Page 6 of Honey Trapped

I immediately fight back a snicker when I pick out Ace in the lineup with the biggest frown on his face. So, it’s not only me. He’s a plain dick all the time it seems.

The other thing that gets my attention are all the crystals and candles, but I don't comment on them.

“Isn’t she just the cutest little thang, Ace?” Patricia dotes on Lennon. “I swear my brother has no manners. You’d think he was raised in a barn. Make yourself useful and take this to the kitchen.” She jerks the container of pudding from my hand and shoves it into his chest earning her what I’m learning is his infamous scowl that is permanently etched into his features.

Chapter Four

Ace

“Hope you like fried chicken, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and cornbread.” Tish ushers her guests toward the dining table.

I shove the pudding in the fridge and grab a beer. When I enter the dining room the only chair left at the round table is next to the kid. I’m going to fucking kill her. I know what she’s doing. Trying to soften me up so I don't find a reason to kick Little Miss Sunshine and her crotch goblin to the curb. Along with their pig or whatever in the hell it is.

“Isn’t this nice.” My sister shoots a glance my way making the same damn face my mother used to give in warning to behave. Older we get the more Tish resembles her both in looks and personality. Big hair and a meddler who loves to gossip and be in everyone’s business. Especially mine. You’d think we don’t have two other sisters for her to pester.

Except Meri lives in South Carolina and Wanda is based out of Chicago. Leaving me to deal with the wrath of our older sister.

“Ace, help the little one with her plate.”

I glare at Tish as the kid smiles at me, dancing in her seat her chin barely reaching the table. Her tongue darts out and she starts pinching her fingers together mimicking crab claws making a weird sound.

“You want mashed potatoes?”

She nods quickly.

“What about dinosaur meat?”

“That’s no din-o-saur,” she sounds the word out, shaping her lips into a puckered O.

“How do you know? You ever had dino meat?”

She nods again with a giggle.

“Dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets,” Norah tells me.

“Right.” I put a small chicken leg on her plate.

“So, Ace, what is it that you do?” Norah smiles at me and I want to wipe it off her face. I don’t want to like her or think her kid is cute.

“I own storage units. What about yourself?”

“I’m a freelancer.”

“Doing what?”

She lifts a shoulder giving me a slight shrug. “Mmm. Mostly writing articles online for blogs. Sometimes I edit for people.”

“And that pays well?”

“Ace,” Tish hisses.

“It’s fine. It pays the bills.”

“It’s just the two of you then?”

“Yup.”

“And her father?”

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