Page 67 of The Prince Who Loved Me

“Nope. I know what I like.”

“I like a woman who knows what she likes,” Kirk said.

“You like a woman who’s alive and talks to you.” Elijah muttered.

A muscle clenched in Kirk’s jaw.

Brandi spoke before either one could say anything else. “It’s my first time here.”

It was like she didn’t say anything. “I’m sure I’ve seen you around before,” Kirk said to Charlotte, before turning to Paisley. “You, too.”

Paisley studied his face, then slowly shook her head. “Sorry. You don’t look familiar.”

Kirk listed a grocery store, a gym, and several other places where he might be found. Paisley shook her head on each one.Her lips tightened as he kept naming buildings and activities.

“Did you memorize a list?” Brandi asked.

“No.” His denial came too quickly.

“They don’t know you, Kirk. Lay off already.” Elijah said.

“Ever go to Valicente’s?” Brandi asked. Charlotte stifled a laugh.

“No one there but girls at the bar desperate to pick up a date,” Kirk said.

“Is that so?” Brandi asked.

“That’s why we come here.” Elijah leaned toward Charlotte. “You and your friends don’t look like you need to hunt down a man.”

“Honey, you’d be surprised,” Charlotte said dryly.

Elijah’s phone rang and he rolled his eyes. “It’s Mom.”

“Oh, man. Don’t answer it.”

“You know she’ll keep calling if I don’t. Why she can’t text like a normal person is beyond me.” Instead of excusing himself and going outside, he tapped his phone. “What do you need, Mom?.... Because I have caller ID…I didn’t finish the milk. Maybe Kirk did. Call him.”

He hung up and leaned back in his chair, shaking his head.

Kirk’s phone rang next and he glared at his brother. “Thanks a lot, asshole.”

This was how the men treated their mother? Paisley sat back with a frown while Charlotte rested her chin on laced fingers and watched in fascination.

“Why do I have to pick up milk when I wasn’t the one who finished it?” Kirk asked.

“Can you believe this?” Elijah asked.

“No,” said Brandi. “I really can’t.” Even when her mother had been at her worst, Brandi had still tried to be helpful. The brothers probably lived at home and they were out of milk. Andapparently the world would end if they stopped to get some before going home.

“Damn it, Mom, I’m busy.” Kirk also hung up his phone, then beamed at Charlotte in a grin with too much teeth. It bordered on creepy. “It’s not like we live with our mother because we have to.”

“We do it because she needs the help.” Elijah said.

“And milk.” Brandi showed her friends her empty cup. “I’m done.”

“Me, too.” Paisley slid her half-eaten ice cream over to her.

Brandi pitched her cup in the trash can. It was done with a little too much force, but still managed to hit inside.