She opened her eyes, struggling to bring Trent back into focus.
“That wasn’t so bad now, was it?”he said gently, smiling.
Lost for words, Harper just shook her head.She felt the absence of his hands immediately as he put them into his pockets.
“My friends are playing on the table a couple down.You already know Cujo and Pix.Come hang out with us for a bit when you’re done with your game.”
She found herself unable to answer.What the heck was it about him that had her acting like a speechless fool?
She watched him walk—no, walk definitely didn’t do it justice—swaggerover to his table, and saw Cujo pour him a beer from the pitcher.
“What.The hell.Was that?Oh my God.I need fanning down!”Drea giggled.
It could only have lasted five seconds maximum, but her cheek was still enflamed where his lips had touched her, her body burning up.
“That boy has a thing for you, girl.”Drea was prone to exaggeration.
“It was just a hello kiss, D.Don’t blow it out of proportion.I don’t think I’m his type.”
“Didn’t look like that from where I was standing.You looked exactly like his type.What did he say?”
“He said hello and asked me to come say hi when I’m done playing.”
“So go now.I love you, but you suck at this and you’re making me lose.I’ll wrap this up.”
“No.Absolutely not.I’m gonna finish.Then I’ll go.He probably just wants to introduce me to one of the other tattoo artists.”
“Yeah.I’m sure that’s just what it is,” Drea muttered.
The game ended exactly one turn later when, despite her all-out focus on the green ball, Harper pocketed the black one instead.
Trying to evade Drea’s mock fury, she picked up her drink, took a gulp of it, and walked over to Trent’s table.Pixie was precariously balancing on one leg, trying to reach halfway down the green, her tiny frame struggling to make such a big reach.
Cujo was laughing at her efforts.He walked over, picked her up by the waist in his huge hands, and lifted her up and over the table so she could reach.She screeched, laughing as he tickled her, but made the shot anyway.
Trent and a girl she didn’t know sat at a small round table, leaning their heads close together.She was vintage-pinup-girl hot.Soft red curls framed perfectly unblemished skin.She had red lips and wore a 1950s dress that curved in all the right places and showcased the tattoos running up and down both arms.Tamping down the little flames of jealousy, Harper contemplated a quick retreat, but before she was able to take a single step, Trent looked up, a smile spreading across his lips as he spotted her.
“Hey, Harper,” Trent called out.“That didn’t take long.Did you clean up?”He signaled her over with a wave.
“Something like that,” she said with an embarrassed smile.
“Harper, this is Lia.She works in the studio with us.Lia, Harper is one of my new clients.”Harper shook hands, relieved that she was just a coworker.He’d have saidgirlfriendotherwise, wouldn’t he?
“Here,” he said, pulling out the chair next to his, “let me top you off.”He took her hand and pulled it toward him.Without letting go of her wrist, he filled her glass and then released her.Harper was pretty sure it wasn’t the beer giving her the buzz she was feeling.
“So, how’s the back?”he asked casually.
“It’s so much better now than it was, thanks.I thought I was going to die that night.Every time I rolled over in my sleep it woke me up.Sorry I kept bugging you.”
“No worries.Was no trouble at all.”
“You’re being kind, but I was being a bit of a wuss.You had to talk me out of going to the hospital, for goodness’ sake.”
Trent relaxed back in his seat, putting his arm across the back of her chair, not touching her but so perilously close, never taking his eyes off her as he studied her.“In some cases it can be very tender, but it’ll get better.Want me to take a look at it?”
Harper spluttered, spraying out her beer.“Here?What?No.Definitely not.”
“Why not?”Trent teased.She could see Lia smiling, watching them curiously.
