Kissing Kennedy (Claimed 4)

He's one scary looking son of a bitch. Has the skills to back it up too. The shit he did overseas, well, there's a reason he doesn't like crowds and it isn't the kind that makes you sleep warm and cozy at night. He was a hero over there long before I got out a decade ago. He was a hero over there long after I left too. He enjoyed the life. I just wanted to put down roots and set up shop.

He looks at me and then at Sophie like he has no fucking clue who I'm talking about. Jesus. He probably doesn't. I don't think he's noticed that other women even exist since he found Sophie. He doesn't take his eyes off her long enough to note their existence.

"Hi, Asher," Sophie says.

Shit. I'm being rude…which isn't much different from most days if I'm being honest. I don't care for most people. But Sophie is an exception to the rule. She's family. And Trick will kick my ass if I'm rude to her.

"Hi, sweetheart. Sorry I'm late. Got hung up working on a piece," I mutter, scrubbing a hand through my hair again. The piece was a simple rose, but the chick wouldn't stop complaining and sit still. Which wasn't a big deal until approximately five minutes ago. A lot of people struggle to sit still when you're permanently inking their skin. But had she cooperated, I might have been here long before the brunette vanished.

"It's all good," Trick drawls, playing with a piece of Sophie's red hair.

"Are you talking about Kennedy?" Sophie asks me, swatting his hand away.

I didn't imagine her. Thank God.

Trick grins at Sophie, his eyes lighting up. I swear, he gets off on riling her up. He does it every chance he gets just so he can kiss her happy again after. Never thought I'd see him fall as hard as he did for the little redheaded queen at his side. I'm happy as hell for both of them.

"Her name is Kennedy?" I ask.

"Yeah. Kennedy Thorne," Sophie says, eyeing me oddly. She probably thinks I'm insane. Hell, I might be because I took one look at the girl and every nerve ending in my body started firing. My heart is still pounding like a war drum. And my cock is hard enough to pound steel.

I plan to take care of that last issue as soon as I find her.

"Where'd she go?" I ask Sophie since she's the one with the answers.

"She left."

"She left?" I growl so loud half the table turns to look at me. It's then I notice the door tucked into the alcove in the corner. The parking lot is visible through the glass.

Son of a bitch. I would find my future wife and lose her in the space of five minutes.

Trick's lips curve in amusement, like he knows what's up.

Sophie's eyes widen.

"Where's she going?"

"Back to Nashville," Sophie says. "She has a class early in the morning."

"She's a college student?"

Sophie tilts her head to the side, eyeing me suspiciously. "She's in her freshman year at Vanderbilt. Why?"

I shrug instead of answering, not sure she'd approve of my answer if I gave it. Not sure I know how I'd answer it anyway. Kennedy is a freshman, which means she's even younger than I thought. Don't think that matters as much as it should though. There's something about her I can't shake, something I don't want to shake.

Sophie seems to know where my head is. She narrows her eyes at me. There's a reason Trick thinks his fiancée walks on water, and it's not because she's timid. She has the courage of a lion, especially when something matters to her. "If you hurt her, I'll rip your balls off, Asher," she warns me, completely ignoring Trick when he messes with her hair again. "Kennedy is not like the women you're used to dealing with."

"What does that mean?" I ask, my brows furrowing.

"I've seen the women who come into your shop," she says, turning her nose up with a sniff. Christ, I love her for Trick. She's as sweet as she is fierce, exactly the kind of woman he needs in his life. "Kennedy doesn't date. She's a crazy talented writer with big plans. She works her butt off. And her dad is a billionaire."

"You're serious."

"Yep," Sophie says.

Well, fuck. I make bank doing what I do because of the reputation I've worked so hard to protect, but I ain't anywhere close to a billionaire. My ink adorns the skin of a few billionaires, like the one sitting on Trick's other side, Dane Robertson. That's as close as I'll ever come to being one.

"Thorne. You're talking about David Thorne?"

"Her dad," Sophie confirms.

David Thorne is the closest we've got to royalty here. He spends just enough time in the state to be considered one of ours. He's some hotshot in the oil industry, with more political connections than God. Word is, he's also a prick. Unless you piss gold, he ain't got time for you.

"They're close?" I ask Sophie.

"Close enough," she says. "He can be a jerk, but she loves him."

I grunt, not sure I like the sound of that. He better fucking not be mean to her or I'll shove my size sixteen boot up his ass, father or not.

I'm glad as fuck my girl doesn't date though. Never considered myself a jealous person, but the thought of her with someone else doesn't sit well with me. I doubt her daddy will approve of an ex-Marine with no family, a fucked-up past, and an attitude, but that's not going to stop me from trying.

"Oh no," Sophie groans. "I know that look. I hate that look."

"What look?" I ask.

Trick slides his arm around her shoulders, giving me a dirty look. He rests his other hand on her belly. They just found out she's pregnant a couple weeks ago, but I don't think anyone knows yet. I only know because I'm the closest thing to family that he's got. I recognize the look on Trick's face though. If I upset his girl, he's going to be pissed about it.

"That look! The same one he gets when he's getting all possessive and bossy," Sophie huffs, pointing at Trick before turning back to me. "It means you're going to be completely unreasonable and ignore everything I just said." Her expression turns stern, her love for her friend obvious. "I will help her hide your body, Asher. I'm not even kidding. She isn't the kind of girl you're used to dealing with. She doesn't do one-night stands and casual hook ups."

"Neither do I," I growl, not sure what gave her that idea. It's been years since I last got laid. I've had more important shit to do than chase pussy. Building my shop into one of the best in the southern half of the United States hasn't been easy. I've worked my ass off to get where I am, and I have the industry write-ups to prove it.