind and his need to take care of you.”
    It was irritating that anyone felt the need to look out for her. She wasn’t an obligation. And why wasn’t Everett speaking for himself? She pursed