Read Online All Fired Up by Kristen Painter - Free Book Online

that.” There was no reason to share his humiliation at Freya’s hands.
    “Tell me where you went and I’ll tell you if I’m wearing underwear or not.”
    He grinned at her curiosity. Perhaps he could share a portion. “Freya wished to speak with me.”
    “So she just beamed you up there? That’s kinda rude.”
    “She is Freya.” He shrugged, unable to tell Calleigh how much he agreed with her judgment. Freya would never let that confession go unpunished and he had no desire to see the goddess again this evening. “If the goddess’s actions bother you, we may return to the conversation we were having when she interrupted us.”
    She did not look at him but her cheeks colored. “Yes, I am wearing underwear.”
    He laughed and watched her eyes crinkle as she laughed along with him. The sound of her joy was a heady thing. He wanted to make her laugh again, to see her smile more often. Her eyes glimmered gold and bronze and her mouth curved up like a drawn bow, taut and waiting. That was a smile that gave a man potent dreams.
    “What are those called?” He pointed at the indentations in her cheeks.
    “What?” Her fingers skimmed her cheeks. “Do I have something on my face?”
    “Aye, but they are gone now. I only see them when you smile.”
    “Oh.” She smiled again. “You mean my dimples.”
    “Dimples.”
    “I’d say I hate them, but I got them from my mom.”
    “I like them.”
    “Thanks.”
    She stared at the ground as they walked, obviously embarrassed. Why did a woman this fair feel so uncomfortable with kind words?
    She spoke with a gentle softness. “I take back what I said earlier. You’re not dorky.”
    “What does this dorky mean again?”
    “Oh, look. Here we are.” She waved her hands with a flourish and pointed toward a glass door. “Welcome to Thai’d Up , home of the best curry this side of Bangkok.”
    His brows rose. He understood most of the words she had used but none seemed related to food. He opened the door for her again. “Sometimes, you make very little sense.”
    She smirked. “Stick around, Viking. It’ll come to you.”
    He let her order the meals again, and when the food came, she explained what the dishes held.
    “This is pad thai. It’s noodles with a spicy sauce, some fried egg, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts and in this case, chicken and shrimp. One of my most favorite things to eat. Try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll order you something else.”
    He wrapped the noodles around his fork the same way she did and took a bite. “This is good. I will eat it.”
    “Good. I’m glad you like it. I love it.”
    She smiled again, her dimples showing. Pleasing his other charges had been a chore. Pleasing Calleigh was its own reward. He would eat dirt if it made her happy.
    “I’ve accepted the fact that you’re going to follow me around wherever I go, but we need to talk.” Her smile faded.
    Had he upset her? “I am listening.”
    “Tomorrow night is my Uncle Seamus’s birthday party and I have to go. If you plan on going with me, there are things we need to get straight beforehand.”
    “Like what?”
    “Well, for starters, my cousin Jeana. I’d prefer you stay away from her. I’m really upset with her, and I don’t need you drooling all over her like every other man in the—”
    “I do not drool on women.” The very idea repulsed him. It would surely repulse the female.
    “It’s a figure of speech. Just try to ignore her. For me. Okay?”
    “Of course.” As though another woman could draw his attention from Calleigh. “Anything else you wish me to know?”
    “Yes. My uncles are very…protective of me. Ever since my dad died, they’ve taken it upon themselves to fill that role. And they do. More than necessary. They’re gonna be all over you like white on rice.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “They’re going to question you to death.”
    He narrowed his gaze. “I have fought death matches many times and come out the victor. I am not