Razed (Barnes Brothers #2)(45)
No. That wasn’t a smile.
She beamed.
It was the first time he could remember meeting somebody who actually beamed.
She was pretty damn cute.
“You need to let me take your picture for the website.”
She grinned at him. “I don’t have any tats that these guys have.”
He nodded at Keelie. “Make an appointment with her.”
“She let me give her one piercing. An easy one. Hardly any poking at all.” Anais spread her hands out wide. “If somebody is going to poke me with a needle over and over, shouldn’t I get to do the same?”
Zane scratched his head, squinting one eye as he pondered that logic. “Well. You’ve got more skin to tattoo than she has places to pierce.”
“There are always plenty of places to pierce.”
“Ani, you talked me into the one. That’s it,” Keelie said from the counter.
“These people are so uptight.” Anais heaved out a sigh. “I tried to talk Zach into a Prince Albert and he went white.”
Zane fought the urge to cover his cock protectively. He kept his expression blank only because he recognized that look in the woman’s eyes. He had four younger siblings. He knew exactly when somebody was saying something just to get a rise out of him. “Well, considering what and where that goes, that’s probably something he’d have to talk over with Abby.”
“She’d enjoy it.” Anais winked at him.
“Yeah. You try talking her into that,” Zane advised.
Anais heaved out a sigh. “You’re no fun. I say all of this to Zach and he starts acting like I’m trying to make him into a eunuch.”
Grinning at her, Zane fought the urge to tug on one of the wide, buttery yellow curls. “The problem is that’s the main reason you do it.”
“You’re onto me.” Anais grinned and moved out of his way, throwing herself onto the long, low couch that ran along the length of the window.
Zane made his way over to Keelie. She glanced at him. “Onto her, huh?”
He braced his hands on the counter on either side of her. “I’d rather be on you.”
She went red, that blush that fascinated him so much spreading across her face. Her eyes narrowed. “You’ve known me long enough to know how mean I am, right?”
He grinned.
“Good. Don’t start. Not here.”
“You’re no fun.” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. “You smell amazing.”
She shivered.
Her hands came up and he braced himself in case she tried to push him away, but all she did was curl her hands into his shirt as she turned her face toward him. “I kind of prefer the way you smell,” she whispered, her voice low, erratic. Then she sighed. “You have to go. You distract me and I’ve got an appointment.”
“I’m going. I need to go to the store and I saw some ads for a few houses I wanted to look at anyway.” He didn’t back away, though, curving one hand over her hip, the silken warmth of her skin calling to him. “You and Zach—you going to be okay?”
He lifted his head so he could study her face.
“Yeah.” Her lips bowed up. “We will be, now.”
“Good.” He brushed a kiss over her lips and backed away just as the door opened.
She slid him a smile and then moved past him. “Hey, Little Tom. You ready to finish up today?”
Zane glanced back over his shoulder as he headed for the hall.
Then he shook his head. Little Tom was so damn tall, Zane would have to tip his head back to meet his gaze. The guy had to be seven feet and his shoulders were probably almost half that wide.
And he blushed when Keelie smiled at him.
In the back of the shop, he paused by the table where Zach and Javi were bullshitting.
“Heading out?” Zach asked.
“Yeah.” He glanced over at Javi. “Hey, man. We need to set up a time so I can get some more shots. You talk to Aida about letting me get a few of her?”
Javi rolled his eyes. “She keeps brushing me off. You oughta come by, talk to her, amigo.”
“I’ll call.”
“Oh!” Javi winced and looked over at Zach. “Man, Aida, she’s gonna kill me.” He went over to the hooks hanging by the door, grabbed a worn leather bag and pulled it down. “I was supposed to give you this a week or two ago.”
“Javi, your brain isn’t attached to any other part of your body,” Zach said, accepting a battered envelope.
“Sure it is. It’s attached to my—”
Zane lifted a brow as Javi clamped his mouth shut. “What, you’re behaving now?”
“I told my lady I’d try to mind my manners better.” Javi shrugged.
Zach looked up from the card. “I didn’t have anything to do with this.”
“Don’t bullshit me, man. I won’t tell the school.”
“I didn’t.”
Curious, Zane reached over and plucked the card from Zach’s hand. Zach didn’t stop him and Zane read the feminine script quickly.
Zach and Abby,
We heard from the school about the anonymous fund set up for the kids who didn’t have the money available for the trip. Now the entire advanced group is able to go to the workshop in DC. While they weren’t able to give us names, I have a feeling I know who is responsible. You all made it possible for Evie to go, but it was so very kind of you to provide the funds for the other kids as well. Thanks so much.