“What’s that?”Kat asked with an annoyed look on her face for no good reason. It was first thing in the morning, and I had just walked into the tattoo shop carrying a flat white box.
“Donuts,” I said with a big grin. I knew that she had a sweet tooth but wouldn’t want to eat something that I’d brought in. Basically, I was fucking with her. “Want one?”
“I do,” Piper chimed in. I held the box out to her, and she selected a jelly-filled one.
“Brie, do you want a donut?” I called out to her at the front counter.
“Always,” she said, coming in to grab a classic glazed one.
I turned back to Kat to see her glowering at me. “See, I didn’t poison them, no matter what you think of me. Do you want one, Kitten?”
“Don’t call me that,” she hissed.
She looked pissed now. I had been trying to get under her skin, to get a rise out of her because I was angry about yesterday, but I had a feeling that using my nickname for her had been a step too far. I hadn’t even meant to say it, it just slipped out. Grabbing a maple bar out of the box, I shoved half of it into my mouth before tossing the box onto the counter in her workspace.
“Help yourself,” I said through a mouthful of pastry.
I went into my section and sat on the stool, but I didn’t close the curtains, not today. I wasn’t going to let her anger at me keep me hidden while I was here. Apparently, she had the same idea because her curtains stayed open as well, and we were both forced to act like the other person didn’t exist. It was awkward, but I blamed Kat for it. She was the one that was angry just because I was an Outlaw Soul. I didn’t like her connection to Las Balas, and it probably wasn’t a good idea to keep seeing each other, but I wasn’t the one being an asshole here.
Kat didn’t touch the damn donuts, which drove me crazy. I knew she wanted one. Why did she have to be so stubborn?
I had a client come in not long after that, and I gave him my full attention, hoping that a good distraction would make this situation better. His tattoo was a cross on his shoulder with angel wings behind it stretching out on either side. As I worked, we made small talk, and I discovered that he was a rider, as well. It made the time go quicker as we found that common ground, and I told him all about my Sporster and the work that Trainer had done on it.
When I was finished, the customer paid Brie and left. The second the door closed behind him, Kat scoffed.
“So, are you trying to get new recruits for Outlaw Souls or something?”
I sighed, already sick of this game. “What are you talking about?”
“Just the way you were talking to that guy, going on and on about bikes and riding, mentioning that other guy. I recognize his name. I know he’s a member, too.”
“Trainer’s our Road Captain and a hell of a good guy.”
“Says you.”
“Says his wife and kids.”
Something in Kat’s face softened for just a moment, but it was gone so quickly that I started to question if I imagined it.
“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m taking a break.”
Grabbing her purse, she stood and walked out the back door of the tattoo shop. I hesitated for a second before deciding that I wasn’t done talking and followed her. To my surprise, I found her leaning up against the side of the building, lighting up a cigarette.
“I didn’t know you smoked,” I said, earning myself another glare.
“I don’t,” she replied while exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“Could have fooled me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I quit a month ago. You’re witnessing a relapse. Hell, you’re causing it.”
“Don’t you think you might be overreacting?”
“You know what bothers me? You act like I’m the only one with a problem.”
“No, we both have a problem.” The sound of a motorcycle drew my attention to the street, and I realized that Ryder was here. “And I have a feeling it’s about to get worse.”
“Who is that?”
