Celt. (Den of Mercenaries #2)(12)

Just her f*cking luck. “Then, by all means …” Amber gestured around them, making her point clear that she was ready to get on with it instead of standing around and talking—the less talking the better.

But Piper was in a sharing mood, it seemed. “I’m glad we’ve run into you though. I wanted to be the first to tell you the good news.”

Rob jerked his head in her direction, a frown tugging at his lips. “Piper, don’t.”

There was a flash of fire in Piper’s eyes as she glared at him, an unspoken warning in her gaze, but no matter Rob’s objection, she was going to do what she wanted. “I’m pregnant.”

Amber was careful, very careful, not to show a reaction, knowing that was exactly what Piper wanted. But her hand was shaking just slightly, her nerves frayed all of a sudden. She could still remember the day she and Rob had talked about having kids of their own, even the names they would choose, but he said he wasn’t ready for that. That he didn’t see kids for them just yet.

Just more bullshit to add to the ever long list of his lies.

“I’m happy for you.”

She was a little surprised she had been able to say that with a straight face. Amber didn’t often tell lies, but when she did, it was pretty obvious.

Maybe she was getting better.

Piper laughed, a harsh broken thing that sounded far more mean than amused. “Are you?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She had so many reasons …

“Maybe because you’re trying to steal Rob away from me.”

… and that was definitely not one of them. “Is this a joke?”

“He called you Monday night, and you talked,” Piper said, losing her cool.

Casting her mind back to Monday, Amber was already shaking her head. “We never talked on the phone. What are you talking about?”

“Don’t try to bullshit me. I’m not an idiot.”

Well that was up for debate. “I don’t want Rob. I’d be happy if I never saw the pair of you again. Yet you make it a point to flaunt your shit in my face. Don’t blame your insecurities on me.”

“Oh, please. As if I have any reason to be threatened by you.”

Amber smiled and said, “Then why are we having this conversation?”

“Amber.”

She startled at the sound of Kyrnon behind her. In the next breath he was standing at her side, one of his hands drifting across her back, his fingertips skimming up her spine to the nape of her neck and back again, leaving goosebumps in his wake.

And though it couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds, she could still feel his touch after he pulled away, making a shiver work through her.

“What’s going on here?” Kyrnon asked looking between the three of them, his accent making the question sound far nicer than his tone meant it.

“Who are you?” The question was asked by Rob, and from the way he asked it, as though the very idea of someone standing at her side was foreign, all eyes turned to him.

He recognized the challenge in Rob’s voice, but Kyrnon wasn’t moved by it, caused if anything. Nodding his head in Amber’s direction, he said, “Her fella.”

It wasn’t what he said that made her glance in his direction as he said those words, it was the way he said it.

As though he truly meant it.

Rob’s gaze skimmed over Kyrnon from head to toe, his disgust making an appearance. “Even she wouldn’t sink that low.”

Kyrnon whistled, a short, dark sound that made a chill run down her spine. But it wasn’t fear she felt … definitely not fear. “It’s often that a man’s mouth breaks his nose. Keep going and see what my fist will do to your face, boyo. Now finish whatever it is you came to do and go on your way.”



* * *



Half way through Amber’s walk around the gallery, reciting facts she had memorized for this kind of thing, and giving Piper a chance to take pictures, her cousin had grown agitated and took her leave, dragging a reluctant Rob behind her.

It might have been because Kyrnon had stayed with them, silent but formidable—or because Rob had been moody since the second he joined them.

Only after Piper and Rob were gone and they were alone again did Kyrnon speak. “Ex?”

Wincing, Amber looked to him and nodded. “And she’s my cousin.”

He whistled, looking toward the exit they had gone out of. “Seems like they turned your night to shite.”

A surprised burst of laughter escaped from her. “Is it that obvious? And thank you, again, for helping me out.”

“Say less. But you shouldn’t let them wear you down, lovie. Let me take you out.”

Now, she smiled. “Right now?”

“Aye. I’ll be good for you.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Let’s get breakfast.”

“You want to go out for breakfast?” Amber asked dubiously, checking her watch for the time. “But it’s almost ten.”

“Then it’s a grand time.”

Kyrnon extended his hand, fully expecting her to agree to come with him. It wasn’t like she was still needed around the gallery, and she definitely didn’t want to turn his offer down.

What did she really have to lose?