“I think you’re beginning to get a read on who I am. But just in case I’ll let you in more. I don’t give the first fuck you’re her brother, don’t ever pull that bullshit with her again. Especially right now. She was almost asleep last night when she got that call out. She’s fucking exhausted and needs to keep sharp, not you pissing her off and making it more difficult.”
“Yeah, Luke, I’m reading you clear.”
That was the best I was going to get and I wanted this over so I could get back to work.
“I got shit to do. Hope to see you Sunday.”
“You will.”
“Later.”
I started back toward the office when Echo called my name. I turned, and gone was the pissed off, mean, big motherfucker, and in his place was a man who loved his sister.
“’Preciate you taking the time to talk to me.”
“Any time. But it’d be best if you called next time. If you want, I’ll get your number from Jason and send you mine so you have it.”
“I want that.”
Fucking Echo Kent.
He loved his sister, and like his sister, he was open when he wasn’t being a dick.
I was at my desk shuffling papers and getting ready to leave when my cell beeped with a text.
How do you feel about fish? That was Shiloh to me.
I’m unclear how to answer that. Cooked fish, yes. Raw fish, hell no. Fish smell, that’s a hard pass. Fish in a tank, as long as it's saltwater. Catching fish with a pole, yes as long as it’s warm outside and I have a cold beer in hand. That was me back to Shiloh.
Apparently, my response required a call because it was now ringing in my hand with Shiloh's name on the screen.
“Shil—”
“You don’t like sushi?”
“Before I answer that are you one of those people who think it’s a challenge to get someone to eat something they say they don’t like?”
“No.”
“Thank fuck,” I muttered and Shiloh giggled.
Not her husky laugh, not an amused chuckle, the woman giggled like she was happy.
My shoulders hunched and my head dropped forward while I soaked in every last second of the sound.
“I’m happy to finally meet someone else who doesn’t like it. I feel like sushi is trending and I’m left out because the thought of raw fish makes me gag.”
“Hates it,” I corrected. “My dislike can be categorized as hate.”
“Awesome. Then I can scratch that off my list of worries.”
Shiloh made a “phew” sound and I could picture her wiping her brow in mock relief.
“Why are you asking about fish?”
“Some of the guys were talking about going to LuLu’s after shift then hitting miniature golf. I was going to ask if you wanted to change our plans tonight and go out with them. But the only decent thing on the menu is fish. So if you hated fish I was gonna bag off and head home.”
My neck tensed and my eyes closed. A one-two punch to my gut that winded me yet it felt far from bad. As a matter of fact, it felt so fucking good as the oxygen left my lungs it scared the shit out of me.
I vaguely wondered if she knew what she was doing. The invite was a nice surprise, her wanting me to meet her friends—though she’d deny they were friends—a welcomed surprise. But it was more than that; she was putting herself out there in front of the men she worked with.
“Sure. I’ll meet you at your house and we’ll go from there.”
My response was met with silence.
“Shiloh?”
“Can we meet at your house?”
My gaze went to my key ring on my desk and I immediately spied the key to her front door. She hadn’t asked for it back and I had offered. The last three nights we’d been at her place. I liked that it was me who left. The ball was in my court how late I stayed and the first two nights I’d pushed that until she was yawning and I knew she was ready to fall asleep. Last night I’d only left when I did because she was called out.
Shiloh at my place meant she could leave when she wanted, as early as she wanted, and that didn’t fit into my plan.
Yet I didn’t deny her request.
“I’ll text you my address.”
“Great.”
I heard someone call her name and she sighed.
“Sorry. I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, baby, you will.”
Shiloh disconnected and I sat wondering what had brought on her sudden change. Then