Page 6 of Run for Us

“My friend Kennedy has a job offer for us.”

Ripley glances over at Kasen. “The guy you used to work with at the sex club?”

Kasen nods.

“Hold on, you used to be a sex worker? Mr. Straight and Narrow? Mr. I Have to Follow All the Rules? You used to fuck for money? Oh, this is good—so, so good.”

Kasen sighs. “Now you understand why I didn’t say anything. This idiot couldn’t handle it.”

“I’m just in shock. You can’t spring something like that on me and not expect me to have a reaction. Sex worker—wow. You are definitely hot enough.”

“I was technically an escort, but Kennedy now owns a business called Wild Steps, and he just called. It seems our latest visitor is turning thirty, and a friend wants to get her a gift.”

“A gift?” Rip asks, and Kasen nods.

“In the form of masked men. Before anyone says no, hear me out. The pay is good, and we need the money. And imagine Jason’s face when we stick it to him. He knows every cent we have is already tied up in the build. We barely have any money left to eat, let alone build a new dock.”

“So, what? We chase her a little in masks, fuckher, and get paid? I’m not seeing a downside here. You said she isn’t ugly. What’s the catch?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

Kasen sighs. “It has to be three masked men.”

Both Kasen and I look at Ripley. He doesn’t like to talk to strangers unless they want ink—it’s the only exception. Even then, all negotiations are done via email, and they sign a form stating they understand he might not talk to them. He hates people outside of his art. Even then, once he does a piece, he will sometimes spiral for days. Touching him without his consent doesn’t end well for anyone, something I know from personal experience.

“Do you think you could do this?” Kasen asks.

“What if he just wears a mask and chases her? I can stick my dick in her twice. We could just blindfold her, and she would never know.”

“I can do it,” Rip says. “I spoke with her today.”

Both Kasen and I blink at him.

“Like with your words?”

Kasen whacks the back of my head. “How else would he talk to her, you idiot? If we agree, we need to sign some paperwork.We have to abide by the contract and her limits. There is still a chance she may not sign, but this way we could finish the dock in weeks, not months.”

The thought of finally having our own space is exciting. I love my family, but our house is always full, and Mom could use the bedroom for her new foster kids. I know she loves having us at home, and I will miss her cooking and doing my laundry—but it’s time to take the next step in life. And for that reason alone, I’m in.

Chapter Four

Kinsley

“What do you mean, she’s locked in the bathroom? Jace, what did you do to that poor woman? And if you saynothing, I will sack-whack you the next time I see you.”

Jace chuckles as I look out over the water, pausing my sketch of the boat in the distance.

“I swear on my life, I didn’t do anything. She...” He clears his throat and lowers his voice. “Farted from the front. It was funny.”

I gasp. “You did not laugh at her, you idiot. Not the first time! Slide the phone under the door and put me on speaker.”

“Baby, Kins wants to talk to you.”

Willow groans.

“Hey, I just wanted to tell you that my cousin is a dickhead. He needs to remember that one time he farted in the bath and shat himself, or the time he got so blackout drunk he woke up in my mom’s bathtub on the morning she had importantguests. There is nothing you can do that would outshine the embarrassment that man has brought upon himself.”

She sniffles. “Thanks, Kinsley. I’m just mortified.”

“The first time is always the worst, but men are disgusting creatures and don’t care about that. Now, if he farts, punch him in the nuts for me.”

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