Fourth Hope by Clare Atling Page B

it.
    ‘ Colt,’ began Brandon, ‘I know we don’t know you very well, and I know we as a family have done nothing to try and fix that, but if you are truly Hope’s mate then we at least have to try and like you. Don’t get me wrong, it will take a lot to trust you and we will always be watching you, but Logan's right. Hope has changed since you’ve been here. She seems, well, happy.’ Colt had never heard Brandon say so much. He was usually so quiet whenever he was on watch duty. He was Maggie’s mate from what he gathered, and she seemed happy here, as well.
    ‘ I fucked up tonight with Hope,’ he replied. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to sit around and talk girl talk with you. But it means a lot that you didn’t just come down here and beat the shit out of me.’ Logan snorted and still looked pissed. Seth moved Logan out of the way and stepped in front of Colt.
    ‘ Well, that was our first plan,’ he said, ‘but when we saw you looking like shit at the bar we kind of reached the conclusion that you had put yourself through enough. Like Brandon says, trust has to be earned and it will take a long time before we trust you. Hope is our sister and we will protect what is ours with our lives. We understand it was your father and not you that started all this, and the fact you helped our mates get away from that sick fuck helps your case. That said, if you put one foot out of place we will be your judge, jury and executioners. You understand?’ Seth let his alpha power swirl around him. He was on edge because Colt was himself an alpha, but he didn’t sense any challenge coming from him.
    Colt looked at him. ‘You know, as much as I hate you all, you’re so damn nice. Shit, I want to hate you all, but you’re right. Since meeting Hope, something’s calmed inside of me, but that thought runs both ways and I don’t trust you pricks, either.’ Colt smiled at Logan, knowing it would piss him off and, by the look on Logan’s face, it was working.
    Colt ran his hands through his hair. He knew he needed to speak to Hope, but not yet. He couldn’t face her after what he had said to her. As if sensing his problem, Brandon put his hand on Colt’s shoulder.
    ‘ She’s fine,’ he said. ‘The girls are all at the bakery drowning their sorrows in Sarah and Callie's cakes. I suspect they will be so high from all the sugar that we’ll be lucky if they get any sleep tonight.’ He slapped Colt’s back and walked back to the bar. Colt heard him order four coffees and he grimaced, realising that they still wanted to speak to him. He had nothing to say but, if he wanted to make this work with Hope, he had to at least try. He forced himself to follow them back to the bar.
    Seth s at next to him at the counter. ‘We wanted to talk to you about a job. It wasn’t my idea, but Callie’s. She suspected you would need something to do if you were to fit in here – and, of course, we could use the help.’ Seth didn’t look at him as he spoke. Colt knew it took a lot for him to be offering the job, but he wanted to build that bridge with Callie as well and, if she thought he could do it, he would try.
    ‘ Doing what? I’m not good at much, and never had the chance to learn a skill except things I won’t ever go into. Oh, and I’m sure as shit not picking up trash around the island, if that’s what you’re thinking.’ Colt was done being someone’s lackey.
    ‘ No, nothing like that – although, Logan suggested it.’ Seth shared a look with Logan that showed he wasn’t joking. Shit, he hated that huge wolf, even if he was his sister’s mate. ‘But we could use some help at the spa,’ continued Seth. ‘We’re just a few weeks over the deadline, but it has to open on time. Plus, we promised the ladies a weekend there, and I know for one I’ll be in deep shit if we’re late on that promise. Brandon and I will do the bulk of the work, but we need you to work with Logan on the finishing touches –