The historic downtown of Prescott feels like stepping into another world and I love it. Small brick buildings with ornate facades…other buildings that remind me of something from an old Western film…all sit beautifully in their own way. Frankie guides me through the streets with surprising ease, pointing out buildings and sharing their stories.
"That building has been standing since 1901," he says,nodding toward an impressive structure. "Supposedly haunted by the ghost of a man who lost everything in a poker game."
I laugh, delighted by this new side of him.
"How do you know all this?"
"I read," he says simply.
‘Be still my heart. This man also reads? Why is God torturing me this way?’
We spend hours wandering the streets, stopping for coffee in a little café where the barista greets us. It feels more like a date and less like a guard escorting his charge. No one watches us or follows us around. It's just us, and for a moment, I can almost forget the wedding looming over me. After lunch, Frankie checks his watch.
"Time for my appointment."
“Appointment?” I question, confused, but he doesn’t answer.
He leads me down a quiet side street to a small storefront where a sign reads "Black Dahlia Studio".
My heart skips a beat as he holds the door open for me. Inside, the studio is nothing like I imagined. Art lines the walls and the inside seems so much more open with the high ceilings. It’s a tattoo shop, but it’s more than that. My eyes light up as I spot a corner with painted black walls and beautiful displays of books on shelves. Tattoos and books…genius.
"Wolf!" Frankie calls out, his voice echoing in the space, making me jump.
I expect a burly, bearded man to appear. Instead, a petite woman emerges from the back, no taller than 5'3", with long dark hair cascading down her back and the most striking golden-hazel eyes I've ever seen. When she smiles, dimples appear in her cheeks, transforming her face from merely beautiful to breathtaking.
"You're late," she says, her voice warm despite the reprimand.
"I got caught up. I’ll make it up to you," Frankie responds, then gestures to me. "This is Liana. Liana, this is Wolf."
Wolf's eyes flicker over me with curiosity.
"Nice to meet you, Liana."
Jealousy flares in my chest as I watch them interact, the easy familiarity between them is obvious. But as Wolf leads Frankie to her spot and begins setting up her equipment, I realize there's nothing romantic in their dynamic. He teases her like a brother would, and she rolls her eyes at him with the tolerant affection of a long-suffering sister.
"Shirt off," Wolf commands, and Frankie complies without hesitation.
My breath catches as his body is revealed and I get a better look at his back, making me clench my thighs together. A massive, intricate tattoo covers most of his back, still unfinished in places. A cross dominates the center, surrounded by what looks like vines and flowers, some parts still just outlines waiting to be filled in. It's stunning, and I can't look away.
"You can look around if you want," Wolf tells me as she begins prepping his skin. "This will take a while."
The first place I head is for the books and after a while I decide to look around more. I wander the studio, examining the artwork on the walls. Most are tattoo designs…delicate line work, bold patterns, intricate designs. My attention keeps returning to one wall displaying floral designs, particularly a series of white flowers that remind me of the datura blooms from the botanical garden and the tattoo on Frankie's neck.
As Wolf works, I overhear snippets of their conversation, noticing how she sometimes pauses before saying Frankie's name, as if it doesn't quite fit. Maybe she calls him Pancho? The third time it happens, I look over, catching a strange expression on her face before she masks it.
"So…" she begins, then stops herself. "Frankie, how's the new job treating you?"
"Fine," he answers curtly, his eyes flicking to me like he knows I’m listening.
"Really? Because you look like shit." She presses the needle deeper, making him wince. "Not sleeping well?"
I laugh a little on the inside because I can tell she’s messing with him. I just wish I knew what the joke was.
"I sleep fine."
Wolf snorts.
"Sure you do."
