Page 32 of Inked Temptation
“I didn’t realize you were listening.” I looked around and sighed at the women of my family as they moved forward.
“You said Chris Hemsworth. It was like a beacon,” Annabelle declared as she came up to the bar, Eliza and Brenna right on her heels.
Thankfully, the guys were all still at the table, so I sighed.
“Well, he does. Like in Thor three, when they shaved the side of his head. He looks like that but with a bigger beard.”
“Like the Chris Evans beard in Infinity War?” Paige asked, her hands clasped in front of her as she swooned.
“You’re going to make Lee grow that beard, aren’t you?” Brenna asked, teasing.
“I would say that you’re already making Benjamin grow it, but he’s my brother, and there are lines I just won’t cross.”
“What else?” Annabelle asked, and I scowled at Riggs and Clay, who were doing their best not to laugh and failing miserably.
“He’s kind of an asshole.”
“What kind of an asshole?” Paige asked as the laughter stopped.
“Not a Marc asshole. He doesn’t put me down or anything.”
They all stared at me, and I shrugged. “I wasn’t unaware of what Marc did. I just knew he didn’t mean to do it.”
“Archer,” Annabelle whispered, and I put my hand up.
“No, this is not about Marc. Or his wedding, or me being a fucking idiot for marrying him in the first place. You wanted to know all about Killian. Well, here it is. He’s hot, blond, an asshole, a little broody, apparently good with his hands, and I honestly don’t know what he felt like when I fell on him because I was falling from a fucking roof, and so all I could think about was my life flashing before my eyes, and not about the hot guy I landed on. Not until I scrambled off of him, feeling like an idiot.”
They all stared at me then, and Paige raised her hand.
“What, Paige?” I asked, exasperated.
“Will you be seeing him again?”
They all grinned at me, and I threw my hands in the air.
“Probably, when I’m up there working. And if I do the plumbing at his house.”
“Another joke missed,” Riggs growled.
I just snorted. “Yes, another joke. Me working with his plumbing. Oh my God, I’ve never made that joke before, ever, in my long life as a plumber.”
“You’re just losing your touch, man.” Riggs just shook his head, his expression forlorn.
“I’m going to see him again because I’m going to be working at the property next to him, but who knows if I’ll ever talk to him. Maybe I’ll talk to Cora, though.”
“He has a wife?” Paige asked, her body deflating.
“She’s beautiful, blonde, and perky.”
“Are you talking about a dog or a very hot wife?” Annabelle asked, narrowing her eyes.
“You and that twin thing. Yes, she’s a golden Lab, and amazing. She has three legs, can run faster than any dog I’ve ever seen, and I just want to cuddle her up and keep her away from the asshole man. But then I realize that he might be grumpy for a reason, and she keeps him sane. So I would never take Cora away from him.”
“Aw, Killian and Archer kissing in a tree,” Paige began singing.
“K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Eliza added.
I pointed at both of them. “I expected this from Paige, but you, Eliza? I thought better of you.”
She just pointed at herself and arched a brow. “The youngest, with six brothers. I can take you, Archer. Any day, any time.”
Everyone began talking at once, teasing me, but this time it felt okay. Maybe it was about a man that I would never actually speak to in a way that they wanted, but that was fine.
This was much better than before.
And I might see Killian again, but it wouldn’t be for anything in a tree.
No, I was going to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground when it came to him.
No matter what.
