Page 16 of Tarnished Hands

Chapter Nine

PIPER

We’re all at the lake house the following Sunday when Lucas says, “Your little boo thang has been coming into my work and annoying me.” Chanel, Lucas’ better half, hits him in the arm.

“Be nice,” she scolds.

“I am, woman, can you not tell?” He winks at her and looks back at me. “If he comes in one more time, be prepared for me to give him your number.”

“You don’t have my number.” I smile at him. Lucas smiles back, and it’s not a kind smile. Smiles from Lucas usually aren’t.

“Don’t I?” He raises his brows.

“Um, he may have taken it from my phone,” Chanel says apologetically. “Sorry.” She hides behind him.

I huff out a breath. “Delete my number,” I tell him.

“No. What if I want to spam you?”

“You did that last time. It’s why I have a new number. Dickhead.”

“Wren, back to your father,” Sailor says to her daughter as she chases after her uncle Joey. She pouts but does as asked, and Sailor sits beside me. “Is Lucas being mean to you?” Sailor asks. “I can always tell Keir.”

“I was not being mean,” Lucas says defensively.

“So, tell me about him.” She bumps my shoulder with hers.

“He’s a mechanic,” Lucas answers for me.

“You know him?” Sailor asks.

“Nope, but he works for us. And now, I guess, he wants to work for Piper too. Maybe cleaning her pipes.”

“You are so lucky I don’t have my gun on me right now,” I growl out the words at him.

“Yeah, that was my rule. No more shooting family.” Sailor smiles. I guess that’s fair since I did shoot Lucas in her house. “Is he good-looking?” she asks in a lower voice.

“He’s rugged, isn’t he?” Lucas adds, and I shoot him a death glare.

Chanel stands and offers Lucas her hand. She is the only one who can calm him. “Let’s go for a walk,” she says to him.

“But I am talking,” he whines.

“Walk, Lucas. So we can make out away from prying eyes.” She winks, and he gets up without another word and practically drags her off.

“He knows what you do?” Sailor asks. “That would be the biggest issue.”

“He does, but I’m only fucking him. Nothing more,” I tell her, keeping my face averted. Sailor is one of those people you would hate to lie to. She is caring but hard when she needs to be. Though with Keir—the most dangerous and deadly man I’ve ever known—she could tell him to jump, and he would listen to her and ask how high.

“Do you want something more? Because if you do, that’s okay. I know you think that because you’re the only female in the family in such a high position, you need to stand tall and show them who you are. But, Piper, they already know. Keir realizes how amazing you are. So go and have a relationship, do whatever your heart desires. We will all still be here.

“I don’t want a relationship,” I try to tell her again.

“Okay, for now I’ll stop. Although I do want you to tell me how he is in bed.” She nudges me with her shoulder again.

“Sailor.” She laughs at the sound of Keir’s voice. “Tell me I didn’t just hear you asking how another man is in bed.” He barks out a growl before he leans down and picks her up. “I’ll show you to never ask about another man again.” He throws her over his shoulder, carrying her back inside while she giggles.

I sit here and wonder if I take her advice, will I end up ever having what they do?

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