My hands had wandered to her ass, and I gave each cheek a squeeze as I kissed the tip of her nose. “I have to get to Ink Addiction,” I said, shocked to find that for the first time since I opened my shop, I was dreading my afternoon appointments.
It wasn’t that I didn’t love my job and business, but I hated being so far away from Ariel all day. I wondered vaguely if she could still work with her sisters if she did her baking somewhere other than the industrial kitchen attached to the chapel. I’d have to ponder it more later.
I set her away from me and retrieved the bag I’d brought with me. Belle had given me the name of Ariel’s favorite deli, and I’d stopped to pick up sandwiches, salads, and dessert for us. We spread it all out on a small table situated in a corner with three folding chairs. As we ate, I asked her question after question, eager to know everything about her. She managed to slip in her own inquiries as well. I was having a great time just enjoying her company, and it almost made me late to my next appointment.
“Don’t work too hard, baby.” I smirked after kissing her goodbye. “You’re going to need your strength for later.”
Ariel groaned and I raised an eyebrow, shocked at her reaction. “I don’t think I’m going to have the energy to move tonight, Maddox,” she sighed.
I shook my head with a smile, realizing she’d misunderstood my comment. “You’re already moved, baby. The company I hired already packed up your old place and unpacked everything at our house before I brought lunch over.”
Ariel stared at me, her jaw slightly dropped in shock. “It’s all done?”
“Yup.”
“Damn,” she whispered. “You don’t mess around when you want something, do you?”
I grinned and grasped her hips, dragging her body up against mine. “Nope. I suggest you keep that in mind since what I want most is you.”
Ariel’s eyes sparkled, and she flushed happily. “You’ve got me.”
I shook my head before putting my mouth next to her ear. “Not yet, baby. I want all of you, which means a ring on your finger and a baby in your belly.”
She gasped but when I pulled back and looked at her face, she was sporting a half-smile and a cute blush on her cheeks.
After giving her one last hard kiss, I said goodbye and forced myself to leave before I said fuck it and took another shot at knocking her up.
I arrived at Ink Addiction with about twenty minutes to spare. After hastily changing my pants in my studio, I set up the station I used near the front of the shop. The bell jingled at two o’clock on the dot, and I walked to the lobby to greet my client. I stopped short, cursing silently when I saw who it was. I’d been expecting this confrontation, just not yet. Griffith was more than likely to blame for this, and I was going to kick his ass for it.
An exasperated sigh escaped my mouth at the sight of Knox Dawson, Ariel’s older brother, standing before me with a dark frown on his face, his bulky arms crossed over his big chest, and his legs firmly braced apart. Clearly, he was going for intimidating, but it was wasted on me. I’d dealt with fuckers more badass than him in my line of work. One of your employees messes up the tattoo of a local mob boss or a member of a motorcycle gang (or worse, the prez), you better know how to make deals with the devil.
Besides—I mirrored his stance—I was a pretty big motherfucker, too. A fight between us would be fairly even. “Knox,” I greeted, keeping my expression blank. “I take it you’re not here for another tattoo?” I’d been doing Knox’s ink almost as long as Griffith’s.
“What the fuck is going on with you and my sister, Holt?”
The bell over the door jungled again, and I glanced over to see another customer walking in. I nodded to them in greeting before I looked at Knox and jerked my chin towards the back. Then I spun around and marched back to my office.
Knox shut the door quietly behind him, and I grudgingly mumbled my thanks. Sudden, loud noises could startle one of the artists and cause them to make a mistake.
I rounded my desk but didn’t sit, choosing to stand so he didn’t have a perceived advantage. “Why the hell should I explain myself to you, Dawson?” I barked.
Knox took a threatening step forward, then narrowed his eyes when I showed no outward reaction. “Because she’s my sister, and it’s my job to protect her. So, I’ll ask again, what the fuck is going on between you and Ariel?” He was yelling by the time he finished, steam practically spewing from his ears.
I debated fucking with him just because it was really none of his business. However, I was glad Ariel had so many people protecting her back and if I’d had a sister, I imagined I would probably act like an overbearing jackass, too.
Deciding to put an end to this shit, I walked over to a safe sitting on a table that was pushed up against the wall to the left of my desk. I punched in the combination, and the door swung open. There were several folders of important paperwork, the bank deposit envelope, and a small, black box. I took the last item out and shut the door, locking it once more before turning to face Knox.
I tossed the box in his direction without a word, and he easily caught it. He lifted the lid and stared at the three-carat, pink diamond on a rose gold band. After staring at it for a couple of beats, he snapped it shut and met my eyes. “This is what I think it is?” he asked with an
