Page 55 of Love Thief

“Are you getting her?” I ask Marshall.

“Not a chance. She’s your pony, midarlin’, time to get wet.” He laughs at me and I put my goggles down and smile at Eamonn, all fake solemnity and puppy dog eyes.

“I’m going in, Eamonn. Remember me to your dad, and tell him I love him.”

He solemnly nods his head. “I’ll help, Aunty Kitten.”

“No, baby, you stand guard with Marshall.” I pass him across to Marshall and grab the headcollar and rope.

Stalking past the men who are rolling with laughter, I grab Kellen. “Come and lure her out, she’ll come to you. Stand at that end and she can get out, it's shallow.”

I jump in, fully clothed, herding Pinky and the two screaming women towards the shallow end.

Becky stands at the edge of the pool, glaring at me. As if it’s my fault the damn pony is horny all the time. The little boys are leaping around in excitement, giving advice and grabbing Pinky by the mane to hang on to her, whilst she stands canoodling with Kellen.

“Oh my beautiful lady,” he croons at her, “did you miss me? Were you coming for me?”

I interrupt the make out session and say, “Stop being nice to her, she’s the devil.” Pinky just stands and stares adoringly at him. I clip the lead rope onto the headcollar and she is finally secure.

“My hair, my nails, all ruined,” Tiff, standing at the side of the pool, sneers out under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear her. She glares at me and Pinky from under her long eyelashes. “My quiet day by the pool, trampled on by you and your pony.”

I look around in amazement. “And how exactly did we do that?”

“You herded that thing here on purpose,” she grinds out quietly, fuming, and pointing squarely at Pinky.

“Why else would you be dressed like that? You did it so you could ride those stupid bikes over here and upset us,” Texas hisses from behind her friend. “Gabe, do something,” she pouts at him.

Not quite done herself, Tiff adds, “She definitely did it on purpose. She told those boys to get in the pool.”

Oisin looks around in amazement and comes to defend me, but he doesn’t get a chance. Eamonn has heard enough. He and Colm go around the back of all three women and push them back into the pool.

All three boys start bellowing at the screaming women in the pool. “Don’t you shout at our Aunty Kitten. She didn’t do anything. The pony got out. She pushed Eamonn off the fence.”

I stand and start to laugh, full on laugh, and the three little boys all start laughing too.

“Typical Purcell and Greystone, back in business,” laughs Xander, coming to high five the boys. He rubs Eamonn’s head. “Just like your daddy. He would never allow anyone to shout at Kitten, either. Good work boys.”

“Good boys?” shouts Texas. “Good work? That’s it. It’s either her or us on tour. We’re not going if she goes.” She’s finally climbed back out of the pool and is glaring and pointing at me.

“Same goes for me,” says Tiff, and she and Texas turn their attention to Becky.

I raise my eyebrows at her. Is she going to chuck her lot in?

“Same for me,” says Becky.

I look up to the sky in exasperation. They are being ridiculous, and it doesn’t have to be like this. “I did none of this on purp?—.”

“Enough, Evie!” Kellen barks out with a dead straight face. Xander has come to stand next to me, so do all the Purcells. The twins are hanging onto my hands and Eamonn is clutching my legs.

Becky starts to say, “She’s been—” but Kellen holds his hand up to silence her.

The women clearly think he’s going to send me packing and stand glaring at me with smug looks on their faces. I just shrug at him, and lift my hands in a what could I do gesture.

“We’ll sort this out later,” he instructs.

“No,” I shake my head, “we’ll sort it now.” No way am I being dismissed in front of this lot. He can go fuck himself if he thinks that’s happening.

I see Xander smirk. He knew I wouldn’t go quietly. He looks at Kellen in as much as to say ‘your move buddy,’ as do I. Kellen raises his eyes to the heavens.

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