“I’m perfectly fine,” I answered, shrugging out of my coat. Fall had officially arrived, and while it was warm enough to go without a jacket while the sun shined, once it began to dip in the horizon life got chilly in southeastern Michigan. “I don’t have a scratch on me.”
“I’ll look you over more thoroughly when we’re alone and I can get you naked,” Griffin said, wrapping his arm around my waist. “You know, just to be on the safe side.” His mouth was close enough to my ear to send chills up my spine.
“I heard that,” Aidan intoned from his spot at the kitchen table.
“I wasn’t hiding it,” Griffin shot back.
They were acting the way they usually acted, yet … hmm. “I’m surprised you’re here already,” I said, opting to switch tactics. “I thought for sure you would be late tonight. Isn’t that what you said before you left this morning?”
“I got my paperwork done early,” Griffin said, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek before moving back toward the kitchen. “Jerry is bringing dinner home, by the way. He’s picking up Middle Eastern.”
Now he was trying to distract me with food. It’s a valid distraction method in my world, but I wasn’t about to be dissuaded. “Uh-uh. Wait … is he getting me a kebab and fattoush salad?”
“Yes.”
“Great. I’m starving.”
“We’re all starving,” Aidan said. “Did you drop your souls off at Grimlock Manor before you came home? You know Dad is still on probation for hiding the fact that Mom might still be alive, right? We have to do everything by the book until they lift the probation.”
I rolled my eyes and made a disgusted sound in the back of my throat. “Don’t I always follow the rules?”
Aidan shifted his lavender eyes and locked them on mine. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
Technically, Aidan is a few minutes older than me. He likes to pretend it’s a few years sometimes. It’s grating. “I dropped my souls off,” I said, trudging toward the table. “I saw Dad while I was there. You can call him to check if you’re that worked up about it.”
“How is he?” Aidan asked.
“You know, technically you still live with Dad,” I reminded him. “You should know how he is better than I do.”
“Don’t start that again,” Aidan argued, making a face. “I know you’re irritated I spend every night here, but you have to get over it.”
In truth, I wasn’t irritated Aidan spent every night here. I was happy for him and Jerry. I was still grossed out, don’t get me wrong, but I was happy for them. It still felt as if my brother was trying to steal my best friend. What? That’s not petty. It’s reality.
Because Griffin spent seven nights a week here, returning to his own apartment only for clothing and the rare early morning case that meant he had to be in Detroit first thing, I really couldn’t argue with Jerry and Aidan’s sleeping arrangements. That didn’t stop me when I had PMS, mind you, but I was getting better about it.
“Dad is fine,” I said, rolling my neck and sighing when Griffin dug his fingers into my sore shoulders. “He’s … Dad. He’s focused on work and he doesn’t really talk about the rest. You know the drill.”
“I do,” Aidan said, nodding. “Have you heard from … her?”
Aidan’s nose was still slightly out of joint because no one called him and my other brothers to the back yard upon Mom’s return. He was mostly over it now. Okay, not really. He wasn’t putting up a huge fuss about it like he had that night, though.
“Aidan, I promised to tell you if I heard from Mom,” I said, groaning when Griffin hit a particularly tender spot. “Right there.”
“Ugh. You guys sound as if you’re having sex,” Aidan said. “I know, because we share a wall every night. It’s bad enough I have to hear it. I don’t want to see the foreplay.”
“Oh, stuff it,” I muttered. “Don’t ruin my moment of bliss.”
“Whatever,” Aidan muttered, returning to the topic at hand. “Don’t you think it’s weird we haven’t seen Mom since she showed up that night? Where do you think she is?”
“I think she’s probably sucking souls in some park or cemetery,” I replied, adopting a blasé tone. For some reason, talking about my mother set my teeth on edge. I understood the curiosity surrounding her return. I just didn’t want to be part of it. “She’ll show up when she wants something.”
“I would think you’d have more sympathy for her,” Aidan chided. “She went through hell to stay alive. We have no idea what she’s thinking or feeling. She’s probably … sad.”
“Why would she be sad?” I challenged.
“Because she misses us and wants to see us,” Aidan answered. He always was a mama’s boy. “You stopped her from doing that.”
“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Griffin interjected. “I know you’re upset – and I really don’t blame you – but your father was there, too. I think they acted in everyone’s best interests. This isn’t Aisling’s fault.”
“He’s right,” I said. “I’m not just saying that because he’s on my side either.” I wrinkled my nose and offered Griffin an air kiss, which earned a horrified look from Aidan. “If Mom was so desperate to see all of us she would’ve found a way to do it. The fact that she showed up with no notice, made demands and then ran when we didn’t bow at her feet proves she has evil thoughts on her mind. We were right to keep her out of the house.”
“You have evil thoughts on your mind every moment of every day and we let you in the house,” Aidan pointed out.
“Yes, but I don’t eat people.” I knew it was a mistake the moment I uttered the words, but it was too late to haul them back.
“Stop saying that,” Aidan hissed. “We don’t know Mom is … eating people. I hate it when you phrase it like that, by the way.”
“We don’t know she’s not eating people either,” I argued. “Genevieve Toth extended her life by feasting on the souls of others – essentially eating them. She magically saved Mom in a manner no one wants to talk about. If Mom was innocent and really had no ulterior motives that night, she would’ve owned up to what happened and let us help her. She didn’t … and here we are.”
“I know you’re right,” Aidan said, offering me a grudging head nod. “It’s just … I want to see her.”
“No, you don’t,” I said, resting my head against Griffin’s broad chest and letting him continue with the massage. “Did I tell you about the veins? She was veiny, Aidan. It was creepy.”
“You’ve told me about the veins so many times I’ve lost count,” Aidan said. “She’s still our mother.”
My heart went out to him. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I haven’t seen her. I don’t think we’re going to see her until she decides what she wants and how to get it. Until then … you’ll have to settle for the family we already have. I think we happen to be pretty great, so you should be thrilled with us.”
“I think you have a huge head,” Aidan said, glancing up at the sound of the front door opening. “I think Jerry is home.”
“Have I got news for you guys,” Jerry said, breezing into the room, arms laden with takeout bags.
“Hello, Jerry,” I said. “Give me my food.”
“Hello, Bug,” Jerry said, clutching the bags tighter. “You don’t get to be a glutton until I get to tell you my big news.”
I frowned. That’s not how the game worked. “Can’t you tell us your big news while we’re eating?”
“Then it will lose dramatic flair, Bug. You know that.” Jerry was annoyed. That’s never a good thing.
“What’s your big news?” Aidan asked, smiling when Jerry winked in his direction. “I’m a good boyfriend and always want to hear about your big news. I’m not selfish … like other people.”
“Suck-up,” I hissed.
Aidan ignored me. “Tell us your great news.”
Jerry could barely contain himself. “They’re opening a tea room right next to the Middle Eastern place on Woodward.”
/> “Oh, cool,” Aidan said.
He mustered much more enthusiasm than I was capable of doing. “Can I have my kebab?”
Jerry pushed out a long-suffering sigh. “Did you hear me? They’re opening a tea room. They’re going to serve actual tea – in cups with matching saucers.”
“That sounds fabulous,” Griffin said, leading me toward the dining room table. “I can’t wait to go there.”
I shot him a suspicious look, which reminded me I had two things to be suspicious about this evening. “You’re going to drink tea?”
Griffin shrugged. “If Jerry wants tea, I don’t see why we can’t make it happen. How bad can it be?”
“Wait for it,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“Yay!” Jerry hopped up and down as he clapped his hands. “I thought we could get dressed up in matching suits and top hats and force Aisling into a dress. You’ll have to shave your legs, Bug. I’m not explaining stubble to sophisticated people.” He turned back to Griffin. “We could make an entire day out of it.”
“I told you,” I said when Griffin risked a look in my direction. “Have fun in your top hat.”
Griffin groaned. “Is there a reason we can’t wear regular clothes?”
“Because I said so,” Jerry replied, dropping the bags on the table and reaching for the food containers. “It’s going to be the best day ever. Aren’t you excited, Bug?”
Jerry took to calling me “Bug” when I was a kid and he watched me save a sidewalk full of ants from my brothers and their magnifying glasses. The nickname only bothered me when he was trying to convince me to do something I really didn’t want to do.
“Oh, man, I can’t go, Jerry,” I said, adopting a pained expression. “I’m allergic to tea.”
“Me, too,” Aidan said. “It’s a … family thing.”
“I’ve watched you suck down buckets of iced tea,” Jerry charged. “That won’t work.”
“I’m only allergic when it’s hot tea,” I said solemnly.
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Jerry deadpanned. “I guess we’ll have to put ice in your cup.”
“Fine,” I said, accepting my container with a scowl. “I’m not wearing a dress, though.”
“I think it’s going to be pink,” Jerry said, ignoring me.
I decided I had to get him off the subject of tea … and fast. “When I came in today, Griffin and Aidan had their heads bent together and were whispering,” I announced, earning an irritated look from Griffin. “They tried to pretend they weren’t up to something, but I know they are.”
“Aisling, what the … ?” Griffin shook his head.
“It’s every woman for herself,” I said. “I am not wearing a pink dress.”
“What were you guys talking about?” Jerry asked, narrowing his eyes.
“We were just talking about the football game this weekend,” Aidan answered, not missing a beat. I could tell he was lying, although I’m not sure Jerry could. “We thought it might be fun if we all go together.”
“How does that sound?” Griffin asked, his gaze pointed when it locked onto mine, practically daring me to call him a liar.
I swallowed hard. “That sounds great,” I said. What? I want him to finish my massage later and he won’t if we get into an argument. “I love watching grown men pat each other’s butts.”
“Join the club,” Jerry said, causing everyone in the room to giggle and the tension to ease. “I guess I can go to a football game. They have snacks, right?”
Aidan nodded. “Great snacks.”
“It sounds fun,” Jerry said. “It’s a double-date.”
I dug into my food with gusto, but my mind was busy. I knew darned well Aidan and Griffin weren’t talking about a football game. The conversation looked a lot more serious than that. What are they up to?
4
Four
Griffin was alert and watching me when I woke the next morning. His eyes were soft, his expression serene, yet he appeared to have something on his mind.
“Have I been drooling again?” I asked, wiping the sides of my mouth.
Griffin chuckled. “No. I like watching you sleep.”
“Do you think I’m cute?” I asked, making a face.
“I almost always think you’re cute,” Griffin replied. “You’re quiet when you sleep, though. Still. You’re a speeding car when you’re awake, always into something and I have to struggle to keep up. When you’re asleep, though, I get a chance to see how beautiful you are.”
My cheeks burned at the compliment and I averted my eyes. “Oh.”
“Oh,” Griffin echoed. He was grinning when I risked a look in his direction. “Did I embarrass you when I said that?”
“No,” I scoffed. “I just … no one has ever called me that before.”
“Quiet?” Griffin’s smile was mischievous.
“Never mind,” I said, moving to climb out of bed. On a normal day I would be happy to sleep late and cuddle with Griffin. Today I felt exposed.
Griffin grabbed me around the waist before I could exit the bed and tugged me into a position where I had no choice but to rest my chin on his chest. “Don’t do that,” he chided. “I was just messing around with you.”
“Is that why you think I’m only cute almost always?” I challenged.
“Hey, you’re a mouthy little thing,” Griffin replied. “You’ve also gotten yourself hurt on a few occasions and you swear like a trucker when you get in a mood. I couldn’t possibly find you cute every moment of every day.”
“I think I’m cute,” I sniffed.
“I know you do.”
Griffin’s steady heartbeat lulled me as I pressed my ear to it. “I don’t have any morning jobs today,” I said after a moment. “What time do you have to go to work?”
“I worked to get a lot of stuff done last night,” Griffin answered. “I have time.”
“What do you want to do?”
“You in a few minutes.”
“You’re such a pervert,” I said, although I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I thought we could spend a little time together in here, and then go out there and have breakfast with Jerry and Aidan, and then maybe go for a walk,” Griffin said.
I lifted my chin so I could meet his gaze. “A walk?”
“There’s something I want to show you.”
“Is it in your pants?” I knew he was getting at something important in a roundabout way, but I couldn’t stop myself from making light of the situation. Whenever he put his serious face on I couldn’t help but worry that meant he was about to break my heart. My head told me that wasn’t true. My heart lived in fear, though.
“No,” Griffin said.
“Is it whatever you and Aidan were whispering about last night?” I challenged. “I don’t care what you say, by the way, I know darned well you weren’t talking about a football game.”
“You have a suspicious mind, my dear,” Griffin said. “You’ll have to wait for our walk to see what I have to show you.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
Griffin pressed his fingers into my ribs and tickled me, causing me to squeal as he flipped me over and rolled on top of me. His expression was earnest when he met my gaze and it caused my heart to contract.
“I may only find you cute most of the time,” he said. “I find you beautiful all of the time, though.”
The pressure around my heart lessened. “You’re not bad to look at yourself.”
“I know.”
I snorted. “And you’re modest, too.”
“I can’t be modest, baby,” he teased. “I’m about to show you something in my pants. Now isn’t the time for modesty.”
“Finally,” I said, exhaling heavily. “I thought you were never going to get around to doing something I wanted to do.”
“I LIKE the fall season a lot, but I hate that it takes longer to warm up in the mornings,” I said, following Griffin out of the townhouse an hour later and slipping my hand in his as he extended
it. “I love spring, summer and fall in Michigan. Winter is the pits, though.”
Griffin chuckled as he led me down the steps. “I don’t know. I think you’ll look cute in a little hat and mittens.”
“So that would be an example of when I’m almost always cute, right?”
“You’re almost always a pain, too,” Griffin said, dropping a quick kiss on the end of my nose as we trudged down the walkway that led to the main sidewalk.
The townhouse was in Royal Oak, considered one of the hip and cool suburbs of Detroit. Grimlock Manor, my father’s home, is in Grosse Pointe. It’s practically a castle. It even has turrets. As much as I love the house, though, Royal Oak is home now. It’s friendlier than Grosse Pointe, which is all rich people with fat wallets and expensive cars. Royal Oak is more … welcoming, for lack of a better word.
“So why did you decide to go for a walk this morning?” I asked. “You’re not about to break up with me, are you? If you thought a walk would stop me from crying, you’re wrong.”
Griffin scowled. “I thought we talked about this?”
“We did.”
“No, you’re still waiting for me to get fed up with the reaper business and walk out,” Griffin countered. “That’s not going to happen. I know I … needed a little time when you first told me what was going on, but I’m not going anywhere.”
“Because I’m cute?”
“The cuteness is wearing thin,” Griffin said, shaking his head. “Actually, what I have to show you might help with your insecurity issues.”
“I’m not insecure.”
“Not generally, no,” Griffin hedged. “I don’t want to sound like I have a big ego, but sometimes you seem a little insecure where I’m concerned.”
I scowled. “I do not.”
“Fine,” Griffin said, giving in. “I was wrong. You’re never insecure.”
“Thank you.”
“You only worry I’m going to go somewhere when there’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
Grim Reunion (Aisling Grimlock Book 4) Page 3
