“Fine, you may be right,” he amended to whatever flack she threw his way. Probably something pretty choice after he claimed to be the man in my life. Blessing would know that was not in fact the case, no matter what I said about him being a hot guy who wanted to date me.
“Then I’m the man who wants to be in her life. The man who’s gonna work for that honor. But today, I’m going to be the man who takes care of her and helps her through this new tragedy. For now, just cancel the fucking hairdresser and when she’s settled and feels like talking, I’ll have her check in with you. Cool?”
He nodded. “I’ll make sure she eats. Yeah, got it. I don’t care. Call me every hour on the hour but if she doesn’t want to talk to anyone, I’m not going to make her. Listen, I can tell you’re concerned. I am too. Right now, the best thing for Addy is to take a load off. Watch some mindless TV, eat some food, rest, and give herself some time to understand all that’s happened and how it affects her.”
The tea kettle whistled, and he laughed. “Deal. I’ll take care of her. And no, I won’t take advantage. Jesus, what the hell kind of men have you sisters been dating?”
I actually felt a bubble of laughter float up my throat and out my mouth as I snuggled Brutus and watched Killian fight my sister over the phone and make me tea.
What the hell kind of world was I living in was a better question.
Figuring Killian would work it out with Blessing I pushed against the couch until I was lying down. Brutus adjusted and settled right in front of me. I wrapped my arm around his beefy, stout frame and pointed the remote at the TV clicking on Netflix.
Immediately I saw a show that focused on people making blown glass. It looked interesting and nowhere near the craziness of what my life had begun.
I clicked on the first episode and hit play.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Whoo hoo! The chick won the entire show! How cool is that!” I fist-pumped the air when the show’s announcer proclaimed the female glass blower the victor. “Rock on!” I shimmied, smiling.
Killian rolled his eyes. “Her work was incredible, but I really could have taken some unique photos of that Pozniak guy’s work. The earth connection was inspired.”
I shrugged. “True. I wasn’t fan of the whole meat gig in glass format but she’s a woman working in a world occupied primarily by men. And she kicked some ass overall. She earned her place.”
Killian stood up and stretched his long frame, hands high in the air. I couldn’t help but stare at his midsection as a sexy slip of hard male abdominal muscles came into view as his T-shirt rode up.
“Take a picture. It will last longer,” he teased with a grin that made my lady bits throb.
“Give me one of your cameras and I will!” I shot back playfully.
He chuckled and rubbed at his stomach. “I’m hungry. You?”
“Yeah.” I ran my hand over Brutus’s burly frame. He hadn’t left me all morning or through our entire binge of the glass blowing competition show.
“Well get your ass up and into the kitchen so we can make a meal.”
I laughed and unlocked my legs from the blanket and padded to the center of the huge loft where the kitchen was.
“You mean you’re not going to cook for me? The damsel in distress?” I put my hand to my chest and laid on the drama.
He grinned. “I am and I will, but you’re going to help. Cooking is more fun with two people.”
“Guess that’s true. What do you have in mind?”
“Homemade pizza?”
My mouth started watering. “I love pizza.” I gestured to my not-small shape. “Obviously.”
His golden-brown gaze traced my form, stopped on my tits, and then came back up to my face. “And everything you got is exactly what turns me the fuck on,” he stated boldly. “I like something to hold on to. Something soft and generous pressed up against me at night. All that is you,” he lifted his hand up and down, “is my fucking dream woman.”
My cheeks heated. “Are you always so honest and forthcoming?”
“Yeah, I am. When I see what I like or want, I go after it with everything inside me. My parents taught me to work hard, set goals, and to not