Page 35 of Property of Grifter
Hades grins wide from his spot by the pool table and calls out, “Hey, Brushes!”
I can’t help laughing at the nickname the guys started calling me a few days ago.It seems to have stuck.“Hey, Hades,” I say as he walks over.
His gaze flicks to Nana.“You brought your grandmother to the club?”
Nana raises a brow, hands on her hips.“Am I not allowed here, boy?”she huffs, sounding more than a little peeved.Hades doesn’t know it, but he just bought himself a world of trouble if he doesn’t find a way to placate her.My Nana can be a cantankerous old woman—I’m kind of hoping that I’ll be just like her in my old age.
“Nana,” I hiss, mortified.
Hades’ lips twitch in a smile.“Not a thing, Nana.Just wondering if you play poker?”
She studies him for a second, then deadpans, “Is it strip poker?Because with all these fine specimens standing around here, I could get on board with that.”
C has moved up to join us and once he hears her, he nearly chokes on his beer.He barks out a laugh.“Nana, you saying you want to see me naked?”he questions, eyes lighting with mischief.
“Are you saying you have such little confidence in how you play the game, that you’re already saying you’re losing?”she shoots back, wiggling her eyebrows.
Now everyone’s laughing, and C grins at Nana, looking absolutely smitten.“Who is this woman?Because I think I’m in love.”I cover my face with my hand.“This is my Nana.Nana, this is Hades and C.They’re members of Griffin’s club.”
She grins up at C.“Since you’re in love with me, you can be my partner at poker.Wait—does poker have partners?”
“Not the kind we play,” C says, amused.
“And what kind do you play?”
“Five Card Stud.”
Her smile widens.“Well now, C, that sounds like my kind of game.”
“Are you sure, Nana?We play for money.”
“Now it definitely sounds like my game.Did your parents hate you so much that they only gave you a letter for a name?”she asks, wrapping her arm around C’s as if she’s claiming him—and she probably is.
C is grinning like a fool.“C stands from the name the club gave me.They call me Candyman, cause all the women think I’m sweet like candy and can’t wait to lick me.”
“No, no, no,” I whisper, already knowing what is going to happen next.
Nana pats his cheek.“Well, lucky me, Candyman, I do have averysweet tooth.”
“Oh, God,” I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose.“Shoot me now.”
C and Hades escort her to a table while she flirts with C and cackles the whole way.I’m wondering if I’m going to end up with a Nana in a Kings of Anarchy cut, riding a Harley when I feel strong arms wrap around my waist from behind.
“What’s wrong, baby?”Griffin murmurs against my ear, his voice low and rough against my ear, in that way that makes my stomach flip.
“My grandmother is flirting and laying her claim on C,” I say, not bothering to hide the horror in my voice.
He chuckles, lips brushing my neck.“It looks like she’s having a good time.”
I lean back against him, sighing.“Nana always does.Doesn’t matter where she is.”
“How was your day?”he asks, chin resting on my shoulder.
“Good.Finished my last project today—the diner’s mural is officially complete.”
He hums approvingly.“What’s next on the list?”
“Nothing really,” I admit, smiling up at him, just glad to be near him again.We were in different places last night and I couldn’t sleep without having his arms around me—that’s how much trouble I’m already in when it comes to this man.
