Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“I’m not late. I’m right on time. In fact, I’m early,” she says, checking the time on her phone.
“How are things going with you?”
“Good,” I tell her automatically. I haven’t told Callie—or anyone—about the men I’ve been seeing, so I keep my response general. “I think I finally found an apartment nearby.”
“That’s exciting. When are you moving?”
“It’s not settled yet. I’m waiting to find out when one of their one-bedrooms will be available.”
“I hope it works out for you.” She holds up her hand, crossing her fingers to wish me luck, and a tattoo on the inside of her wrist catches my eye. I’ve seen it before, but I never paid much attention to it.
I point to the flower that’s inked on her skin. “Did that hurt?”
“What? Oh, yeah, it hurt like hell, but it was totally worth it. I could’ve gotten it put on somewhere less painful, but I wanted to see it every day.”
“It’s really nice.”
“Thanks.” She’s smiling as she starts to move away from the counter. I want to ask her if the tattoo has a special meaning for her, but I’ll have to wait for another time. Despite what she said, Callie is definitely running late again.
Later, when the show has started and the lobby is empty, I send a text to Hutch. “How do I get in your appointment book?”
He replies almost instantly. “For a date? Want to go to dinner?”
“For a tattoo,” I type. “I think I’m ready.”
28
MACE
The shop is closed, so we keep the lights off up front, but Hutch’s stall is brightly lit.
“It’s weird in here, with it being so quiet,” Rose says, the tone of her voice betraying her nervous excitement.
“Do you want the usual music?” Hutch asks.
“Sure, but maybe not as loud.”
“We have to make it loud to drown out the screams,” Christian says.
Rose whirls around to look at him, her eyes wide as dinner plates.
“Knock it off,” Hutch tells him with a growl.
Christian wraps an arm around her, squeezing her shoulder. “I was joking. Have you thought more about what kind of design you want?”
“I don’t want to pick,” she says. “I just want something you all have a part in. I want all of you to decide.”
“Where do you think you’d like it?” I ask, my eyes roaming her bare arms and legs, imagining what spot I’d pick if she leaves that up to us too.
Rose gestures to her inner hip. “I was thinking here.” Her eyes tell me she’s remembering the firefly I drew there in chocolate paint, but much as I’d love to commemorate that memory for her, I need to steer her elsewhere.
“That’s a very painful spot, because the bone is so close to the skin there. It’s almost as painful as the rib cage.”
“Oh.”
“Is your goal to have it in a place that will be hidden by clothing?”
When she nods, Christian says, “Your lower back will be the least painful area.”
Rose bites her lip, thinking. “I want it somewhere I’ll be able to see it without looking in a mirror, though.”
“How about the top of your thigh?” Hutch suggests. “It’ll show when you’re wearing a bathing suit, but be hidden under most clothes.”
She hesitates, but then nods, her eyes twinkling. “It’ll be close to the part of my body you make feel so good.”
“We’ll go work out a plan,” Hutch tells her. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Water would be great.”
It’s a shame that alcohol and tattoos don’t mix, because Rose could use something to help her relax.
“You know you don’t have to go through with this,” I say.
“I want to. I’m just nervous.”
“It’ll be fine.” I lift her chin so she meets my eyes and can be reassured by what she sees there, then I give her a quick kiss. “We’ll be right back.”
The four of us convene around the table up front, sketchpads between us. Christian presents his idea first, and amazingly, the rest of us quickly get on board. Doing a rose seems cliche, but it’s such a common theme in tattoos that it seems fitting. To meet Rose’s desire for us to collaborate, we decide to split the flower into quadrants, each of us adding our own unique style to the separate sections.
When we show our plan to Rose, her eyes light up and some of her nervousness visibly eases. “I love it! It’s perfect.”
“Why don’t you take off your pants, and we’ll show you the placement,” Hutch says. “The doors are locked, so you don’t have to worry about anyone coming in.”
As she slides her shorts down off of her hips, she looks to Christian. “Do you remember the first time I came in here? You were working on a woman whose breasts were exposed. I was really shocked that you didn’t shield her.”
He seems surprised by her recollection. “I offered to cover her when I heard you come in. It was her choice to sit there that way. I think she gets off on people seeing her tits.”