Grim Offerings (Aisling Grimlock Book 2) (8 page)

“You’re totally a prude,” Jerry said. “Hey, Bug?”

I stilled.

“I’m making an appointment at that spa for us this weekend,” he said. “You totally need to get your butt buffed.”

Griffin scowled. “It’s like living in a circus.”

“Come on,” I said, pushing him forward. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll let you play with the clown car.”

“That’s the only reason I’m still here,” Griffin grumbled.

“See you in the morning, Bug.”

“I don’t care what Jerry says. You don’t need to buff your butt.”

Griffin’s hands were warm as he snuggled up behind me the next morning.

“I thought you were appalled because Jerry has seen me naked.”

“I’ve thought about it, and it really doesn’t bother me.”

I waited.

“Okay, it bothers me,” Griffin conceded. “I guess I’ll just have to get over it. Jerry is your best friend, and it’s not as if he’s sexually attracted to you.”

“He’s definitely not attracted to me.”

“Have you seen him naked?”

“Yes.”

“Does he like … walk around naked?”

“Absolutely not,” I said. “Jerry thinks putting your naked bits on furniture other people use is tacky.”

“So, does he think what we did last night was tacky?”

“I’m betting he’s cleaning the couch as we speak.”

Griffin laughed. “He’s funny. I can see why you two are so close.”

Something about his wistful tone tugged at my heart. “Who is your best friend?”

“I don’t really have one.”

That was sad. “Never?”

Griffin shrugged. “I have friends. I just don’t bond with people like you do.”

“I’m not bonded to anyone but Jerry.”

“You’re bonded to Aidan.”

I frowned. “I don’t know what his deal is,” I said. “Right before we saw you with Maya he was the one trying to make me feel better by saying you were probably just busy with work and it wasn’t your choice not to call me.”

“I’m really sorry about that,” Griffin said, rubbing my hip with his finger. “Just for the record, if I have to go undercover again I’m not going to hesitate to wake you up.”

“Do you think you’ll have to?”

“Probably,” Griffin said. “It’s part of my job. Does that bother you?”

“I would be a hypocrite if it did,” I said. “You’ve been pretty understanding about all of my stuff.”

“I don’t know if ‘understanding’ is the right word, but I’m trying to be better,” he said. “I just never imagined any of this stuff was real. Now that I know it is, it’s kind of … .”

“Terrifying?”

“Interesting,” Griffin corrected. “I’m not going to lie, though. Your constant appearances at crime scenes are going to cause problems.”

“I didn’t know that was going to happen.”

“I know you didn’t,” he said. “I just need you to be more careful. At a certain point, I might not be able to save you.”

“Well, hopefully it won’t be an issue again,” I said.

“Hopefully.”

The sound of his growling stomach filled the room.

“Are you hungry?”

“I could eat.”

“Let’s get dressed,” I said. “I could eat, too.”

“Aren’t you worried about Aidan being at the breakfast table?”

“Nope,” I said, climbing out of bed. “He needs to get over himself. I have no idea what his problem is.”

“I think he’s just protective of you,” Griffin said. “I’m not taking it personally.”

“Don’t,” I said. “He’ll calm down.”

“Let’s hope so. I can only take so many dirty looks before I punch him in the face.”

“GOOD
morning.”

Jerry was fluttering around the couch with an aerosol can in his rubber glove-covered hand when we exited the bedroom. “Don’t sit on the couch. I’m fumigating it.”

I shot Griffin a 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.” Cillian sat at the table and glanced around. “Why is no one looking at each other?”

“We’re looking at each other,” I said, proving my point by gazing at Griffin.

“Aidan isn’t looking at anyone,” Cillian said.

“He had a long night.”

“Oh, is he still mad about the cheerleading thing? I thought it was kind of funny.”

I kind of wished I’d been there to see it. “That’s probably it.”

“Oh, that’s not it,” Jerry said. “When we came home … .”

“Jerry,” I warned.

“He’s going to find out anyway,” Jerry said. “This family can’t keep a secret. When we came home last night, Aisling and Griffin were naked on the couch. Aidan is scandalized and he’s not talking to anyone.”

Cillian stilled. “Naked?”

“They’d just had sex,” Jerry said, carrying the pan of French toast to the table and setting it on the waiting trivets. “Don’t worry. The couch is being aired out even as we speak. It will be sanitized in a few hours. Everyone dig in.”

“I think I lost my appetite,” Cillian moaned.

“Oh, get over it,” I said. “I walked in on Jerry and Aidan pawing each other on the couch a little more than a month ago and I didn’t pitch a fit.”

Jerry challenged me with a look.

“What? I didn’t.”

“You screamed that you were blind and ran outside,” Jerry said.

“Where you were promptly attacked by a wraith,” Aidan interjected.

“That wasn’t what happened,” I said. It was totally what happened. “Still, I didn’t freak out like you did last night. You claimed you were having a stroke.”

“This whole family is too dramatic,” Griffin said, digging into his French toast. “It’s a good thing the food is great. Otherwise, I’m not sure I would be able to put up with the constant sniping and whining.”

“We don’t whine,” Aidan and I said in unison.

“They don’t,” Jerry said. “They … complain shrilly.”

“Is that different?”

“It’s all about the presentation,” Jerry said. He cuffed Griffin on the back of the head. “Eat your breakfast. Stop stirring the pot.” He pointed a finger in my direction. “You, too.”

I turned my attention to Cillian. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but is there a reason you’re invading our breakfast table this morning? Is Dad not feeding you?”

“Well, we’ve had a change to the lists for today,” Cillian answered. “Dad sent me here so we could tackle your list together.”

“Why can’t I go with her?” Aidan asked.

“You’re going, too.”

“That must be some list,” I said. “Three of us?”

“It’s not a long list,” Cillian said. “It’s just that … well … Morgan Reid is on it again.”

It was as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. “Are you serious?”

“Unfortunately,” Cillian said. “Dad is worried a wraith is going to show up, so he wants us all to go out together today. Reid is the only one on our list.”

“Hey, that means we can spend part of the day in bed,” I said, turning to Griffin excitedly.

“No, it doesn’t,” Cillian said.

“Oh, not you, too.”

“You’re my baby sister,” Cillian said. “To me, you’re a good girl.”

“That’s such a double standard.”

“I’m not denying that,” Cillian said. “In the back of my mind, I know you’re an adult. In my heart, though, you’re the same little girl who cried when the gardener accidentally mowed over your stuffed dog.”

“Fine,” I said. “We’re not going to spend the afternoon in bed. We’re going to go to church.”

“Good girl.”

I rolled my eyes until they landed on Griffin. “Do you want to go to church with me later?”

“I’m going to go with you on your assignment.”

I stilled. “I don’t think that’s allowed.”

“Why not?”

“I … .” I turned to Cillian for help.

“Wasn’t he there when you killed the wraith at the retirement home?” Cillian asked.

“Yes.”

“What does it matter if he’s there for this one? It might actually be helpful if something goes wrong.”

“But … do you want to see what we do?” I asked.

“I do,” Griffin said. “I’m kind of curious.”

“This one probably won’t be like a normal one,” I said.

“I can live with that,” Griffin said. “I’d just feel better knowing you weren’t blindly walking into trouble with no one watching your back.”

“What do you think we’re going to be doing?” Aidan challenged.

“Probably still avoiding eye contact.”

Aidan scowled.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Cillian said. “The sooner he understands what we do the easier it will be on Aisling.”

“He hasn’t been hard on me,” I said.

“Just hard in … .”

I interrupted Jerry. “Don’t finish that filthy sentence.”

“How did you know what I was going to say?”

“Because I know you,” I said. I glanced at Griffin, still unsure. “If you want to come, I don’t see why you can’t. You just can’t get in the way. You know that, right?”