For the Love of Two Highland Bears (4 page)

“Wake up, ye lazy ass, we’re here and ready tae go meet Sunshine’s grandfather. Are ye coming or not?”

Malcolm gave Gavin a shove and the other man backed through the door he’d leaned into to shake Malcolm awake. Everyone else already stood outside the vehicle looking up at the imposing building where Carson had had himself incarcerated.

Climbing the wide front porch steps, they peered around. “Where do ye suppose he is?”

“Hell if I know,” Duncan muttered as he reached for the door handle and yanked it open. “It’s best if we introduce ourselves and ask.”

All five of them entered the building and crowded around the information desk. “Can I help you?” Asked the woman behind the counter.

“Aye,” Maggie said. “Ye can tell me were tae find the man who calls himself Robert Anderson. I think he’s my son.”

The woman’s fingers flew across the keyboard, the screen flickering as new pages opened up and she found what she was looking for. “Hmm… It says here that he is not allowed visitors because he is a danger to himself and others.”

“That’s impossible!” Sunshine stepped up to the counter. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly. I’ve lived with him since I was little more than an infant.”

Malcolm closed his eyes and prayed she wouldn’t say anything that would make her sound as crazy as these people obviously believed her grandfather to be.

The woman glanced at the screen and raised a brow. “That’s difficult to believe. This says he’s in his mid-twenties.”

“He’s older than he looks.”

“Don’t argue with the woman, lass. Maggie rested her hand on Sunshine’s arm and moved up beside her. “I dinnae know how you do things here in the United States, but I’m sure ye cannae keep a mother from her son. Ye might think him dangerous and ye might not want tae let me see him, but I’m sure ye dinnae want our governments involved. My son is not an American citizen and he is my responsibility.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “I’ll see if I can get his doctor.”

“Thank ye, lass.” Duncan gave the woman the smile Malcolm had seen him give his mother on occasion when he wanted something special.

“Call me Lucy,” the woman simpered as she reached for the phone. “Just go have a seat and I’ll see what I can do.”

They moved away from the counter into the reception area, where they moved five chairs together and sat.

“I’m telling Lara ye were flirting with the help here.” Gavin grinned.

“Do it and die, ye daft bastard,” was Duncan’s reply. He leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor. “I only hope this is Carson.”

“Do ye really?” His mother asked worried.

“Of course I do.” He turned wide eyes on his mother. “I told ye years ago I didnae want tae be laird. The position was foisted upon me when Carson disappeared. I’d gladly hand control over tae him if we found him.”

“It won’t be that easy ye know. He disappeared as a boy, before ye were old enough tae sit a horse. He’ll need the training his father gave ye before he passed. You’ll hae tae teach him his responsibilities.”

“Aye,” Duncan said with a sigh. “But a welcome chore it will be. I cannae wait tae be able tae take a vacation without someone calling me with a problem.” He scrubbed his face with his hands. “I cannae wait tae lay eyes on him again. I barely remember him, but I remember he was like a hero tae me, always carrying me on his shoulders as he followed Da about clan lands.”

Malcolm glanced at Sunshine who watched Duncan with a wary expression. “Do you really mean that?” she asked.

“Aye, lass. I do. I’m tired of being laird. If your grandfather has a lick of sense, he’ll run when he sees us coming.”

Sunshine jumped when Malcolm covered her right hand with his and Gavin did the same on her left. She’d known these two men for nearly a week now and it was the first time either of them showed her anything more than a common chivalry. Well…unless she counted Malcolm holding her close in the limo, but she had thought that was only because she’d passed out against him.

She had been so exhausted and jet-lagged after their flight that she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open. She’d always been a bit of a car-baby, falling asleep every time she took a long road trip where someone else did the driving. As usual, as soon as they hit the expressway, the drone of the engine and the gentle, rocking motion of the limo put her to sleep as easily as a sleeping pill.

What Duncan said really surprised her. She thought he might rather stay laird and had worried about her grandfather’s safety.

“No one person owns the clan land, Sunshine.” Gavin squeezed her fingers, lifting her hand to his mouth to kiss her palm.

Something akin to an electric shock shot up her arm at the contact. Her nipples hardened and heat pooled low. Sunshine swallowed thickly and glanced his way. “You all own it?”

“In a way. We all hae homes on the land, we all till the ground, raise the cattle. Everything we do is for the greater good of our people.” Duncan leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. Lowering his voice, he whispered. “It’s the only way tae ensure the perpetuation of our kind.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” She frowned. “Then why don’t you want to be laird? It sounds a lot like being the president of a corporation, or something.”

“Aye. It is,” Duncan said with a nod. “But sometimes, the CEO just wants tae retire.” He sighed. I’d like nothing more than tae retire and enjoy my time with my mates and children.”

“Mates…” she said thoughtfully, drawing out the word. They’d mentioned that on the flight. Some of them had more than one significant other. She’d be lying if she didn’t say that idea intrigued her. What would it be like to have two men to care for and to care for her? What would it be like to sleep with two men? Did they do it one at a time or both of them together?

Any way you’d like it, lass.

Sunshine’s face burned at the sound of both Malcolm’s and Gavin’s voices in her head. She was just glad that it had to be her imagination and they couldn’t read her mind. If they could, they would know that her thoughts had taken an x-rated turn on more than one occasion and probably would have made a pass long before now. Only two perfect gentlemen would have kept their hands to themselves with what she’d been thinking about them lately.

Just the ideas she’d had on the plane alone were enough to make her blush. Since when did she give a damn about being a card-carrying member of the mile-high club?

“Excuse me. Did someone here request to see me?” They all turned their attention to a tall middle-aged man with thick gray hair. His nearly black eyes did nothing to inspire trust as he glared down at the group. “I’m Doctor Harrelson, Robert Anderson’s physician. If you’re here to see Robert, I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you. We cannot allow visitors in to see him. He is a danger to everyone who gets close.”

“I call bullshit, Doctor,” Duncan nearly growled. “Ye see, not only is your patient different, but we are as well. You’re holding the man I believe tae be my older brother prisoner in this hellhole ye call a hospital. If ye don’t allow us tae see him and decide what tae do for ourselves, you’ll hae more tae worry about than government officials. I promise ye.” He growled at the man for emphasis. “Ye see, Doctor, my brother wouldn’t be the only one of his kind, now would he?” Duncan glanced at their entire party. “Just how many of us do ye want tearing up the place looking for him?”

Sunshine pressed her lips together, unwilling to give away the fact that she couldn’t shift her shape. Evidently, her grandfather had proven what he was to the wrong person and now the doctor wanted to study him like some sort of lab rat. “And don’t you forget that he signed himself in. He can leave any time he wants,” she said.

“I’ll send for him.” The doctor pasted a fake smile on his face. “Can I offer you some refreshment while you wait?”

“No, thank you.” Malcolm growled at the man. “And stop thinking tae drug our food and drink. We willnae be consuming anything here. Just bring the man and his things down here and we’ll be leaving.”

“Y—yes, sir,” the doctor stammered as he backed toward the door.

“Go with him, Duncan. He thinks tae grab your brother and run with him,” Maggie said as the man hurried through the door.

“Stay here with the ladies. I’ll be right back.” Duncan rushed through the door on the doctor’s heels.

A knot formed in Sunshine’s stomach. She wanted to see her grandfather. She
needed
to see him. He had been her father and her mother for as long as she could remember. That doctor had no right to take him away from her.

“Dinnae fash yourself, lass. We’ll get your grandfather out of this place. Even if he isnae Carson Wallace. We cannae leave another of our kind here tae suffer experimentation.” Malcolm patted her hand.

“How did you—” Sunshine stopped herself, thinking about what Maggie had said. They
could
read her mind! Her face burned when she thought about how many times she’d lusted after these two for the last few days.

“Generally, as a rule, we try not tae read minds, but sometimes blocking out the thoughts of another is a difficult thing,” Gavin said, giving her fingers a squeeze.

“Like when?” Would there ever be a time when her thoughts would be her own while she was with these people?

“It’s difficult tae block the thoughts of a new mate, an injured bear or when someone is very excited.”

“Oh.” Then her thoughts should almost always be her own, shouldn’t they? After all, she wasn’t an injured bear or excited and, she couldn’t be a new mate. Someone would have said something by now, wouldn’t they?

“Not if they were worried that ye would say them nay,” Malcolm said as he and Gavin moved off their chairs to kneel before her.

“It would be an honor if ye would even consider staying with us long enough tae see if we’re a match.”

“Don’t you know? Isn’t there some sort of inner…thing that tells you when it’s right?”

“Aye, lass. We hae something like that and it tells us that you’re the one for us. However, ye weren’t raised with our kind. Your mind sets human limits and we dinnae want tae force ye into something that would make you uncomfortable.”

Sunshine smiled softly, reached out and cupped their strong jaws in her hands, the thick stubble tickling her fingers. “I would consider myself very fortunate to have you as my mates.” She could barely believe she was agreeing to this before kissing one of them. Somehow, something inside her told her this was right. It was probably the same something that dwelled within them.

As strong as her feelings were for these two men with her diluted shifter blood, she couldn’t imagine what it was like for the men who were full-blooded shifters. Heat from their faces seeped into her fingers warming her when she hadn’t even realized she was cold. She shivered as the warmth settled deep within her.

They each took one of her hands and kissed the palm. That was how her grandfather and Duncan found them.

Her grandfather’s brows drew down in a scowl as he took in the sight. “I knew you went to investigate my claims. I had no idea that you would offer yourself up as payment to get me out of this place.” He glared at Gavin and Malcolm. “I’ll thank you to get your paws off my granddaughter.”

“Carson! I would know ye anywhere!” Maggie stood and threw herself into his arms. “We thought ye dead,” she said through her tears. Turning to Duncan, she pulled her two sons into her arms. “My boys! I hae my boys together again.”

Gavin and Malcolm stood as Carson, or Robert, stood stiffly in Maggie’s embrace. It didn’t matter what the man said. He would come around once he saw that he and Malcolm wanted nothing but the best for his granddaughter.

I cannae believe she accepted us so easily.
Gavin said as he watched the odd reunion.

I think we hae the other mated triads tae thank for that. She saw how happy they are together and wants it for herself.

Sure that Malcolm had the right of it, Gavin nodded. He stared at their mate, his throat tight.

Sunshine stood off to the side for a moment while Maggie indulged her need to feel her eldest son in her arms once again. He almost laughed at her squeal of surprise when Maggie reached out and dragged her into their group hug.

“I dinnae want tae break up your reunion, but I think the doctor might hae recovered enough of his courage tae turn his staff on us all. We should leave. Now.” Malcolm moved to the outer door and opened it.

Grasping Sunshine’s hand, Gavin pulled her along behind him. It was one thing to shift into their bear form while she watched. It was something else to attack another human being while she stood nearby.

Opening the limo door, he helped the women inside and watched as Duncan ushered her brother through the other door. He climbed in after everyone seated themselves and slammed the door.

“Get us back tae the airport please,” Duncan said to the driver. “There will be an extra hundred in your tip if ye can get us there safely. These people are not law abiding citizens and they might decide tae follow.”

“Who are you people, exactly?” Carson asked as he peered around the interior of the limousine.

“We’re your family, Carson. I’m your mam. Dinnae ye remember me?” Tears streamed down Maggie’s face. It appeared that it was difficult for her to believe that her son didn’t remember who she was to him.

“No, Ma’am. I’m sorry, but I don’t remember anything before I found myself living on the streets of New York when I was little more than a boy.”

“Ye were little more than a boy when ye disappeared from our land in Scotland, but I would know ye anywhere. Ye look just like your da.” Her eyes grew wide and she reached down the front of her shirt. “I’ll just show ye.” Pulling a locket from under her blouse, she opened it and showed it to the man.

“Where did you get this?” The man scowled. “This is a photo of me.”

“No, Carson. Tis a photo of your father just before his accident.”

“Accident?” His expression softened as he obviously started to believe.