Love Restored (Gallagher Brothers #1)(9)

“We know each other from around,” Murphy said casually, giving Blake a wink. If only she found him as attractive as his brooding brother, things might have been easier than they were about to be. “And I think you can guess what I’m getting pierced.”

Maya covered her face with her hands. “Oh, God. If Jake finds out I let his precious baby brother get his dick pierced, he’s going to kill me.” She paused. “Or spank me. So maybe I should let you get it done.”

Graham groaned while Murphy threw his head back and laughed. Blake just let out a sigh and moved toward them, her chin raised. Might as well get this over with.

“I don’t need to know things like that, Maya,” Graham growled. He looked at Blake, his eyes narrowed once more. “You sure look different today.” His gaze traveled her body, and she swore she could feel the heat of it.

She turned her attention away from him rather than answer, more for preservation than to be rude. The latter was just a nice side effect, and appropriate for the man who had treated her like some trust fund spoiled brat the day before. No amount of sexy ink, muscles, or beard could fix that.

“So, Murphy, you ready to head back?” She kept her voice pleasant, but she could feel every eye in the place on her. Just what she wanted—to be the center of attention.

Murphy squeezed Maya’s shoulders. “Yep, just lead the way. Graham here is going to drive me back, but I don’t actually need him in the room with me unless he wants to be.” He winked at her, and she snorted.

“Sounds like a plan.” She turned on her heel, moving quickly back to the newly renovated piercing room that was perfect for privacy and efficiency, all the while, ignoring the fact that Graham was staring at her ass as she walked.

Murphy sat on the table as she prepped everything, doing her best to go through the instructions while trying not to think about the fact that Graham and Maya were no doubt talking about her. Not much she could do about it now, but it would make it that much harder to keep her life private.

“So, I didn’t recognize your voice when you showed up yesterday at the jobsite,” Murphy said casually as she finished setting up.

Blake shrugged. “Wouldn’t have thought you would, as I didn’t recognize yours either. Though it does seem that Denver is much smaller than I thought.”

Someone cleared his or her throat behind her, and she turned to see Graham standing alone at the door. “Yes?”

“Is this what you do?” he said after a moment.

“Yeah, you got a problem with that?” she snapped.

“Graham,” Murphy whispered. “Reel it in, bro.”

She inhaled, trying to calm her temper. She was about to stick a lubricated tube, a needle, and a large hoop through a client’s penis, and probably shouldn’t be thinking about punching the man’s brother.

“No, I don’t have a problem with that,” Graham answered. “Considering I’m pierced and inked myself, that would make me an *.” He snorted at her glare. “Fine, I’m an *, but not because of that. You just surprised me by being here.”

“Well, it surprised me you were both here, as well.” Of course, now, she was shocked she could even speak since all she could think about was where exactly Graham was pierced and how it would feel. “Are you going to stay here and watch?”

Graham shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

Murphy laughed. “Well, it sounds like a party then.”

“Close the door behind you,” she told Graham and turned back to Murphy. “Okay, drop your pants and let’s get this done. You said you were circumcised right? Because while that’s not exactly necessary for this kind of piercing, it makes things easier for both of us in the long run.”

Murphy stood up and dropped his pants and boxers on the floor. “Yep, the whole family is circumcised.”

Graham groaned. “Thanks for that.”

Blake looked down at Murphy’s dick then back up at him, a bland expression purposely on her face. “I don’t need the family history, but thanks for the information. Now, let’s get started. This might sting a little.”




By the time Murphy gingerly walked out of Montgomery Ink, a silent Graham following behind, Blake was ready to go home. She was only working a half-day today, and thankfully, when she left, there were only two of the floater artists in the shop. She quickly gathered her things and made her way to her car before Maya or another Montgomery showed back up to grill her about her association with the Gallaghers. Not that she thought she was the center of attention or anything, but it was damn hard not to be curious about those kinds of things.

She drove home, tension in her shoulders that refused to go away since Graham had first walked in, giving her a headache. As soon as she pulled into her spot, she shut off the engine, grabbed her things, and hurried up the metal stairs to her apartment. Hopefully, soon, she’d be able to afford better, but this place was at least safe.

When she opened the door, the scent of cooking meat and peppers filled her nose and her body relaxed.

“Mom!”

Blake dropped her crap on the floor and opened her arms as her daughter Rowan ran toward her, slamming into her front hard and taking her in a tight hug.

“Hey, baby girl. How was your day at school? Half-day fun?” She kissed the top of Rowan’s head, running her hand over her baby’s natural curls, and walked toward the kitchen hand-in-hand with her daughter as Rowan went through her day, step by step.