Blain

A shot of pink catches my eye and I turn just in time to see Tink and three women stop at the edge of the grass, their mouths all hanging open when Gray, Rus, and Ty come running over, their mouths curving at the sight of what they probably consider free game.

“Holy shit, she’s adorable, man,” Ty breathes out, when Tink conspicuously scratches her ass and scowls down at her sneakers distastefully.

“It’s gone, Ginny!”

“It is not. I can smell it.”

“Only if you have the synapses of a dog,” the blonde yells back, throwing her hands up when Tink sits down on the grass, rips off her shoes and tosses them at the trashcan.

“What is she doing?” Rus chortles, when she checks out her hot pink toe nails and smiles.

The other women have all walked over by now, one still yelling at her, and the blonde rolls her eyes and grimaces.

“We got churched this morning and ended up shovelling dog shit down at the shelter. For a dog lover Ginny has issues with the smell of crap. I bought her those sneakers and she throws them away because of a speck of crap. Figures.”

The blonde, who Gray is eyeing like a side of meat stops talking when a black haired, brown eyed elf sighs loudly and shoves out her hand.

“I’m Ingram. Ing for short, never call me Grim or I will harm you. This idiot with the shoe fetish is Mari and the nerd laughing with Ginny is Mari’s cousin Rox. So, you’re Blay huh?” she asks, eyeing me narrowly. “You serious about Ginny or what because if you’re just some rich asshole slumming it for amusement I have to warn you, I almost went to juvie once for asking an undercover cop where I could buy crack and I assure you I could have learned how to murder a man without leaving evidence,” she warns, making Rus croak out a laugh.

“I have got to know that story,” he breathes out, shoving me to get closer to Ing.

The woman smiles and shrugs casually, giving him a sexy look.

“I was researching a school project and needed to talk to a dealer about the economic ramifications of drugs in our society. How was I supposed to know that hobo was a cop on a sting? Now, Mr. George.”

“Blay,” I insist, grinning.

Her mouth curls, eyes narrowing, and I hear Rus whimper pitifully in lust.

“Mr. George until proven innocent. Now, Ginny. You like her or you just messing with a girl from the old neighbourhood or what?” she asks harshly.

That pisses me off because to me Tink isn’t just where she’s from or who she knows. She’s my ideal woman and perfect in every way, even down to the as yet un-brushed hair and her love of eye popping pink.

Having her friends ask me whether I’m serious about her implies that she doesn’t warrant much else and that has my blood boiling as I go rigid and seethe.

“Don’t ever imply that she doesn’t deserve anything less than my absolute obsession Ingram. I wanted Tink the moment I saw her yelling at her dog across the street from my construction site and by God I’ll have her. I didn’t run my ass off after a cab just to get laid and I didn’t spend my night having her mama glare at me just to get into her pants. I lost half a tooth, had to fight her brothers off to give her the last donut and her dad enjoys stirring up shit for me with her mother. I can assure you, I’m not just in it for a lay.”

They go quiet and exchange a look before Mari whistles under her breath and looks at where Tink is still arguing as Rox retrieves her shoes from the trash and starts wiping them down on the grass.

“Oh, man. He’s already given her a freaking nickname. You call her that yet?” Mari asks.

“Yeah,” I say, the word more as a question as I watch them blink at each other.

Ing swallows and scrubs at her neck, looking up at me seriously, her brown eyes softening a little.

“Ginny is not that great with anything that implies relationship material or commitment. She says it’s because she caught that bonehead Cooper Foster screwing Fay but the truth is she is terrified to put herself out there what with Lizzie and her waspish tongue. I love the old lady but honestly, she’d scare away anyone Gin gets serious about. I hope you’ve got balls dude because I don’t know who you’ll have to fight more, Ginny or her mama.”

Yeah. I kind of got that idea last night when Tink acted as if we were just buddies every time Lizzie so much as looked our way. Shit.

“I don’t care.”

“Is this one of those love at first sight things? Because I’m not sure I believe in that crap,” Mari mutters, making Gray scowl.

“My poor broken heart,” he mutters, getting a slap from me to stop messing around.

“Yes and trust me, no one is more surprised than I am but I really, really want Tink and I aim to get her. So, you ladies here to bust my nuts some more or you gonna help me land my girl?”

“Well damn Mari, I think we can stop buying razors for the baby shower.”

Smiles spread among them and we come to an understanding by the time Rox drags Tink our way, feet clad in her purple sneakers as she pouts and looks up at me.

“You fixed your tooth. I kinda liked the whole Jim Carrie Dumb and dumber look on you. It was cute.”

Ty laughs, the look transforming the old burn scar on the right side of his face before he sobers and gives me a thumbs up. I want to grab Tink and kiss the hell out of her but I rein it in and smile instead.

“I had to. I had breakfast with the family this morning and my mother would have pitched a fit. Not that I mind her fits but I wasn’t in the mood to explain your mother’s bread to her.” I say, loving the blush that spreads over her cheeks and down her neck.

That pink tints the supple skin all the way down to her boobs, boobs I can’t help leer at when I notice that they’re definitely a C-cup. A small C but just enough for me to really play with.

Just that quick I feel my dick stir and shift uncomfortably, cursing myself for foregoing a jock strap today.

“I warned you about the bread. You’re lucky she didn’t react more violently. She threw a knife at papa once for the comments he made about her family’s secret recipe. He had to get four stitches in his hand.”

I want to elucidate and tell her that I loved the whole experience and haven’t mentioned anything to my family because I’m a bastard and I want mom to experience them in their full glory for the first time at the party. Speaking of.

“Hey Tink, my mom’s throwing a party night after next and I told her you and the family will drop by. Think you can convince Lizzie to come rub elbows with those idiots. Please?”

She gets this wary look in her eyes and starts shaking her head in denial when Mari saves my ass. God I will name one of my children after this woman, even if they’re all boys, for helping me out. I guess if he has an identity crisis I can always steer him towards manly pursuits and teach him how to kick ass when the bullying starts.

“Sure. Ginny owes us for this morning’s suck fest and I would literally pay money to see Lizzie Borden sniff at some caviar. Honour your debts Gin or I’ll tell the good Father about last year’s pot incident.” She warns.

“I had one puff and I didn’t even like it.” She barks, scowling darkly, though she’s looking sheepish when she peeks up at me from beneath her lashes.

God she’s adorable.

“Yeah, yeah. They all say that until a habit forms and you start smoking out in the alley to keep your apartment from stinking like a stoners arm pit. Come on Ginny, your brothers will be in food heaven and you know Ian will love seeing Lizzie fume. And you can get back at Lizzie for telling Joseph’s mom and dad that you’ll move in with them after the wedding.”

Tink’s shoulders slump and she looks ready to bawl.

“Their house smells like cabbage Mari. Cabbage.”

Rus whimpers on his laughter and I feel my own shoulders shake at the misery in her eyes. Leave it to my Tink to focus on the house instead of the fact that her mother is basically selling her off to the butcher’s son for a life time of free cold cuts.

“Aw honey, I know. Now see? This is the perfect opportunity to get one back at her,” Mari coaxes, putting an arm around her shoulder to pull her close. “Just imagine it Ginny. They’ll serve food that isn’t fried in butter. Little pieces of meat that will have her Irish eyeballs twitching and I bet they have like a hundred forks and silverwear. She won’t have a clue what to do!”

Tink’s left eye narrows and she purses her lips thoughtfully.

“Hmm, that is true, but how to get her to agree. You know mama says no just on principle,” she mutters, tapping a finger to her mouth.

Ing smiles, and I see Rus melt when she bares her teeth and pulls out her phone.

“Ma, yeah okay I’m sorry I didn’t call you.” She rolls her eyes. “Listen I need a favour. I said I was sorry, and anyway the favour isn’t for me, it’s for Ginny. I need you to call Lizzie and brag about meeting her new boyfriend’s mom.”

Tink blushes strongly and looks at me with wide eyes that resemble a doe caught in the headlights. It’s so cute I can’t resist pecking a kiss to her lips and smiling brightly when she seems to melt a little and lets out a sigh. I kiss her again, nothing too intense and pull away with lust in my eyes that is sure to let her know that that friend bull crap is not happening.

She may as well know now right.

“Yeah. You know how she’s been bragging lately about her boys and that butcher’s kid while poor Ginny is suffering. Yeah ma, I love Ginny too. Yes I know how you feel about that. No. But…come on ma, it’ll really piss her off ma and after the things she said about your pies at last month’s block party…” she drawls, trailing off gleefully.

Something vicious blares out of the phone and Ing shoves it back into her pocket before dusting off her shoulder like she’s a pro.

“Get ready, Gin, mama Egan will be buzzing you in about two minutes flat. Now, I distinctly remember hearing you guys brought food when I eaves dropped earlier.”