All Fired Up by Kristen Painter Page A

kitchen, fixin’ a drink for his newest ladylove.” Moreen pressed her palm to her cheek and shook her head, curls bobbing.
    Calleigh laughed. “I don’t know why you’re surprised, Aunt Moreen. That man changes girlfriends more than most men change their underwear.”
    She cringed as soon as the word underwear left her tongue. Alrik opened his mouth to say something. Calleigh quickly grabbed his hand. “C’mon, let’s get the rest of the introductions over.”
    Moreen chuckled, linking her arm through Alrik’s on the other side. “Now don’t mind Calleigh’s uncles, lad. They stand guard on the wee lass like two pit bulls at a butcher shop.”
    “Oh, great. Now, I’m a pound of hamburger?” Calleigh asked.
    Her uncle winked. “Ye’ll always be filet in my book, lovey.”
    The delicious aromas of soda bread, her aunt’s famous lamb stew and rhubarb crumble greeted them as the three walked into the kitchen behind Corrigan.
    “Well, Seamus, seems we had it right about that Brad fellow.” Corrigan tipped his head back in Alrik’s direction, and lowered his voice, but not enough to keep the trio behind him from hearing. “Calleigh’s found herself a new beau. All brawn an’ no brains by the looks of him.”
    Calleigh sputtered, indignant on several levels. “He is not my beau. He’s just a friend. A friend . And he has plenty of brains so just keep your remarks to yourself, Uncle Corri.”
    Seamus grinned and finished pouring a drink. “Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.”
    Impeccably dressed in his usual head to toe designer black, her Uncle Seamus winked at Calleigh before handing the drink in his hand to the willowy, cat-eyed Nubian goddess at his elbow. “This friend , does he have a name?”
    “Uncle Seamus, this is Alrik Gunn.”
    “Alrik, pleased to meet you.” Alrik just nodded. The two men shook hands, then Seamus introduced the woman beside him.
    “This is Badu. She’s doing the new Dolce campaign I’m shooting. Badu, this is my lovely niece, Calleigh and her friend .”
    The model smiled at Alrik but held her hand out to Calleigh, her long, slender fingers tipped by perfectly shaped natural nails. “It is my great pleasure to meet you. Your uncle speaks highly of you.”
    Each word was distinctly pronounced, the syllables hit with precision, the consonants full and round. The woman had the voice of a diplomat.
    “Hi, Badu. Thanks. Nice to meet you, too,” Calleigh said.
    “Your boots are very beautiful. They are Dior, no?” Badu pointed to Calleigh’s feet.
    “Thank you. Yes, they are Dior. My uncle gave them to me for Christmas. Hey—” She grabbed the edge of the counter.
    Seamus lifted Calleigh’s foot, twisting it so he could see the sole of the boot. “Just as I suspected, this is the first time you’ve worn ‘em, too.”
    Calleigh stomped her foot down and out of her uncle’s grasp. “Uncle Seamus, please! Where am I supposed to wear $1200 boots?”
    “How do you know what they cost? An’ that’s retail by the way, which I never pay.” He frowned and crossed his arms.
    “I looked them up on eBay.”
    Seamus shook his head. “I should have known. You’re addicted to that bloody site.” He nodded toward Alrik. “So, what happened to Brad? You get wise to him, did you?”
    “I don’t want to discuss that right now.” Calleigh thrust the wrapped package into her uncle’s hands. “Happy Birthday.”
    Alrik leaned over. “What is E-Bay?”
    “Where’ve you been, lad, living in a cave?” Seamus chuckled and Corrigan joined in.
    “Nay…” Alrik glanced at Calleigh.
    “He’s from Norway. He’s here studying Germanic history with the International Visitors program at NYU. You know those academics, lots of book knowledge but when it comes to modern life…” She hoped the snippet of info would satisfy her uncles.
    Moreen lifted the lid off the pot bubbling on the stove, intensifying the aroma of lamb stew wafting through the kitchen.
    “I have