Page 48 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

"Honeymoon still not over, I take it?"

The words of Lucius' youngest brother, underscored with lazy humor, had an instantaneous effect: Lucius' parents looked at them with fond smiles, his brothers smirked while Tassy couldonly turn red upon realizing her husband's family knew exactly what she and Lucius had been, um, busy with prior to showing up.

Her gaze flew to Lucius in dismay, but instead of sharing in her embarrassment and discomfort, Lucius only smiled in response, his coppery eyes gleaming with possessive satisfaction.

Aaargh!

The rest of the evening unfolded with good food, laughter, and relentless ribbing between the siblings and their stepsister. She had a feeling this was also deliberate on their part, with the family wanting Tassy to have the time to gradually relax in their presence.

His mother Joy was a picture of poise and grace, a tall, slim blonde who was soft-spoken but eloquent, and her coppery eyes either twinkling with merriment...or flashing with exasperation as she occasionally attempted to impose order on her not-so-orderly brood of children.

His stepfather, Alrich, on the other hand, reminded Tassy of a knight protecting his princess, albeit silver-haired and with a penchant for plaid shirts and jeans instead of the usual silver armor and shield. He had a certain calmness about him, appearing quietly content to simply watch over his family.

Tassy went on to study the rest of her husband's siblings, with her gaze falling first on twenty-one-year-old Raiden. He was the only biological offspring of Joy and Alrich, lived in his own apartment off campus, and while he did appear the most laidback among his brothers...why did it seem like he was hiding something?

Joy suggested that they move to the library for coffee, and while Lucius and Tassy stood up along with the rest, she was surprised to have her husband circle an arm around her waist to keep her from following out of the room.

When it was just the two of them, Lucius suddenly swung her off her feet, and she could only laugh in surprise as he suddenly had her perched on the sturdy back of one of the leather couches facing the fireplace.

"So...who are we trying to figure out next?"

A sheepish smile formed over her lips. "Was I that obvious?"

"You're a lamb in a den of lions—-"

"I never thought that," she protested.

"And that's why you're a silly little lamb."

Her mouth opened and closed.Why did that make sense for some reason?

Lucius gazed at his wife with a mixture of concern and amusement. It was still too damn easy to make his Tassina second-guess her own thoughts, but since he wouldn't have her any other way, it was best to change the subject instead.

"Why don't I start by filling you in?" Lucius suggested smoothly. "As you may have already noticed, we don't think of Alrich as our stepfather. Heisour father, and he has been so from the very start."

Tassy couldn't help smiling. "I like that."

Of course she would,Lucius thought fondly.

"As for our mother, don't let her soft-spoken ways fool you. She has quite the temper—-"

"You have to be joking!" Tassy could only shake her head.Joyand 'temper' in one sentence? It was impossible to imagine.

"Raiden is Raiden," Lucius went on pensively, "and let's see...you had a long talk with Marius earlier, didn't you?"

"He asked mostly about my work."

"Figures. Marius has what we call the Midas touch in the family," Lucius explained. "We've learned early on to not ask any questions and simply take his advice, investments-wise."

"I got to talk to Icelle just a bit, too," Tassy shared.

"What did you think of her at first?"

"Composed?"

Lucius nodded. "She does have a resting bitch face."

Tassy choked. "I never—-"

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