Ray appeared beside me. We stood protected by the porch and out of the drizzle. She leaned against the wall. “You’re gonna kill yourself early, the rate you inhale that crap.”
I barely heard her. As if compelled by some unknown force, I asked, “What does your sister do?”
Ray cut me a curious look. “Why are you interested?”
Good question. I shrugged, winging it. “I’d probably want to use her services. What’s her price?”
She frowned. “Ila’s really good at what she does, or so her clients say. But I hardly see you as the type who’d want more—”
“Her price, Ray,” I snapped.
“Lord, you’re grumpy.” She rolled her eyes at my curt tone, not in the least bit fazed. “It starts at around three grand, but it frequently depends on size.”
What the fuck?
“It usually takes about a month, sometimes a little longer. Mostly, it hinges on the client’s availability. Ila is thorough…” She glanced at the closed door. “So, you want your portrait painted?”
It took a moment to wade through the haze and pounding that had sprung up in my head again. “Portrait?” I repeated.
“Yes. Why else would you be interested in Ila’s prices for painting people?”
An artist? She was a damnartist? I had thought a masseuse or something as the reason for the closed door. But Ray’s size comment had nearly given me an aneurysm. I stood there for several long seconds, unable to understand the relief flowing through me. “So she’s showing him her work in there?”
“Yep. It’s her studio and off-limits when she’s working…” Slowly, Ray straightened from the wall. “Oh, no you don’t, Max.” Her eyes sparked dangerously. “I like you a lot, but I love my sister. So don’t make me choose sides. You do anything to her, I will hunt you and kick your ass all the way down Pine.”
“Noted.”
“That wasn’t my approval. Note that, too.”
“How would I hurt her? She’s barely given me the time of day.” And I wondered if Logan had a boyfriend—which I doubted, considering Ray’s words.
Hazel eyes narrowed to slits. “I may not be on your campus, but news travels, as do your hookups. Heck, when your brotherhood’s namedThe Players, there’s a reason for it, thoughHookup Kingsmight be more apt. I’ll tell you up front, it won’t fly with my sister. So for both your sakes, stay clear of her. She doesn’t do players.”
Hookup Kings? Players?Several months ago, in another life, sure. I merely lifted an eyebrow at her analysis, but it also raised more questions about Logan.
“I’m not blind—” Ray sliced me a dark glower. “When I walked into the kitchen earlier, the tension between you two was so thick, it’s a miracle I could get to the sink unscathed.”
Biting off my smile, I inhaled another lungful of smoke. So I hadn’t imagined the sensual pull. I did get to Little Miss Prickly.
“As my friend, Max, I’m asking you to stay away from her.”
Shit. I didn’t want to ruin my relationship with Ray. So I said nothing. My gaze drifted down the wet street. I killed my smoke and dropped it into my pack. “You want to go get a drink?”
“God, yes! Been hitting the books the entire day—”
Voices sounded, I turned. Logan and the silver fox appeared.
“See you soon,” the guy said, nodding at Ray, but giving me a puzzled look before bounding down the steps. No doubt he’d make the connection soon enough.
Logan turned to leave. It struck me just how petite she was standing next to Ray and me. Probably around five-four or something. The top of her head barely reached my shoulder.
“Ila, wait.” Ray stopped her as she turned for the door. “Come with us, we’re going out for a drink.”
Logan’s gaze shifted to me, then back to her sister. She shook her head. “I have work—”
“Ugh, c’mon, sis. You work a day job and then this painting one. We all need to take a break sometimes,” Ray grumbled. “We haven’t done anything in ages. It’s just one drink. And it is Max’s birthday—he just got his official grown-up card.” She grinned.
I snorted. Great, point out my age.
