if you plan on harming either of us. She might be tiny, but she’s meaner than a rattlesnake when she thinks someone is taking advantage of either of us.”
Beckett took the phone from him and opened it up. Allen went into the kitchen area to put his computer away. His gun was now safely in the side cushion of the couch.
That would be written on his headstone. “Here lies Allen Langley. He died young because he was too stupid to know that in order to save himself, he needed to keep his gun on his person.” It was too long, but he could see his sister making the stone cutter put every last word on it. He realized then that Beckett was staring at him.
“I’m sorry. I zoned out there for a second. What is it you said?” He repeated his question. “Shifters? I guess we are aware of them. I don’t know if I actually know any. I mean, it’s not something I’ve done before. Asking a person what they are. Are you one?”
“Yes. I’m a tiger. My family is.” He’d heard that at some point, that the Robinsons were tigers. Telling him he could have a seat, Beckett sat down and laughed. “I’m sort of giddy right now. I know that sounds like a stupid statement, a grown man being giddy, but that’s what I am. I’ve found my mate.”
“No. I don’t think so. I mean, I have nothing against a man preferring a man in a relationship. However, I don’t swing that way. Thanks, but no thanks.” Beckett laughed again and said it was his sister. “Allie? Well, I’m sure I can tell you right now that you’re not her type. She was just telling me tonight that she wants to marry a very old man that has money to leave her. Allie isn’t a gold digger or anything like that. We’ve been struggling since I was discharged from the service, and you just don’t fit her bill right now. But you’re welcome to try. Be warned, however, that she’s a mean as a snake in the grass when cornered.”
“My brothers’ mates are like that. But loving as well. I’m very sorry that you’re struggling. I can help you with that. Not struggling, but to not struggle.” Beckett laughed. “I’m sort of out of my element here. I expected to find my mate, but later down the line, I guess. What can you tell me about her?”
“Nothing. I mean, I could. I know her better than she knows herself. But that’s not something I’d feel comfortable doing without her permission.” Beckett said that was a good thing. He’d not thought of that. “She’s only just lost her job today. I’d like to tell you that’s what put her out of sorts tonight, but that’s not all of it. Allie has wanted to be a teacher for a long time—since we were adopted. But the school that she was trying to get a teaching position in closed up today. She wasn’t a teacher there. They took her on as a cook. She can’t. Cook, I mean. So she slings hash there. That’s what she calls— Now I’m babbling. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Beckett leaned back in the seat he was in. “As I said, my family is the Robinsons. And we’re tigers. I also want you to know that I’d never harm her or hurt her. Not on purpose. I have a feeling, however, that she is going to fit right in with my family. You as well.”
Allen didn’t know about that, but the man was looney if he thought that he or Allie would just say, “Okay, you’re related to us now, we’ll follow along like sheep.” Neither he nor Allie had ever been the norm when they could branch out on their own if they thought their way was better. Usually, with Allie in charge, it was. Allie was not only smart but street smart.
“I woke my brother Houston. He’s the only one I know that goes to bed late most of the time. Of course, this time, he didn’t. But he’s in a good mood too. I told him about Allie.” Allen asked him if that was a good idea since she didn’t know yet. “Probably not. But I wanted someone in the family to know. He was mad that I woke him. That smoothed things over a bit for me.”
When someone knocked at the door, Beckett asked if he could get it. Allen’s leg was