Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Marlo nodded as the corner of his mouth curled up a little. It was hard to tell from his beard, but I could make out the crease in his cheek.
“Go get your daughter,” he said, radiating natural authority that even the other tough guys seemed to fall in line with. What was this guy’s story?
I smiled at him gratefully before looking down at my tattoo, which had been carefully wrapped up with a Saniderm bandage.
“When can I take this off?” I asked, realizing I had no idea how to even take care of this amazing tattoo.
The gruff man who looked like one of those intimidating mountain men approached me, wearing a dark green, long sleeve shirt and khakis.
“Keep this on overnight. Tomorrow, carefully remove the bandage and use warm water and antibacterial soap with no fragrances to wash your tattoo. You might see some blood and extra ink, but that’s normal. Pat your tattoo dry with a paper towel. Apply a little bit of Aquaphor or put plastic wrap around it,” he told me, looking me in the eyes the entire time. He looked intimidating as all get out, but his pale green eyes were actually really comforting, along with his deep, rolling voice. “After two to four days, your tattoo will be dry. That’s when you can stop wrapping your tattoo up or putting Aquaphor on it and put unscented lotion on it instead a few times a day for the next two weeks. No direct sun. No soaking your tattoo. If it peels, it’s okay.”
It was a lot of information, but he explained it so slowly and thoroughly, that it was all locked in my brain at the end.
“Thank you…” I trailed off, not knowing his name.
“Gus,” he said, shaking my hand. “It’s a beautiful tattoo. It suits you perfectly.”
Was he flirting? It seemed like a lot of chemistry had been circulating throughout this tattoo shop today between me and some of the artists, and I wasn’t complaining in the slightest. I couldn’t remember the last time I had caught so many handsome men’s eyes before.
“I’m sure I’ll be back for more,” I told him before turning to Marcus. “I’m ready if you still want to take me.”
“Of course,” Marcus said with a faint smile on his face. He led me out of the tattoo shop, and I swore I felt all of their eyes on me. He led me over to a black Mustang and pulled open the passenger’s door for me.
I got inside, feeling his fingertips brush my back as he guided me. A shiver nearly went down my spine, but it melted away at the loss of his touch. With a warm face, I focused on the alluring smell of leather and a black ice fragrance tag that lingered in his clean car. While Marcus rounded the front of the car to get to his side, I quickly gave my hair a quick fluff and checked my makeup in the mirror visor, my heart pounding heavily. Not only was I concerned about my daughter, but I was worried about saying something stupid during the car ride with a kind, hot tattoo artist.
Marcus got inside and backed out of his parking spot, placing his hand on the back of my seat in a manner that made me feel hot all over. He seemed to lean toward me, and when he braked to switch gears, his eyes briefly met mine, the side of his mouth curling up.
“What school?” he asked once he went forward on the road.
“Leeland Elementary,” I told him as I looked over at him, noticing how his movements were sharp and direct. Like he was professionally trained. That was when I noticed the dog tags hanging from his rearview mirror. “You were in the military?”
Marcus glanced over at me, the sunlight hitting his defined jaw covered by dark stubble.
“Marines,” he replied. “I stayed for a while, but my life sort of got off track for a little while.”
“Prison?” I asked in a soft voice, not wanting him to think that I was judging him.
Marcus seemed to tense slightly, but he nodded.
“Yeah, I got into some trouble with some people I shouldn’t have been around in the first place. But Marlo—he’s my cousin—threw me a lifeline and hired me at the shop,” he explained.
So, they were related. My interest piqued even more.
“From what I’ve heard, he seems really nice. He looks kind of intimidating,” I admitted with a light laugh.
Marcus cracked a smile.
“He can look like a hard ass, but he has a good heart. He’s taken in six strays and given us a home,” he told me as he glanced over at me. “I’m sure we weren’t what you were expecting.”
That sounded like a good man to me. All of them seemed to be good deep down, despite whatever trouble they got mixed up with in the past. I didn’t want to pry, though.