Enzo (Jinx Tattoos 1)

Rhys’ jaw dropped. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

“I know. No ring, no plan, no romance.” He shook his head. “I’m shocked she didn’t tell me no, straight up.”

“What did she say?”

“To give her time. It’s been two days, man. I’m about to climb the wall.”

“How’re you going to get your ass out of this hot seat?” Rhys asked.

“I have a plan, and you’re going to help me. She never could resist you.”

“Fuck that, I don’t want to be in firing range.”

“Didn’t you just say you owed me?” Enzo said.

He laughed. “I didn’t think you wanted me to pay with my life!”

“Fucking pussying out at me?”

“Just pitch me your plan, and I’ll decide from there,” Rhys said.

He sank down onto the couch, balancing Aoife on his knee, and explained everything to his brother.

Rhys beamed. “You sure you want to do this, brother? Space usually means staying away from someone.”

“Fuck that, she’s had enough distance. She needs to see the upside of things. I know this woman better than anyone else. Right now, she’s stuck in her head.”

“All right, I’ll get her here. How long do you need?”

The jewelry case in his pocket almost burned him. “Give me an hour.”

Rhys nodded. “Okay, man. It’s not a secret I consider her my sister. It’d be nice to make that official.”

“You get her here, and I promise you I’ll take care of the rest.”

Rhys stood and moved toward the door.

He’d picked his baby brother for a reason. Silas would grill him and make him weigh pros and cons. Rhys was more of a go with the flow type. “By the way, you’re on babysitter duty tonight,” he called out to his brother.

“Good, me and Aoife will cruise for chicks. They love a man who cares for babies.”

“Hey, don’t use my daughter to arrange booty calls.”

“I thought that was part of being a single uncle on the prowl,” Rhys called back over his shoulder.

“Welcome to your crazy family, little girl,” Enzo said. He locked the door behind his brother, grabbed the baby carrier, slipped her inside, tightened the straps, and headed for the backyard. It’s time to bring my woman home.

Aibhlinn

“Are you planning on hiding out indefinitely?” Sophia asked as she worked the clay on her wheel. She had a small studio set up in her spare bedroom.

“No.”

“So, you’ve just been crashing here because you want to relive our college roommate days?”

“Maybe.”

Sophia looked skeptical. “Girl, denial is more than a river in Egypt.”