Page 38 of The Jilted Jinn


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I let out a bark of laughter. "She needs someone aroundhere."

"So you silently volunteered as tribute and didn't let anyone elseknow?"

"It's complicated," Igrumbled.

"It always is," Hank agreed. "What's your plan forafterwards?"

I stared at his side profile. "Plan?"

Hank lifted his eyebrows. "Yes. Plan. How do you go from being contractor to her one and only loveinterest?"

I shook my head and tossed the piece of grass away. "I don't.Portia-"

Hank's head whipped around. He stared at me through wide eyes. "Portia has beenaround?"

My gaze narrowed. "Yes.Why?"

Hank let out a harsh chuckle. "She is either a blessing or a very wicked curse. Things are going to get a lot worse before they get any better,man."

"Tell me about it." I filled Hank in on the events of the last few weeks and when I was finished, he let out a low whistle. "You're just going to sit there and let her date every single man in the phonebook?"

I wanted to punch something. "They don't make phone books anymore,dude."

"You know what I mean. Have you thought about stepping up to saysomething?"

"She looks right through me, Hank. Like I'm just anemployee."

Hank shook his head. "No. You'rewrong."

"You've been here for less than an hour. What could you possibly know aboutKatie?"

Hank smiled to himself. "Because Helen likes her. And she's a wonderful judge ofcharacter."

"Helen may like her, but that doesn't mean she likesme."

He shrugged one powerful shoulder. "We only miss the chances we don'ttake."

I tugged on my ear. "That's some zen shit right there. Did you read it in abook?"

Hank leaned back against the steps. "Nope. Life is good. Got a hot wife. Get to keep my hands in the dirt and on my wife's hotas-"

"Shut it," I said and stood. "I don't want to hearanymore."

He chuckled but sobered. "Listen man. Quit being the good dude who's there for her when she falls. While there's nothing wrong with that, you also have to show her you're a man. A red blooded dude who will fuck shit up to defend her honor." His gaze flicked down to my collared shirt. "And seriously. Wear something a little more attention gathering than that. Show someskin."

My eyebrows went to my hairline. "Did you really just tell me to show someskin?"

"You're a construction worker for crying out loud. And you don't have a beer belly. You want Katie to notice you? Wear a wife beater and get a damned tool belt. Sweat and come up and ask her for somewater."

"You're ridiculous. And don’t call it a wife beater. That’soffensive."

"You really are a sensitive old thing, aren’tyou?”

I snorted. “The simple fact that wife beating was a common enough practice to have a shirt named after it should tell you how offensive thatis.”

Hank laughed. “Yeah. You’re right. I shall endeavor to call it only a tank top from now on.” He spread his arms out. “Look, man. Sex sells. You're a handsome guy and women all over this town drool over you when you come into my shop. It's disgusting. If you think women aren't visual, you're an idiot." He raised his beer up in a salute. "Mark my words. If you make her want you, she willcome."

I barked out a laugh at his double entendre. "Come on, idiot. Let's take a look at her yard before the women come out and catch us jabbering like oldhens."