Page 25 of Chasing Sparks

From the corner of my eye, I catch my brother’s knowing smirk as we stroll back toBlack Lotus, but I refuse to acknowledge it.

I know what he’s thinking, but he’s wrong.

Grabbing the tablet at the front desk, I open the appointment app and check over the damage for the day. Shit, we are booked solid.

I was supposed to leave early today, but when Ori told me she had to work late, I opened my schedule back up. Hey, some extra cash is always nice, but I didn’t expectthisin a few short hours.

“Have you seen this?” I hold up the tablet, determined to steer our conversation to neutral waters. “Apparently, the three of us believe there are twenty-eight hours in the day. We need a receptionist, because at this point, there’s no time to sleep, eat, or shit. Don’t even get me started on extracurricular activities.”

“Mm-hmm.” Braden’s response sounds innocuous, but it’s the way he’s watching me. No matter how long I linger by the reception desk, I’m not escaping the noose of this chat.

With a grunt, I slug down some coffee. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t even say it.”

Maybe if I play off my situation with Ori like it’s nothing, my little brother will believe me.

No such luck, judging by the shit-eating grin on his face.

“Fucking stop before I beat you.”

“What?” Braden throws up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m happy for you.”

“There is nothing going on between Ori and me.” I scratch my chin, reconsidering my words. “Okay, there’s something, but not whatyou’rethinking. We’re hanging out. That’s all.”

“Right,” Braden drawls, biting back a laugh. “That’s why you’re skipping out on your day off to help her repair her house … because you two are buddies.”

“Exactly.”

“And you only go next door half a dozen times per day because the coffee is so good.”

“You said it.”

“And you damn near lost it when that guy hugged her.”

“Yeah, because he’s a sleaze bag and should respect her personal space. Someone has to look out for her—she’s tiny, okay?”

“Fucking liar. All I can say is it’s about damn time, Ash,” Braden retorts.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I pivot to face him. My first appointment isn’t for another thirty minutes, which gives Braden plenty of time to give me crap about Ori. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He furrows his brow, clearly perplexed by my question. “You and Ori. It’s a good thing. She’s a great woman, too. She’d have to be, to coax your ass into settling down.”

I slice my hand across my throat in a cutting motion. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy there, killer. No one is taming me or tricking me into settling down. That’s not how I roll. You know that.”

I expect my stern response to end this chat.

It doesn’t.

Instead, Braden perches on the green velvet couch in the reception area, a wary look flickering across his face.

He’s going to get into it.

Even though I’ve told him—nay, warned him countless times toneverbring it up, he’s going digging.

Son of a bitch.

“Ash, it’s been over ten years, man. You’ve got to let it go. Lucille wasn’t worth the energy then, and she sure as hell isn’t now.”

“This isn’t about Lucille.” Total fucking lie, but it’s the only comeback I have at the moment.

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