Page 3 of Griffin (Stone Brothers #5)

THREE

GRIFFIN

T heo turned the volume down on the radio. He was miserable from a night of partying, so it was my responsibility to make sure he felt the full brunt of it. I turned the music back up.

"Fuckface," he muttered. He pulled down his sunglasses and slumped against the seat like a sulking kid.

"So, how was it with the long-legged trio?" I asked. "I'm impressed."

"Don't be. I was so drunk, I don't even remember it. No idea who the chick down at the end of the bed wrapped in the sheet was. Honestly, I think Crusoe kicked her out, and she just crawled into my bed. You know how grumpy Cru gets when the alcohol starts to leave his system."

Theo leaned over and reached for the box of scones.

"Just take one. Dad's trying to impress the new office manager."

Theo dropped a big chunk of scone in his mouth and then talked around it. "Hoo did he ire?"

"How the hell should I know? I know he was having a hard time finding someone who wanted to sit in a small trailer on a dusty construction site for the next year."

The scone seemed to revive Theo some. He sat up straighter and gave himself a little shake. "Shit, that's the last time I party before a workday."

I laughed. "Can I get that in writing?"

"Nope. Hey, Mac and I are going to ride after work. Interested in some mountain biking at Devil's Point? I noticed you're getting kind of soft in the middle." He reached over as if he might touch my stomach.

"Touch me and you won't be using that hand to jack off for the next ten years," I said.

Theo laughed. "Boy, someone is touchy about his soft middle."

"Nothing soft about my middle, buddy. How the hell are you going to bike down that rocky path in the dark? You won't get to Devil's Point before sundown. And I thought Mac was helping your dad paint the boat?"

"Gonna try out my new helmet light. Mac is helping Dad. Although Mac's form of helping includes checking his phone every five minutes and stopping to sext with Brianna."

"Is he still seeing Brianna? Hell, what is that? Three straight weeks?"

"Look who's talking, Mr. Love 'em and leave 'em before their panties are even dry."

I looked over at him. "Says the man who woke up surrounded by three naked women. Remember any names?"

Theo nodded. "Think one of them was Hannah or Helen or something with an H. Besides, they won't remember my name either. Cru kept pouring shots, and you know how you get to that point with tequila where you can't remember how many shots you've had? We hit that point halfway through the evening."

"I thought you were competing in the Downhill Masters next month. Is tequila part of your training routine?" Theo was an awesome mountain biker. In fact, he was an all-around athlete, but biking was his passion.

"A little tequila now and then won't hurt."

"You were literally just talking about that point in time when you're so fucking plastered you can't remember how many shots you've had.

Not sure if that qualifies as a little tequila.

" I turned down the road that led to the construction site.

A lot of our coworkers were already hard at work.

My truck scared pigeons off the road reminding me of the start to the morning.

For some reason, the whole incident, and especially the woman, had really stuck with me.

"Shit, is Greg back on the site? I thought he hurt his thumb. Can't stand that blowhard," Theo said.

"Great, then I'll tell Dad to make sure he puts you on his team."

"Fuck you."

Dust kicked up as I pulled over to the parking area.

Dad was walking out of the trailer that would be his office for the next year.

I grabbed the box of scones, and we got out of the truck.

It was a clear day and about ten degrees warmer than it was on the coast. Dad spotted us and turned our direction.

"He's going to lecture us about being late," Theo muttered.

"Nah, I had to pick up his scones."

"Guys, you're late," Dad said.

Theo grinned smugly at me.

"Uh, the scones, remember? Plus, I had to double back to pick up this idiot."

"Take the scones inside, Fin, and Theo, I've got you scheduled to work on framing with Greg's team."

It was my turn to grin smugly.

Theo headed to the trailer with lockers and hard hats, and I walked off with the scones.

"Hey, Fin, Ms. Kennedy is here, and please don't pile on the Stone charm right off the bat. Besides, she's married."

"Fuck, what kind of an animal do you think I am? And Katie came on to me. I didn't even encourage it. Not my fault she quit."

"She specifically used the word 'heartbroken' in her resignation letter. Just tone down the Stone-ness, right?"

"Don't forget I got all my animal instincts from my dad." I was pleased to get in the final word.

I reached the trailer and stepped inside.

It was split into two halves. Dad's desk was at the front of the trailer and his office manager's desk was at the back.

The new manager was bent down picking up some fallen pencils.

I allowed myself to notice her nice ass before I turned off my "Stone-ness. "

"Hello," I said. "Brought some scones." No reason I couldn't make myself the good guy, the person who brought in scones for her first day.

She straightened and twisted around. "It's you." The pencils fell from her hand. She waved her hands, flustered. "Could my fingers be any more buttery?"

I put the scones on the table and hurried over to help her. I'd noticed her nice perfume on the pier, but it smelled even better not muted by the odors of a fishing pier.

I handed her the pencils I retrieved. Our fingers brushed past each other, and for some reason, her touch stayed on my skin long after I'd pulled my hand away.

I also noticed the gold band on her ring finger, which, given Dad's lecture five minutes ago, was probably a good thing.

She peered up at me with big brown eyes.

They were glinting with amusement as she once again mentioned her buttery fingers.

"Shay, right?" I asked even though I knew damn well that was her name.

"Yes, and you're Griffin. You're Colt's son." She smiled. "My goodness, those are some amazing family genes."

I smiled. "Call me Fin. Have you recuperated from your harrowing morning? Scones are probably the last thing you want."

"Actually, since I only got two bites of mine this morning, I'm looking forward to eating one without pigeons watching. I hope I do well here. I really need the job, and your dad seems like a cool boss." She looked at me with a hopeful eyebrow raise.

"Dad's all right. You'll be great. Have you lived in the area long?"

Shay looked down as if this was a hard question.

"Sorry, none of my business."

She lifted her face. There was a line of tiny star tattoos that ran up along her neck and ended behind her ear.

A kissing trail, I thought and then shook the idea from my head.

Her brown eyes held all kinds of secrets, all kinds of emotion.

The question had triggered something, and some of that amused gloss had faded.

"No, it's fine. We're—uh, my husband and I—moved into town a few months ago.

" That seemed to be all she wanted to say about the subject, and I was fine with that.

The door swung open, and the thin floor of the trailer creaked as Dad stepped inside. "Hey, Fin, going to need you on the first unit. Electrician is finished with the rough electric in there, so we can start putting in insulation. I see you've met Ms. Kennedy."

"Please, call me Shay. Everyone can call me Shay.

Ms. Kennedy is far too formal, and I want to fit in as fast as possible.

It'll make me more comfortable and then I won't drop a dozen pencils on the floor and spill my coffee.

" She pointed to a wad of coffee-stained paper towels on her desk.

"And Fin is my hero. He rescued me from a terrible end this morning.

I stupidly tossed a scone crumb to a pushy pigeon out on the pier. "

Dad nodded. "I can see where this is going.

I once had a gull take a French fry right out of my hand.

" He looked at me with an accusatory glare.

"Well, hero, get to work. Your crew is waiting for you.

" He turned to Shay. "I emailed over those lists.

If you could generate some purchase orders, that would be great. "

"I'll get right on it. And once again, thank you so much for this job opportunity. I won't let you down."

"We're glad to have you, Shay."

Dad followed me out. I was expecting it. "Fin." This time the accusation was in his tone.

"I stepped in to scare away the birds, Dad. That's all. And I sure as fuck didn't know who she was at the time."

"Right. Well, just in case you didn't notice, she?—"

"She's wearing a wedding ring. Now, should I go to work, or do you want to continue with this stupid conversation?"

"Yes, go to work. Hero, my ass," he scoffed as he walked away.