“Thank you, Killian, for being willing to do this. I know the circumstances are unusual…”
“Fitz. Call me Fitz.”
“Okay, call me Addy.”
“Addy. I like it. Suits you,” he murmured, and the sound of my name coming from that warm honeyed tone sent a shiver of excitement skating through my veins.
“I’ll text you when I know more. Thank you, Fitz.”
“You’re welcome, Addy. See you soon.”
“Yes, I believe you will.”
CHAPTER THREE
Living in a house with nine women growing up had seemed nothing but normal. Now as adult women, even though there are only eight of us with Tabby gone, we have added Rory, Genesis’s three-year-old daughter, Jonah, Simone’s man, Amber, their dog, and Ryan, Jonah’s partner who slept on the couch. Apparently, an enormous house filled to the brim with women didn’t deter the one man in our lives from calling in reinforcements by having Ryan stay. The upstairs was abuzz with activity, and I was glad I was an early riser because I caught a shower first and had first pick of the fresh baked cookies Mama Kerri left on the counter wrapped in tinfoil.
Blessing dashed down the stairs and stopped at the bottom where I stood sipping my tea and shoving a second cookie into my mouth. The woman moved as though she was in sneakers when she clearly had on four-inch heels. I wasn’t sure if I’d seen her in flats in the last few years. My sister from another mister was top to toe a fashionista. I couldn’t fault her for that because not only did she look fantastic all the time, but she also gave all of us free clothes she designed, and it was her job to look good. So good, I could see FBI hot guy Ryan Russell’s mouth drop open and his eyes heat while he scanned her form from where he was folding a blanket and setting it on the couch he’d just slept on.
“Hey.” She nodded, putting a rather large gold hoop into her ear. I took a minute to appreciate all that was Blessing Jones-Kerrighan. She wore a see-through black shirt that gathered at the neck but was completely backless and sleeveless. Under it she had on a black bandeau top that covered her average sized tatas that left nothing to the imagination but absolutely highlighted her glorious dark skin. The sheer shirt was tucked into a pair of cream-colored, slinky dress slacks that curved magically over her tight booty and came down in a taper at her ankles. There she rocked a pair of stunning red heels that boasted a sexy ankle strap. Her nails were painted fire engine red, the same as her glorious pout. Her hair was up in a pineapple-type shape but artfully pinned that way, so her curls were on point.
“Daaaaaauuuuummmm, girl. You got a hot date?” I teased when she turned around and grabbed her bag.
“Yeah, with you and your photographer. Then once we get you settled, I’m off to meet clients in the city.”
“You’re not planning to go alone, are you?” Ryan interrupted. He stood a few feet from us and placed his long arms up above his head as he took hold of the wood that framed the entryway from the living room to the kitchen area. The sleep shirt he wore stretched along his muscular frame proving he took care of his body much like his partner Jonah did. The simple loose black pajama pants he wore gifted us a hint of what the man might be packing down under and it did not look small. Yowza!
I watched with glee as Blessing’s dark gaze took in all that was Ryan Russell from his golden, layered hair on top that was cropped short at the sides, his scruffy jaw, and down that long, somewhat lean but definitely muscular form all the way to his bare feet.
“Tall glass of milk,” she murmured. “Too bad you’re in law enforcement.” She sighed as if genuinely disappointed in that factoid, while he frowned.
“Excuse me?” He tilted his head and ran his hand down his broad chest to his stomach where he rubbed his abdominals, then rested his hand at his hip.
The man was good-looking to be sure. No, he was seriously good-looking, but nowhere near as glorious as Killian Fitzpatrick. Not to mention his eyes were glued to my sister like she was eggs and bacon, and he was ready for his morning meal.
“Nothing.” She let out a cute, flirty sigh as the doorbell rang. “There’s our muscle