Grabbing my keys, I decide there’s nothing I want broken in this house. The itch is getting too strong, and the skin-crawling effect is not on my favorites’ list. I head out to my car to sate the annoying piece of my mind that refuses to agree I’ve already seen Chase today.
It doesn’t take long to reach town, but the tattoo parlor is packed with cars. I debate going in, but finally talk myself into it.
As soon as I enter, two pairs of eyes swing to me, as Chase continues buzzing away in the front room on a girl’s shoulder. There are two other men in here, so I assume those other cars must belong to the garage next door and ran out of parking space.
The itch immediately dies, and a sense of calm washes over me, shoving the irrational piece of my mind back into the corner as the world tilts back upright once again.
“You’ll need an appointment,” Chase says without looking up.
I notice his receptionist is missing, so I step in behind the counter and take a seat in her spot, just watching him as he pays incredibly close attention to what he’s doing. Just as he finishes, he looks up at me and glances away. But then his eyes immediately dart back to mine, and a slow smile spreads across his lips.
“Miss me?”
“You did leave without saying anything,” I quip, sighing dramatically.
He doesn’t have to know I’m crazy just yet. The crazy is back in a locked box at the moment.
One of the guys in the shop snorts, while the other guy winks at me. The girl in his chair, however, looks back and forth between us like she’s confused.
“Thought you just got single,” she tells him.
Jealousy really does taste like shit. In case you’re wondering.
Chase ignores her as he stands and makes his way to me, and I stand up while coming around the side of the receptionist desk. When he reaches me, he surprises me by pulling me to him and kissing me in front of everyone like he’s making a statement… or laying claim.
A couple of whistles sound out, and Chase pulls away while winking.
“Trust me. You needed that if you wanted to walk out of here without one of them asking you for your number,” he whispers.
I don’t say anything, because my lips are refusing to work with words. When did we reach the level of kissing hello?
“Next,” Chase says while handing the girl a bag of something. She takes it, and I stare at the shop name and logo on the bag while she frowns and looks me over.
Chasing Ink.
In the background, there’s an eagle’s eye, and my heart swells a little bit. Things like that are the reason I’m having issues right now.
“Here’s my money, honey,” one of the guys chuckles as he hands Chase a small wad of cash.
When I ignore the girl long enough, she finally stops staring at me and walks out. I go back behind the counter and sit on the stool.
“I hope you shaved your hairy fucking chest so I don’t have to,” Chase tells the guy, confusing me.
“Yes, darling, I did,” the guy drawls.
Chase rolls his eyes, but he smiles over at me while walking toward the register I’m in front of. When he steps behind the counter, I swivel on my stool to give him room, and he pushes a few buttons until the register drawer pops out and he puts the money in. He also grabs a few dollars like he’s making change.
When he’s finished and shuts the drawer, he reaches over and thumbs my chin, winking at me again. “You were sleeping peacefully when I left. I have the impression you don’t do that often, so I didn’t want to wake you up just to say bye.”
Instead of saying something stupid, I just nod. At least I don’t feel like my skin is crawling anymore. I did what I had to do to silence the crazy, and now I can leave.
But I don’t.
I stay while he works tirelessly on that guy’s chest tattoo, and my eyes stay fixed on him. His intensity and focus are sexy, so is the way he shifts and moves. Never knew tattooing could be sexy.
After a couple of hours, he dabs the ink and the buzzing ceases. The guy on the chair looks down at the finished chest piece and back up to Chase.
“You’re too fucking good to be inking in this shithole town, boy. When you going to come to Montgomery?”
Chase smirks while shrugging. “Don’t know. I may or I may not. Depends on how things work out here.”
When his eyes meet mine, my mouth dries. He’s moving? Why hasn’t he told me? Big cities are strictly prohibited because of the special precautions I have to take. Only small trips are acceptable. Such as visiting Dr. Stein.
His look changes to confused when he studies me, but I look away, slipping off the stool. As the two guys talk to Chase, I tune them out, walking back to my car as my shoulders grow heavier.
This was stupid. Chase can’t be with me. I can’t be with him. This is a game of Russian roulette, but I’m the only one facing the gun with every turn. Not that Chase knows. He still thinks I’m the somewhat quirky, but otherwise normal girl from his past.