Blake, Abby - Keen Inclination [A Bride for Eight Brothers 4] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) by Abby Blake

agreement. Mikayla had thought the female scientists were difficult to deal with back on the planet, but that was nothing compared to the angst they were causing now.
    “I have half a mind not to feed them,” she said as she went back to washing vegetables. “But it would only mean they’d have to use the kitchen to fend for themselves, and I sure don’t want to be left to clean that mess up.”

    * * * *

    Ryan saw Jacqueline come into the lab and tried to hide his irritation. Three weeks of attempting to avoid the woman in the cramped space of the ship was starting to wear on him. Unfortunately, Jacqueline had made it rather obvious that she had no respect for Mikayla, or for her marriage vows, and therefore saw him and his brothers as available rather than married men.
    “Where’s Bryce?” she asked in a tone that suggested she had a right to know. The woman was nothing if not direct. At first Ryan had dismissed her behavior as the quirks of her personality. A lot of scientific researchers had difficulty in a social setting, and he’d just figured she was one of them. He’d never been quite so wrong in his life.
    “I’m not sure,” he answered honestly. Bryce could be anywhere on the ship. It’s not like they had a roster.
    “What about Matt?” she asked in an imperious tone.
    “Sorry,” he answered, trying to remain polite but having difficulty. He breathed a silent sigh of relief when Ty came back into the lab.
    “Jacqueline? Anything I can help you with?” Ty asked as he walked past her, heading back to his desk.
    “Call Bryce and Matt for me,” she said in a helpless-sounding voice that somehow came across as a command. Ty looked to Ryan for clarification, but all Ryan could do was shake his head in irritation. Perhaps calling Bryce would be a good thing. He’d been the first to notice Jacqueline’s predatory ways, and despite his brothers’ explanations of the type of personalities often found in their line of work, Bryce had steadfastly held to his own beliefs. Ryan nodded slightly, and Ty went to the communicator to track down Bryce and Matt.
    “They’re in their quarters,” Brock told him from the control room. “I’ll send them your way.”
    “No need,” Jacqueline said sweetly, “I’ll just go meet them there.” She left the room before Ryan and Ty could think to stop her.

    * * * *

    “Hell,” Bryce said as he rolled off the bed and onto his feet. Jacqueline wanting to meet them in their quarters was not a good sign. Fortunately, Matt agreed with him because they both headed for the door at the same time. If they could get into the common areas of the ship, they’d be a lot safer.
    Bryce laughed softly as he realized they were essentially running from one little female, but the danger Jacqueline presented was far more than physical. None of them would ever be unfaithful to Mikayla, but Jacqueline seemed determined to undermine Mikayla’s faith in her men.
    Well, Bryce sure as hell wasn’t going to let his wife down.
    They’d barely made it halfway to the lab when Jacqueline came around the corner. The woman must’ve run to get there so fast. Lord knew they were both moving double-time.
    “Oh,” she said, looking disappointed. “I was hoping to speak to you two privately.” Considering that they were the only three in that particular hallway, it should’ve been private enough.
    “Why?” Bryce said as he crossed his arms and tried to look intimidating. Jacqueline simply ignored his body language, threaded her hand into the crook of his arm and attempted to turn him back toward their living quarters. Bryce managed to untangle himself. To hell with being polite. If the woman couldn’t understand his silent signals to leave him alone, then maybe he needed to be more direct.
    “I have a proposal for you two that I think you’ll find very interesting.” She turned to Matt and walked her fingers up his arm. Matt took a step away.
    “What sort of proposal?” he asked