Page 117 of Secret Pleasure (Bound Hearts 13)

They paused just inside the door, allowing it to close softly as they faced Fernando and Sebastian’s parents, as well as Lucien. Standing off to the side like a recalcitrant teenager, arms crossed over her checkered blouse she wore with jeans and boots, Alyssa shot them a look of silent amusement.

Sebastian restrained the groan that threatened to break free. This was becoming a weekly thing. Fernando demanding their presence to demand they do something about yet another of their wife’s shenanigans as Fernando called them.

Sebastian rubbed at the back of his neck, aware of Shane breathing out a hard breath. They stepped forward together, uncertain of what she could have done. For the first time in the weeks they had been at the hacienda, their grandfather’s expression was bland rather than a mix of amusement and bemusement. He rarely knew what to do with her, or what to say to her.

“What did you do this time?” he muttered as he neared his wife.

She gave a little roll of her eyes. “He’s blowing it completely out of proportion you know.”

Hell.

Fernando’s expression lapsed into one of complete amazement. He looked from Alyssa then back to them then to Lucien.

Narrowing his eyes on his brother, Sebastian watched as Lucien lowered his head, pinching at the bridge of his nose and giving it a little shake.

“I promised them I wouldn’t do it again, for a while,” she muttered, crossing her arms over her breasts. “They wouldn’t even listen to me. Just called you like Summer’s parents used to call Momma.” Exasperation filled her voice. “Completely uncalled for if you want my opinion.”

“Sebastian. Shane.” Fernando stared back at them broodingly as someone smothered a chuckle, probably his father, Sebastian thought. He was completely smitten by his daughter-in-law. As far as he and Tabitha were concerned, Alyssa could do no wrong.

“Yes Grandfather?” Shane asked broodingly. “What did she do this time?”

“This is really unnecessary, Grandfather.” She turned to the old man with a winsome smile, her expression filled with such sincerity. “I did promise after all.”

The old man stared back at her, his expression softening as he stared at that smile. Sebastian couldn’t blame him. That same smile had the power to blow their minds as well.

“Grandfather.” It rarely worked on Lucien though. He adored his ‘little sister’, as he called her, but that smile rarely affected him.

Alyssa glared at him. “Tattletale,” she muttered.

“I was viewing security tapes from several weeks ago, Sebastian,” Lucien informed him then. “I was given quite a show.”

“Look.” Alyssa stepped forward, her hands on her hips, her expression less than pleased. “I said it won’t happen again.”

“I will make certain of that,” Lucien drawled.

“It can’t happen again,” she bit out.

“Alyssa,” Lucien growled. “Your safety.”

“I just learned I’m pregnant, Lucien. I would never risk my baby.”

The room went silent.

“That was a month ago,” she informed him archly. “I always make certain I’m not pregnant before doing something…” she smiled, pausing. “… the males of this family would disapprove of.”

Still, no one spoke.

Fernando sat down slowly, still staring at her in shock, while Sebastian felt a surge of such emotion explode inside him that it nearly brought him to his knees.

“A great-grandchild,” Fernando said softly. “I have a chance to see my first great-grandchild.”

“Good God, he’d let her hang glide if she wanted to,” Lucien growled. “Father. Mother. Stop staring at her like that.”

“But Lucien, a grandchild,” her mother exclaimed with a little hitch of her breath. “My first grandchild.”

Alyssa was staring at him and Shane worriedly.

“I wasn’t pregnant then,” she assured them. “It was just a little ride.”