dead in the winter, but now that spring is in the air, they’re busy. I had to race from campus to work after class for an appointment earlier, and I have another client coming in ten minutes.
“So your brother is having Todd do his first tattoo?” Shay asks as she folds T-shirts across from my drawing table.
I nod and pull out another cookie.
“Why wouldn’t he have you ink him?”
I shrug. “Probably afraid I’ll exact some kind of revenge on him.”
Shay gives me a funny look. “You two get along great.”
“Yeah, now. But when he was fifteen and I was eleven he used to sucker me into doing his chores,” I say, stuffing half a cookie in my mouth. My phone vibrates and after I read the text from Justin, I almost spew crumbs.
I swallow the dry cookie with a gulp of coffee and text back the word that almost came out of my mouth in a screech.
I fan myself with a piece of paper. Shay raises an eyebrow at the manic speed with which I’m fanning myself. Dropping the paper, I smile weakly at her and then type out my reply while trying to sound nonchalant.
My brain screams,
The bell above the door rings as my two o’clock appointment strolls into the shop.
Dang.
I’m hoping I’ll have time tonight to figure out something brilliant. Something to wow Justin as much as he wowed me.
I’m enjoying the music blasting from the amazing stereo system in my Beemer until I see Sam pulling out his pack of cigarettes. I hit the mute button on my steering wheel and the sound dies. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Dude,” he says. “I’m doing this for you. The least you can do is let me have a smoke.”
“Forget it.” I take an exit off the highway and start making the turns toward Dragonfly Ink. “You’re not smoking in my car.”
Sam shoves his cigarettes back in his pocket. “Fine, but I’m smoking before we go in.”
“Since when do you smoke all the frigging time?”
He shrugs. “Since when do you chase chicks?”
Ignoring him, I park just out of sight of the shop window so there’s no chance Allie will see him smoking. Strangely, I’m worried about her opinion. As soon as the bastard gets out of the car, he lights up. Like I want to stand around watching him smoke instead of seeing Allie.
“Exactly where do I want this tattoo?” he asks, pointing his cigarette at me.
I step back from the cloud of smoke he exhales. “I don’t know. Where would you get a tattoo?”
He squints while he thinks. “My other arm?”
Maybe using Sam for this surprise visit isn’t the best idea. “Then say your other arm. You’ve been killing too many brain cells lately. This doesn’t have to be scripted out, just act like you want another tattoo.”
“Man, this girl has you wound tighter than a coke fiend. You’re even stalking her undercover.”
“This isn’t stalking.” I just need to see her. Saturday is too long a wait. I have to know if this building connection between us is as deep as it feels, and seeing her is the only way to find out. I decided that hump day would be the perfect choice for a visit.
“No? We’re going in there pretending I want a tattoo.”
“You might after checking out her art.”
“Naw. I don’t like needles. The last one was a bitch to get through. Had to down half a fifth of vodka and two joints.” He tosses his cigarette butt to the sidewalk. “Probably a good thing. Keeps me from injecting anything.”
We start walking toward the shop. “Who the hell would ink you all fucked up?”
“Some dude. Works out of his house.”
“You are an idiot.”
He nods. “Must be if I agreed to this bullshit.”
“Don’t screw this up,” I warn, opening the door.
Mandy is behind the counter on the phone. We wander over to the books of photos. Sam flicks one open and feigns interest in the pictures of peoples’ tattoos. I stand next to him, scrolling through my phone.
After a few minutes, Mandy strolls over and I introduce her to Sam. She’s flirting with both of us when Allie comes out from the back with a customer. She’s looking cute, wearing pigtails and a backward baseball cap. Her eyes widen at the sight of me. I give her a grin. Her expression tightens as Mandy runs a nail along the tattoo on my left arm, but Allie doesn’t call her employee over, instead turning back to the guy with a Mohawk and leather pants. Douche.
While Mandy giggles and checks out Sam’s tattoos, I watch Allie explain after care to the customer. He’s all attention, and I’m betting it isn’t on what’s coming out of her mouth. When he leans closer to her, I’m at the counter in seconds without a thought.
“Hey,” I say, and Allie’s gray eyes flick to me. She gives me a curt nod but continues to explain how to care for a fresh tattoo. My eyes drill holes into the guy’s profile until he finally draws away from her. At least he’s a smart fucker.
“Was that necessary?” she snaps when the guy finally leaves.
“What?” I say innocently.
Her pierced brow rises. “Intimidating my customer.”
My hand spreads across my chest. “Me?”
She rolls her eyes. “So what brings you out today?”
“Sam’s considering adding some more ink.” I gesture toward the front of the shop. He’s paging through a photo book with Mandy.
“Custom?” Allie asks.
“Yeah, that’s the direction he’s thinking.” Sam isn’t thinking shit.
She glances their way again. “Well, since you’re here, can I take a picture of your back?”
My lips form a slow and deliberate smirk. “Trying to get my clothes off?”
Her balled-fist settles on a jean-clad hip. “Just your shirt.”
“Whatever you want,” I say, lifting the bottom of my shirt.
One of her hands covers mine. “Not here. Follow me out back. The light’s always best outside.”
I grab her hand and hold it tight. “Not until we’re alone, huh?”
“Yeah,” she says in a sarcastic tone, pulling her hand from my grasp. “Alone in the romantic parking
