"What was your fantasy?"
"You gotta seduce me a little more before you get that." I pour more lotion. Slather it down his back as I pick up my story. "We started. She was purring. She laid back on the bed and looked up at me like I was the only thing she wanted. Like she wanted something deep inside me. She had these dark eyes. They were usually on fire with frustration."
"You knew her?"
Fuck.
What the hell is wrong with me? Chloe isn't distracting me.
We fucked seven years ago.
Now, we're coworkers.
Soon, we're ex-coworkers.
End of story.
End of this story. I'm not about to replay the night I took Chloe's virginity. Not for Randy.
Maybe tonight, when I'm alone.
No, definitely tonight. Multiple times.
I shift back to bullshit mode. "Yeah. We got going. But as soon as I was inside of her, her boyfriend freaked. He pulled me off her. Threatened to kill me." I grab plastic wrap and get to work on Randy's backpiece. "I ran out of there in nothing but a condom."
"No way."
"Way. The girlfriend was kind enough to toss my jeans and shoes out the window. My phone landed on the concrete. Shattered."
He laughs. "How often does that happen?"
I shrug.
"Anything ever upset you?"
"Yeah." I make my voice dead serious. "Clients ignoring their aftercare routine."
"That's the one thing?"
"Worst thing in the world." I finish wrapping him up. Stand. "Keep it bandaged for a few hours. Wash with warm water and soap. Lots of A&D after. Don't cover it again. And no open water for three weeks."
"If I don't?"
"You'll disappoint me. What's worse?"
Randy laughs. Not cause I'm hilarious—I am, but that's irrelevant. It's the thrill of new ink. Guys think I'm their best friend. Women want to fuck me.
Not that I need help getting laid.
I'm tall, built, inked, charming. I have no trouble finding women to take home.
It's a good routine.
I make them laugh.
Make them come.
Get them screaming my name.
Then I say goodbye and I do it all over again the next day.
No muss, no fuss, no one gets hurt.
No women stick in my head and refuse to get out.
Randy bounces to the counter on cloud nine. He's still shirtless and he's without reservations about it.
I'm not afraid of pointing out a good-looking man. Randy's handsome, but there's more of him to love. When we started, he was embarrassed by his extra padding.
Not anymore.
I've seen it a million times. Someone comes in insecure about their stomach, back, thighs, arms, whatever.
They leave proud.
A little ink and someone's trouble spot becomes their favorite body part.
It feels good, helping people like that.
Not that I'd admit it to any of the guys here.
Certainly not to Leighton.
Or Chloe.
Leighton nudges her.
Chloe moves forward. Offers Randy a smile. "Can I see the whole thing?"
"Fuck yeah." He smiles. Spins to show off his back.
Chloe's gaze fixes on his ink. She studies it the way she studies art. Her eyes go wide as she traces the design in the air. "Amazing." Her eyes meet mine. They flare with something I can't place, then they're back on Randy. "Dean does great work."
"The best."
Leighton hands Chloe a receipt.
Chloe leans forward to offer it to Randy. Her tits spill over her tight tank top. The top of her bra peeks out.
All black.
Like the night we were together.
Like every fucking day of high school.
She catches me staring. Shoots me that trademarked Chloe I want to kill you look.
Randy hands over his credit card.
She forces a smile as she swipes it. Hands back the receipt. Motions to the tip line.
Leighton jumps in. "It really is amazing." She bats her eyelashes. Presses her arms into her tits for maximum cleavage. She has the flirting for tips thing down, pat.
Chloe…
She's more confused.
Even so, Randy leaves thirty percent.
I get his aftercare kit, walk him out, say goodbye with a high five.
Pull the goddamn shades down.
"Thank you," Leighton calls from the counter. She leans in to whisper something to Chloe.
Chloe whispers back.
Leighton's blue-green eyes fix on mine. She shoots me a watch yourself look then turns to Chloe. "Do you do yoga?"
Her eyes stay on mine. "No…"
"You should start. Tattooing kills your back. Ryan is like an old man." She twirls a purple strand around her pointer finger. It's her signature gesture. She thinks about Ryan, she plays with her hair.
"I heard that, baby," he calls from his suite.
She blows him a kiss.
He holds up his free hand to catch it.
She giggles.
They're so gaga it hurts. But I'm happy for them. Hell, I never thought I'd see my brother in love again.
It took forever for them to figure it out. They were idiots. Needed a lot of help. Help they fought.
But they're here.
Finally.
"Giving her flirting tips, Leigh?" I ask.
"What's with Dean and calling people by nicknames they don't like?" Chloe asks.
"He thinks it's cute." Leighton brushes her short hair behind her ear. "He thinks he's adorable."
"You suggesting otherwise?" I ask.
Leighton and Chloe share a hell yes look.
Leighton laughs. "I like you already. Too bad we won't work together much."
My eyes fix on Chloe. "Flirting for tips is Leighton's thing, but I don't see that working for you."
Chloe folds her arms over her chest.
"You're here to apprentice, aren't you?" I ask.
"Yeah." She bites her lip.
"Talk about the ink. Make them feel special. Important. Guys want attention from pretty girls. It's a fact of life."
Leighton nods. "It does work."
"What do you know about flirting with guys?" Chloe asks.
"Do what I gotta do." I wink.
She fights a smile.
Fuck, that smile. It lights up her dark eyes. It softens her brow. It convinces me there's some part of her that actually likes me.
What is it about Chloe?
She's the only girl who's ever pressed my buttons.
"I can take you out tonight. Teach you everything I know."
"I'm good." She unfurls her arms. Brings a hand to the counter. "But thanks."
"Suit yourself." I shrug.
Leighton moves out from behind the counter. She passes me with a shoulder bump. "Fuck with her, and I'll cut you."
I chuckle. I love when Leighton gives me shit. I love that she's already looking out for the new girl. That kind of solidarity is hard to find.
Even if it's gonna make it harder to talk Ryan of out un-hiring Chloe.
I should go back to my suite. Prep.
But I don't.
I move to the counter. "You like it here so far?"
Chloe gives me a long once-over. "I like most things about Inked Hearts."
"Ryan is the worst, isn't he?"
She just barely smiles. "Close."
"I missed this."
"This?"
"You."
She stares into my eyes, picking apart my intentions.
"Never thought I'd see you again. Figured you'd be in grad school by now."
"That was the plan."
"But?"
"Life happened."
It tends to do that. But Chloe was hardcore about school. Straight As, AP classes, all work and no play. "You in school now?"
"No. I graduated with a studio art degree a while ago. Then… I decided life was too short not to go after what I want."
"What do you want?"
"Hmm. I'm here apprenticing. Whatever could I want?"
"Leighton says she's here for the view."
"Uh-huh."
I pull my t-shirt up my stomach. Pat my abs. "This is what she means."
Chloe rolls her eyes. "I want to do tattoos."
It suits her—she's always been that all black, counterculture type. But it's still weird to think about. We used to compete for our art teacher's attention.
"Ryan swore he'd never take an apprentice." I lean in to whisper. "How'd you convince him?"
"He hasn't. He said I have to convince one of you to do it. Or all of you to share me." She presses her lips together. "Don't even."
"What? Suggest it would be dirty hot if all four of us shared you."
"Yeah, something like that."
"Fuck. That would be dirty hot. For you."
She shakes her head. "Not interested."
"You sure? You haven't seen Walker or Brendon since high school."
"Still sure."