Page 19 of Professional Liar
Bianca stared at it, and then him, shirtless with this arms crossed over his chest. Tattoos on display, his St. Patrick medallion gleaming. “Uh, yeah. I go to NYU.”
“Is that safe?”
“I haven’t had a problem yet. Plus, Kat makes me carry a Taser, and I’m a black belt in Brazilian Ju Jitsu.”
“Really?”
“I’ll let you figure it out.” She laughed and headed into the kitchen. “Ohh pancakes.”
She helped herself to a plate, and Pierce eyed me from outside the kitchen door. I shrugged.
My sister and I were close but almost complete opposites. She liked people; I hated them. She was outgoing and thoughtful. I steered clear of sentiment.
“So, you two look well rested for newlyweds.” She took the pancakes to the table.
I decided not to say anything to that statement. So she continued.
“I’m excited to meet Pierce officially, though.” She saluted him as he took his chair again. “My sister has been seeing you for what, ten years?”
“Off and on,” I grumbled.
“Well, she’s never wanted anyone else. Even when our father tried to arrange her marriage. She refused. Flat out. I figured it was because she didn’t want anyone else but you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop. You’ll give him a big head.”
Pierce gave her a lopsided grin. “No, please. Keep going.”
She speared pancakes in her mouth and swallowed just as fast. “Anyway, I’m glad to finally meet you, now that you’re my brother. Speaking of which, what’s withyourbrother?”
He dropped his chin, the smile ghosted from his face. “My brother can’t hold his booze.”
“I thought you Irish pride yourself on that sort of thing. Like we pride ourselves in eating a pound of carbs and keeping our girlish figures.”
He laughed again. “Yes, most of us can hold our liquor. Irin has never been able to. He’s a mean drunk.”
She nodded and shoved more pancakes in her mouth.
“So did you come over here to bring clothes or…” I asked.
She swallowed loudly and grabbed my coffee. “Yeah, and to make sure you were still alive.”
I smiled and shook my head. “Thank you for bringing clothes. Yes, I’m still alive.”
Pierce caught her attention again. “You were talking about me?”
“Family,” he clarified, leaning back in his chair.
She finished her pancakes and settled with my coffee. Pierce stood, went to the kitchen, and brought back another mug. I could have kissed him. I paused in raising it to my lips, grabbed the leg of his pants before he sat down, and pulled him back. I kissed him, a chaste kiss by our standards, but it felt good to be out in the open. To be able to touch him when I wanted.
I glanced up at Bianca while he sat down again.
She smiled. “You look happy, Kat.”
She glared across the table at Pierce. “If you hurt her, I will find the biggest, baddest asshole that works for the five families and pay him a ridiculous amount of money to draw and quarter you.”
“Draw and quarter, huh?”
She shrugged. “I’m an artist. We like to keep things interesting.”
