Inked Persuasion (Montgomery Ink Fort Collins #1) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,47

asked, and I flipped him off.

“No, we’re not talking about that.”

“So, no plans tonight?” Paige asked, and they all looked eager to talk about anything but our family problems.

I just glared at all of them.

“I do not have plans tonight, other than to work. And maybe do this thing called relaxing.”

“So, Mr. Fancypants hasn’t even called then?” Beckett asked.

I blinked at him. “Did you just say fancypants?”

Archer snorted, while Benjamin just shook his head, his lips twitching.

Beckett shrugged. “I don’t know. It just came to me. It doesn’t seem apt now that I think about it.”

“Okay, if this is where you want to be, fine. Since I left Jacob’s bed this morning, I’m pretty sure we didn’t need to make plans for tonight. If I see him, I will. If I don’t? Whatever. It’s not your business, any of you, and that’s the last time I’ll be talking about it in this building.” I let out a breath. “Or ever,” I added, as Paige’s eyes widened, and my brothers just stared at me, mouths agape. “Out. Go do what you need to do. Stop bugging me.”

“Where did you say you were this morning?” Beckett asked, his voice a growl.

“In Jacob’s bed. Yes, I slept with Jacob Queen. More than once. And it wasn’t even the first time. What are you going to do about it, Beckett? Are you going to beat him up? I thought you were all for your sisters being strong women who could take care of themselves. Are you going to be that kind of jerk?”

Beckett stared at me before his lips twitched just like his twin’s. “You are a brat sometimes.”

I shrugged. “Well, you make me.”

“You won’t even let me pretend to be all protective and glowering,” Beckett said, pouting a bit. I loved my brothers.

“You’re only allowed to be protective or glowering if someone hurts me. And only after they hurt me, and I ask you to help me. You don’t get to take it upon yourselves to think that you know what you’re doing.”

“You’re making this whole not-liking-this-guy thing very easy.”

“You don’t have to like or dislike Jacob, because it doesn’t matter. We’re just having fun.” I hadn’t meant to say that, and now they were all glaring at me again, including Paige. “Okay, that’s enough. No more.”

“It’s not going to get serious?” Benjamin asked, tilting his head as he stared at me. “I thought sex would be pretty serious.”

“When’s the last time you got laid, Benjamin? You want to talk about that?” I spat.

Archer rolled his eyes. “Well, since we’re talking about the last time hell froze over, we may need to sit down for a while if we’re going to think about that long-lost time.”

“You’re an asshole,” Benjamin said.

I sighed. “And this family is getting far too close. Go, do your thing. We’ll figure out the whole what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-this-family thing later.”

“Whatever you say,” Beckett said. “But if he hurts you, I reserve the right to hurt him.”

“We reserve the right,” Benjamin said, pointing at the three brothers.

Paige cleared her throat politely. “And I will be the one who helps castrate him. Do we not remember this?” All three guys winced.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “I love you. Now go.” Thankfully, this time, they did. I sank back in my chair, exhausted, even after all the coffee I’d had this morning.

Jacob hadn’t texted, hadn’t said we would see each other tonight, though I honestly didn’t think we would. And that was fine. We didn’t have plans. We didn’t need them. I didn’t want them.

At least, I didn’t think I did. But the problem was, I didn’t know what I wanted from him.

And that was something I would have to add to my long list. Later.

Much, much later.

Chapter 13

Jacob

“Remind me again what Paige’s boyfriend’s name is,” I asked as I placed my hand on the small of Annabelle’s back and headed into the restaurant. She turned to look up at me, a wry expression on her face.

“Colton. They’ve been going out for a few weeks now—or rather months, I suppose.” She frowned, her nose wrinkling in that adorable way of hers. “I like him, but I don’t know much about him. He came to a couple of Montgomery family events at the bar, and one Montgomery dinner where my parents did their best not to act as if they were excited that Paige might be settling down. However, I haven’t spent too much time with him in a more intimate setting. I don’t know