The Party Boy's Guide to Dating a Geek (Clumsy Cupids) by Xara X. Piper;Xanakas Vaughn Read Free Book Online

kitchen," Ash whispered
    so he could put off the inevitable grilling for as
    long as possible. "It smells great."
    "Uh-huh," Mari said. She didn't say anything
    else as she pulled the plates down from the cabinet
    and handed them to Ash. He was setting their
    places when Jack came in.
    "Yeah, Mom. He's right here. Hang on." Jack
    held the phone out to Ash with a smile.
    Ash rolled his eyes but took the phone from his
    brother's hand. "Hey, Mom. How are you feeling?"
    He got the rundown of their latest ills, aches, and
    pains before she asked about his eating and how
    his roommates were doing. After grilling him
    about his job and his love life, she handed the
    phone to his father. He braced for the usual
    comments about wasting his life, but his father took
    it easy on him.
    "You know you could probably make more
    money if you moved to L.A. or Vegas?"
    "But I like Chicago."
    Ash's apprenticeship had always been a sore
    spot between them. His dad never tried to forbid
    Ash from pursuing his aspirations like some
    fathers might have, but he wasn't exactly
    encouraging of the idea either. More of a carefully
    guarded neutral.
    "You should try out for that competition show,"
    his father said.
    Ash looked at Jack with wide eyes. "He's been
    watching the Spike Channel," Jack whispered.
    Ash covered the mouthpiece and chuckled.
    "That explains it." He had watched the Ink Master
    marathon, too, thinking of what he could do with
    the prize money. "Don't worry, Dad. When we
    open our own shop, Ty and I are going to do just
    fine."
    "I just hate to see you wasting your talent."
    Ash's throat closed up. This was the most
    supportive his father had ever been of his dream.
    "Thanks, Dad."
    "Just making sure you're going to be able to take
    care of us in our old age, that's all."
    "I've already got the home I'm putting you in
    picked out," Ash teased. "Here's Marisol. I think
    she said something about wedding registries and
    baby showers." Marisol's eyes narrowed and she
    held up a fist. "Love you, Pop," Ash said before he
    handed the phone to Mari.
    "That was mean," Jack said. They worked
    together to plate the dinner while Mari fended off
    questions of when she was finally going to accept
    Jack's proposal and start producing grandchildren.
    After she hung up, Mari swatted the back of
    Ash's head. "Asshole."
    "Sorry. Dad was getting heavy, and I needed to
    deflect it."
    "Well, I promised him you'd go to that
    accounting class he suggested, so good luck with
    that."
    "You didn't." Ash's jaw dropped open.
    "Yep. You'll need it for running the shop
    anyway."
    "She fights dirty." Jack grabbed Marisol by the
    waist and spun her around before they sat down for
    dinner. They ate in silence for a few minutes.
    "Fine, I'll take the class," Ash said between
    bites. "As soon as you accept Jack's proposal."
    "Simmer down there, buddy. Let's just see how
    this goes first."
    "You know you can't resist me," Jack said.
    "I hope she can at least resist until I leave. I
    came for dinner, not the show."
    Jack leaned over to kiss Mari. "Well, we better
    get to dessert so you can take off then."
    "You guys mind if I just bug out now? Maybe I
    can come back Saturday."
    "Uh-huh," Mari said.
    "What?" Ash attempted to look as innocent as he
    could.
    "Don't even try to play me, kid."
    "I don't know what you're talking about."
    "Like you didn't hear me on the phone when you
    came in."
    "I may have overheard something about a cake
    and some kind of charge." Ash knew he was
    busted, but he wouldn't admit it easily.
    "Nice try," Mari said. "You know we're having
    a party for Fee this Saturday."
    "Oh, there's a party?"
    "Weren't you leaving?" Jack asked.
    "But if there's a party, I'd be happy to help out."
    "You were thinking that if you could crash his
    birthday party, Fee would have to listen to you,"
    Mari said.
    "Well, I may owe Fee an apology."
    Mari snorted. "That's an understatement."
    "Look, I know I screwed up. I wanted to say I'm
    sorry to the group, but I