Page 38 of Shark’s Pride

Well…the place that used to be mine.

“It’s only temporary,” I muttered—for the fifth time since leaving the Calabasas city lines. I didn’t care about the weird glances I got from the smoochy couple at the table across the way. Right now, I was the lunatic lady mumbling to herself. I felt that crazy anyway.

But damn it, I was completely justified.

While I wasn’t champing at the bit to hear whatever Sean wanted to talk about, the invitation couldn’t have been better timed. It was the perfect excuse for getting away from ground zero of Crazy Town.

“No, I’m meeting someone.” My brother, greeting the hostess in his naturally husky voice, broke into my meandering thoughts.

I stood up and waved him over.

“There she is. Thank you,” he said to the young hostess situated near the door. When he was closer, he spread his arms and practically glowed. “Hey, Abs!”

I forced a smirk and batted his big shoulder. “Hey yourself!”

He bent and wrapped me in a warm hug. Oh God, he was big and strong and familiar. And home. But damn it, I must’ve clung to him a few seconds too long. As soon as he pulled back, he gave me a head-to-toe inspection.

To head off any questions, I quickly said, “Well, you look handsome—but if I tell you that, your head will just get bigger and bigger, so…option B.”

Sean chuffed. “Which is?”

“I’ll just eat chips.” I stuffed another crunchy tortilla into my mouth, savoring the extra salt I’d added to the whole basket before Sean arrived.

“Oh, dear God. You destroyed them already?”

I grinned and shoveled another one into my mouth. “Maybuh,” I said around the mouthful.

Sean narrowed his gaze. “Aren’t you bound by some chef’s Socratic Oath not to ruin perfectly good food?”

Our waitress saved me from having to respond to that when she paused in front of our table, placed cardboard drink coasters in front us, and drew out her pen and pad.

“What’re you drinking, Abs?” Sean deferred to me.

After all the events of this crazy morning, something from the bar sounded perfect. “A Bloody Mary, please. Spicy.” I gave the woman a thin smile.

Sean ordered a Guinness, and the server set off to fill our order.

“So.” The guy spread his hands atop the table. “What’s new, sister?”

“Oh, you know.” I tried to act nonchalant, but he rolled his eyes, not buying a second of my act.

“Okay, if that’s how you want to do this.” The aged leather of his seat squeaked as he resettled his weight. “I asked Rio how your girls’ visit went last night.”

I picked up a new chip, breaking it into smaller pieces to make the goodness last. “At my place?” Rhetorical question in every way, so I moved on. “Was more like a flyby than a visit, but if you insist…”

“Rio’s answer was…interesting.” He twirled his drink coaster, using it as his focal point. In short, totally avoiding my gaze.

“Should I be afraid right now?” I finally uttered. But I already knew that answer. “Interesting” was Sean-speak for several different things. He was either intrigued, incensed, impatient, or in the dark. Maybe all four. At least that was the vibe I read in the firmness of his face and the inquisitive intensity of his gaze.

“She said you might have some interesting news…about your love life.”

I tilted my head. Cocked the sassy little grin, perfected since childhood, that usually derailed Sean from giving me the third degree about everything from spilled milk to skipped homework.

But not this time. Not even a little.

Time for a derailment.

“I thought you and she were having a date night. Why were you discussing my love life?”