Grim Offerings (Aisling Grimlock Book 2) by Amanda M. Lee Page B

knowing “I told you” look.
    “Do you think I have cooties?”
    “Your bare butt was on my sofa,” Jerry said. “It’s just unsanitary. Although, to be fair, I’m mildly curious to see what it looks like.”
    Griffin blanched. “Excuse me?”
    “I’m kind of a butt connoisseur.”
    “I don’t even know what to say to that.”
    “Go and sit your butt down at the kitchen table,” Jerry ordered. “I have French toast in the oven.”
    “Yum,” I said. “Peaches and walnuts?”
    “And powdered sugar.”
    “This is why I love you,” I said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
    “I’m not kissing you,” Griffin said. “I’m going to eat the French toast, though.”
    “You’ll kiss me some day,” Jerry said. “People just can’t stop themselves.”
    “I’m willing to bet that never happens.”
    “Never say never.”
    I scanned the room. “Where is Aidan?”
    “He’s getting ready,” Jerry said. “He’ll be out in a second.” He led us into the kitchen. “You need to stay off that couch for six hours.”
    “Fine.”
    “You’re kind of … fussy,” Griffin said, pouring coffee into two mugs and sliding one across the counter in my direction.
    “I’m not fussy,” Jerry said. “I’m a perfectionist. Why do you think I want to get Aisling’s butt buffed?”
    “I think you just want to throw me off my game.”
    “Well … she still needs to be buffed.”
    “You leave her butt alone,” Griffin said, shooting me a lazy grin. “I like it the way it is.”
    My mind was still on my brother. “Was Aidan better this morning?”
    “I don’t know what his deal is,” Jerry said. “He won’t talk about it. He says nothing is wrong.”
    “Do you believe him?”
    “No. You know your brother, though. He’ll hold it all in until he completely blows, and then we’ll have to pick up the pieces.”
    “Well, I hope he blows soon,” I said.
    “Me, too,” Jerry said, grinning slyly.
    I smacked him. “Don’t be gross.”
    “Sit down,” Jerry ordered. “You two need food in you after your … long night.”
    I narrowed my eyes, but Griffin ignored him. “Yeah, lay this French toast on me.”
    “Do you have to work today?”
    “Nope. I’m off. Because I was on for two straight weeks I get to make my own schedule for the next few weeks.”
    Well, that was interesting. “Does that mean we can spend a whole weekday in bed?”
    “Don’t you have to work?”
    “Are you really turning me down?”
    “You’re right. That was a stupid question. Let’s eat the French toast and go right back to bed.”
    I wrinkled my nose. “I have to work.”
    “You’re such a tease.”
    “Hey, I put out with the best of them.”
    Jerry grinned. “You two are cute. I want to bottle you up and sell you over the Internet.”
    The sound of a door opening caught everyone’s attention. Aidan strode into the kitchen. His greeting was muted, but he settled at the table to wait for his breakfast.
    “How are you this morning?” I asked.
    “I slept well.”
    “Have you looked over our list today?”
    “No.”
    “Are you going to be monosyllabic all day?”
    “Yes.”
    “Are you going to pretend I’m not talking no matter what I say?”
    “Pretty much.”
    “Oh, good,” I said. “Did you know, when Aidan was in high school, he once dressed up as Marilyn Monroe for a costume party? He even shaved his legs.”
    “I did not!”
    “See, I knew you couldn’t hold out,” I said, poking his arm.
    “I’m not ready to talk to you yet,” Aidan said. “Just … let me get some caffeine and we’ll talk later.”
    “Great. I can’t wait.”
    Someone knocked on the front door and then entered. That could only mean one thing: One of my brothers had come calling. My father refused to visit the townhouse. He said it made him feel claustrophobic. Cillian followed his nose into the kitchen. “Is that French toast I smell?”
    “You’re just in time,” Jerry said, smiling widely.
    “Cool.”