Causing Havoc by Lori Foster Page B

they last
    longer."
    "Dear God." Cam put a hand to her throat. "It sounds worse than what Jacki did."
    "Yeah," Jacki said. "And I thought mine was bad. Heck, I broke down and cried while getting mine."
    Dean relaxed enough to indulge a half smile. "It hurt like hel , sort of like a slow grinding sewing
    machine, and it took forever. You can't rush a monk." He shook his head and dropped the
    shirtsleeve. "If Grover and half the crew hadn't been there cheering me on, I probably would've been
    in tears, too."
    Hearing him say that made Cam want to bawl. She envisioned a motley crew of sweaty workers
    egging on a young boy to prove his manhood. "They encouraged you?"
    "One thing you should know about men, they're always trying to talk one another into doing
    something total y dumb ass."
    "You weren't a man. You were a child."
    "I was male, that's al that mattered." He grinned at some memory, then said, "Grover once told me that one male has a brain, two males have half a brain, and three males have no brain at al ."
    Thankful y Jacki's laugh overshadowed Lorna's snide agreement.
    "I'm not sure females are any different. I've been talked into some pretty dumb things." Stil studying his tattoo, Jacki added, "It looks different from what I usual y see."
    "That's because it's created with lines of dots rather than a solid line. And each tattoo is unique. You tel the monk what you want, and he designs it right on the spot. There aren't any duplicates."
    "I like it." Cam tilted her head. "Does it have any significance?"
    For a moment there. Dean blanched. Then his expression went careful y neutral. "Yeah. It reminds
    me how gul ible I was at fourteen." He nodded at Jacki. "So what do you have on your hip?"
    To the accompaniment of Lorna's groans, Jacki came out of her seat and rounded the table to
    stand by Dean. Hip jutting out, she showed him her tattoo.
    "It's a rose overlaying a tribal design," Jacki gushed unnecessarily. "Cool, isn't it?"
    "Pretty." Dean looked up at her. "Okay, let's hear it. I can see you're dying to tel me the significance."
    Laughing, Jacki sauntered back to her seat. "Wel , I used to think it represented the loss of my
    innocence. And Aunt Lorna, before you start freaking out, I'm not talking about my virginity."
    That pushed Lorna right over the edge. She shoved back her chair and announced, "I'm going to the
    lady's room. I hope when I return, you'l have finished with this absurd conversation."
    "Better take your time then," Jacki told her.
    Lorna marched away.
    "Jacki." Cam wanted to admonish her sister, but she ended up smiling instead. To be honest, she
    was grateful for the moment of peace. "You're not helping."
    "Sure I am. Look at Dean's grin."
    With both sisters looking at him, Dean tried to wipe it away, but he ended up chuckling. "You're a real brat, Jacki."
    Seeing that look of amusement on his face, hearing his honest humor, fil ed Cam's heart. Leaning
    closer to Dean, she confided, "She always has been. And some days are worse than others."
    "Oh, I see how it is," Jacki teased. "With Lorna gone, you'l take aim at me. Wel dish it out, guys. I can take it."
    Indulgent, Dean folded his arms on the table. "You were talking about lost innocence?"
    "Yeah." A little sheepish now, Jacki pushed away her empty dessert plate. "You know how it is when you suddenly realize life isn't the way you thought it should be."
    He shook his head. "No, I don't. How do you think it should be?"
    "I don't know." Oddly serious, Jacki considered the question. "More fun maybe. More secure." Her thin shoulders lifted. "Fewer surprises."
    Her sister's words sent a pang through Cam. She'd tried so hard to protect Jacki, to make her life
    easier, but she'd obviously failed.
    Though Dean's expression didn't change, Cam felt him retreating again. He didn't want to hear of
    their recent financial woes, the way their lives had turned upside down. He might be their brother, and
    while she'd felt ful y connected to him as soon as