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“So it makes sense that you’d want to help kids who might find themselves in that same position,” Kelli continued. “Much as it pains me to say it, I’ve always admired you for that.”
“Damn, Kell,” he joked. “I bet that hurt.”
“So fucking much,” she muttered.
“You still happy wiping shitty asses and finger painting every day?”
“I’m teaching children how to read and write and learn to live in society as decent human beings. And yes, I’m happy with my decision.” There was no heat behind her words as she set him straight.
“It’s an admirable profession.”
She looked at Colm, waiting for the punch line. He didn’t have one. He knew for a fact she had a hard job, and he also knew she was damn good at it. God knew he couldn’t spend seven hours a day in a room with twenty-eight five-year-olds for the shitty pay she got.
“Thanks,” she said at last.
It occurred to Colm that this was the longest the two of them had ever been alone together, and civil. Whenever Kelli came around, it was to see Padraig or his cousins, Yvonne, Darcy, or Sunnie. Any conversations between the two of them were had while surrounded by his family, and they consisted solely of playful jabs.
“You still seeing Brooke?” she asked.
“Yup.”
She grinned. “Doesn’t bother you that she was totally into Paddy first? Sort of makes you the backup twin, doesn’t it? Sloppy seconds?”
“Gross.” Colm knew she was teasing him, but he bit anyway. “She and Paddy only went out on a couple of dates. They weren’t in a relationship and they didn’t engage in more than one good-night kiss at the door.”
Padraig had actually been the one to set Colm up with Brooke a couple months earlier. His brother had taken Brooke out a few years ago, but the dating ended the night he met Mia. After that, Padraig was a goner, falling fast and furious, for his beautiful future wife. Padraig had always been the king of love at first sight, but Colm had to admit, with Mia, his brother hadn’t been wrong.
“Well, I guess it’s a safe bet that you, the last of the original gigolos, have done more than just kiss the girl.”
Colm leaned back, adopting a cocky pose. “Let’s just say I’m rounding the bases at a steady pace. Always was a better ballplayer than Paddy.”
Kelli snorted. “Rounding the bases, huh? No home run. Sounds like you’re slowing down in your old age.”
“You don’t have to worry about that happening. Ever. That scoreboard’s about to change. Brooke and I have made after-party plans for Halloween. I’m going to spend the night at her place.”
“Well, she’s definitely your type.”
“I have a type?”
“Don’t be thick, Colm. Of course you do. Blonde, bubbly, more cute than pretty, boobs a must, but brains optional.”
Colm considered that, then smiled. “Damn. I do have a type. You realize you have a type too.”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t. I’m open-minded.”
“Bullshit. You go for wimps, guys you can run roughshod over and control.”
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sensitive men, guys who actually have souls, and who don’t look at women and only see a nice pair of tits and a firm ass.”
“Maybe not, but I guarantee none of those men have ever rocked your world in bed.”
He got the sense his words had struck a chord when she didn’t reply right away. It seemed as if it took her a second to regroup.
Interesting.
Maybe he was wrong about Kelli’s type.
“My sex life is just fine. Or…it was…when I had one.”
