Page 124 of The Baby Bargain
"Client."
He nodsof course.Hands the sketchbook back.
"Don't tell me you don't like it," I say.
His chuckle is easy. "I hate it."
I raise a brow.
"Better than the shit I'm working on today. So fuck you."
"Since when are you the jealous type?"
"Since you walked in here with that smile."
I close my sketchbook. Set it on the shelf. "You didn't see me walk in here."
He nodsyeah. Studies my expression like he's looking for something. "You're still wearing it."
Is my smile that rare? Maybe it is. Fuck, it's not like I've had a lot of good things in my life lately.
Even after Mom agreed to give rehab another shot—
She's been sober a few months now, but how can I trust that she'll stay that way?
Hunter has a year under his belt. The odds are good. Relatively speaking.
But relatively good odds are still shit.
"And now I'm ruining it." He slides his hands into his pockets. He's dressed the same as always—dark jeans, dark t-shirt, black motorcycle boots.
"Aren't you hot in those?" I motion to his leather boots.
"You gonna ask me to take it off, Keating? 'Cause you should know I need a little romance first."
"You think I get off on your sweaty feet?"
He nodsyeah. "Sounds like the perfect fetish for you."
"Maybe if you were a woman with a great ass."
"And thick eyeliner?" he teases.
"Don't tell me Wes and Griffin got to you." I stand. Motion to the Keurig in the lobby.You want coffee?
He nodssure. Follows me out of the suite, through the lobby, past Hunter's girlfriend Emma.
She looks up from her spot at the counter. Eyes us curiously. Says nothing.
She's the only reason I'm here. After I refused to join Inked Hearts, she showed up at Blacklist, and told me to get the fuck over myself and a) forgive Hunter and b) take the job Hunter got me at Inked Hearts.
At the time, I had no interest in my brother's attempts at reconciliation.
Especially not that attempt. I don't care what his intentions were. Nobody buys my forgiveness.
It would have been a pain finding another shop, sure, but I'm an in demand artist. I can take my clients anywhere.
Hell, I'm still not sure I made the right call. This forced proximity does nothing to warm my heart.
