Written in Ink (Montgomery Ink #4)(17)

“Yeah, and I pushed her away and didn’t make her cry like someone did.”

“She deserved it!” Maya shouted.

Autumn took a deep breath and placed herself between the two siblings. Sure, Austin sat on his stool and hadn’t moved forward, though he’d stopped tattooing once he turned his attention to his sister. The client just grinned, his full back piece looking like it had taken a few sessions. He had to be used to Austin and Maya by now. Maya had her hands on her hips, and her jaw looked as if it were ready to break, she’d clenched it so hard.

“Okay, folks, let me work on the computer and get you settled,” Autumn said calmly. “I told you before that I would help with things like this.”

Maya frowned then narrowed her eyes. “Wait. Aren’t you supposed to be at Griffin’s right now? I thought you were starting today?”

Autumn raised her chin. “Your brother’s growl makes Austin sound like a puppy.”

Austin barked out a laugh. “Fuck that kid sometimes. What did he do now?”

“He doesn’t want an assistant.”

“I could have told you that,” Austin said, laughter dancing in his eyes. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t need one. He’s just a bastard sometimes. Ignore him and do what you do best. Though I wasn’t happy that the girls and Mom went behind his back to hire you, I think you’re going to kick his ass in gear.”

“Every Montgomery man needs a good kick in the ass sometimes,” Maya said.

Austin raised a brow. “The women need the same thing, honey. Shall we talk about Jake?”

“He’s just my friend!” Maya shouted. “How many times do I have to f*cking say that?”

“And we’re done,” Autumn interjected. “Back to your corners. Both of you.”

Maya grinned at Austin, but it looked a bit more feral than a smile. Austin just smirked, his lips barely visible in his beard.

“Do you think we could have one conversation without cursing?” Callie asked, her eyes bright and innocent.

Maya snorted. “This from the woman who was just telling me how Morgan tied her to the bed and wouldn’t let her come until she said how bad a girl she was.”

Austin’s shoulders shook, and Sloane chuckled as Callie, despite how red her face had gotten, raised her chin.

“Well, I was a bad girl, and I deserved to be punished. And I told you that in confidence, you whore. Maybe you’re the bad girl and I should get Jake to punish you.” She grinned, and Autumn had to move to the desk so she wouldn’t fall down laughing.

“Next person who comments on Jake gets my foot up their ass.”

“Did someone say Jake?” Griffin asked as he strolled into the shop. “You finally hit that, Maya darling?”

Maya growled while Autumn froze. What the hell was he doing here? He was supposed to be back at his home pretending to write and thinking about his * actions.

Maya launched herself at Griffin, her fists raised. Instead of ducking, he caught his sister and twirled her around the shop.

“I’m going to kill you,” Maya said.

“I’m sure you’ll try. But before you do that, you have to work on my next set of ink. My appointment, remember?”

Maya snarled. “I remember, but I’m surprised you did. In fact, how can you remember anything if you’re kicking out your assistant before she can even start.”

Autumn straightened her shoulders as Griffin looked up from his sister and met her gaze. He swallowed hard then clenched his jaw. The couple of days’ worth of beard still looked mighty sexy on him. It wasn’t as if she’d been out of his presence for long. How was it possible that he looked even better than before?

It was official. She’d gone crazy. Next stop: insane and drooling. And not drooling from how delicious the man looked. She would not be doing that. Ever.

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” Griffin said casually.

“You didn’t ask.”

“You didn’t give me much time to ask, did you?”

Autumn opened her mouth to yell, then remembered where she was and who exactly was watching them act like six-year-olds fighting over a stolen toy.

“I wasn’t aware you had an appointment here today,” she said instead. With a few click of keys on the keyboard, she had the appointment book open and spotted Griffin’s longstanding appointment with Maya.

“I had it down on a notepad in my office,” Griffin said easily. “I’m not going to forget ink.”

“No, you’re just going to forget everything else.” She winced. Damn it. This man was still her boss. She needed to remember that.

Maya snorted. “That’s the truth. Ink before life. Right, baby bro?”

Griffin shook his head. “You’re only one step up in the line, Maya. You’re not that much older.”

“Still counts.” Maya frowned. “At least until I get to the point where I’m saying I’m still twenty-eight or something. Then you’ll be older. Anyway, go sit in the chair and take off your shirt so we can work on finishing your shoulder piece. Don’t flex too much though, darling brother of mine. The only people in this room with breasts are either related to you, married, or seem to hate your guts right now.” She glanced at Autumn and winked.